Mediterranean garden

[Tracydr]

Working on a new section to my garden. Will have figs,artichokes,lavender,thyme,rosemary,potted citrus, pomegranate and grapes. I’m adding plenty of lime, it’s in a full sun spot, sandy soil and I plan to use crushed oyster shell for mulch.
Any other ideas?

[bower]

Sounds lovely! Don't forget garden sage - even if we don't eat it often, the flowers are lovely and the leaves make the best ever bandage for cuts or splinters.

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by bower

Sounds lovely! Don't forget garden sage - even if we don't eat it often, the flowers are lovely and the leaves make the best ever bandage for cuts or splinters.

Great idea! I almost forgot sage and I need a new sage plant ,cheickens killed mine.

[Worth1]

Muscadines, way less troublesome than grapes and native to the US.
Makes the most unbelievable wine.

[Cole_Robbie]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Muscadines, way less troublesome than grapes and native to the US.
Makes the most unbelievable wine.

I had to look up what those were. They look great. I am one zone north of their hardiness rating, but maybe it would still be possible to grow them, given enough care.

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I had to look up what those were. They look great. I am one zone north of their hardiness rating, but maybe it would still be possible to grow them, given enough care.

You sure they won’t grow in zone 6? I think I’ve heard they grow in MO,Arkansas,OK,TN and VA. I know they grow in some zone 6 mountain areas of NC.

[bower]

I'll second the request to see pics of both of your mediterranean gardens. Not too many of those classics are hardy enough for us, so I have to live vicariously...

[DonDuck]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Muscadines, way less troublesome than grapes and native to the US.
Makes the most unbelievable wine.

Some friends of miine own the largest muscadine vineyard in Texas. It makes great wine. They originally planned on packaging and selling the grapes in retail outlets. Customers are not accustomed to eating muscadine's with the tough skin so they didn't sell well. They started packing the grapes and shipping them to a winery which then shipped the finished wine back to them. Transportation costs were high, so they are currently installing all the large, stainless vats to make their own wine. Their wine market has grown very well in the past few years so they doubled the size of the vineyard last year.

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Muscadines, way less troublesome than grapes and native to the US.
Makes the most unbelievable wine.

We have so many wild muscadine on our property and patients bring piles of them to the clinic, it’s not worth the garden space. If other grapes fail I’ll yank them and try something else in their place.
Also planting some oregano,thyme,marjoram,several types of lavender. Maybe cardoons. This area will have a water feature and I hope to make a pergola with seating area underneath.
Oh, plenty of figs.
What else?considering an olive tree or two.

[imp]

Sounds lovely, Tracy and will be a nice spot to sit for a minute and enjoy it, too.

[bower]

If you could plant some almonds and olives, you'd pretty much have it sewn up.
The almond trees bloom in February on the Mediterranean. Their flowers are the first thing to appear as sign of spring. Just gorgeous to see fields of these from a train window, even better to have a few in your own garden. You need two to pollinate.

[rxkeith]

well golly gee willikers,

i have a good start to a mediterranean garden too now that i think of it.

i have a fig tree growing, three years old now in a pot that goes in the basement during our not so mediterranean winter. i also have a rosemary shrub that goes upstairs where it is cool during the winter. i have thyme growing in pots, and some greek oregano too.
i think i'll bring some thyme, and oregano in for the winter for fresh herbs.
hey, i have italian flat leaf parsley in a pot that can come indoors. thats a hat trick.

may you have many happy relaxing hours in your garden tracy.



keith

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by bower

If you could plant some almonds and olives, you'd pretty much have it sewn up.
The almond trees bloom in February on the Mediterranean. Their flowers are the first thing to appear as sign of spring. Just gorgeous to see fields of these from a train window, even better to have a few in your own garden. You need two to pollinate.

I wonder if almonds can be grown in zone 8 North Carolina?
I was considering an olive tree in a pot,I’m not sure if it will be winter garden hardy here but can go in with the citrus.

[Shrinkrap]

Originally Posted by Tracydr

Working on a new section to my garden. Will have figs,artichokes,lavender,thyme,rosemary,potted citrus, pomegranate and grapes. I’m adding plenty of lime, it’s in a full sun spot, sandy soil and I plan to use crushed oyster shell for mulch.
Any other ideas?

Sounds familiar! Olives? Oops! That answer is already taken.

[GoDawgs]

I hear Georgia's ag folks are playing with more cold tolerant olives down near the Florida border so I was excited to hear that. Unfortunately, right now that's about as far north as olives will survive unless they're potted and inside the house during the winter.