Mandevilla are those nice red climbers that are appearing all over the place in markets etc now and I did very well with two of them last year.
elliven's activity
Questions Asked
If you have property in UK you might contemplate redirecting your mail to Italy during your sojourn. Please be aware that the mail people, despite you paying quite a lot of money might mistakenly send your mail from your bank back to the bank.
Tue, 02/21/2012 - 18:06
We have a number of external walls about a metre high, cement rendered on both sides and made of tufo blocks. Sadly the rendering keeps getting spalled off after the winter due to, I think water in the walls freezing and expanding.
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 16:15
Birmingham UK area with 95% dead yuccas this spring plus lots of ceanothus dead and indeed anything a bit tender, however I was not expecting more or less similar here in Lazio, the main victims seem to have been date palms , even well-established
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 15:54
Looking at a courtyard in Umbria I saw a tradescanthia plant, the one sometimes non-pc called wandering Jew. Got hold of a couple and potted up on my terrace in Lazio and lo and behold they thrive mightily.
Tue, 08/03/2010 - 17:32
Could any one with their finger on the pulse of the Italian economy please tell me why large petrol stations are springing up all over the countryside.
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 18:55
For the tech experts - can I use a UK gas oven in Italy attached to a supply from one of those big cylinders in the garden? I am thinking of bringing one out. In anticipation - thanks.
Fri, 03/19/2010 - 19:00
Rejoice with me for at last ENEL have recognised that I AM resident and therefore qualify for a lower tariff and wait for this ... they have back-dated my benefits to the initial application about three years ago! Oh joy!.
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 18:58
Great geraniums this year until visited by small brown butterflies - result flower heads dying followed by miserable appearance of whole plant.
Sun, 09/06/2009 - 17:53
I think I am posting correctly under the new system - however having started I will finish - I have a beautiful house for sale in a brilliant , for me at any rate location in a rural area with everything a UK buyer in to the Italian life could wis
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 16:59
Comments posted
I thought advertising your property on here was not done or am I missing something?
Thanks for the info and you're right about never giving up there's nothing more dead looking than an over-wintered pomegranate but they soon getting with a bit of judicious watering
Have tried Kangaroo Paws - v impressive during the summer but gave up the ghost in winter. Bottle brushes - Callistemon OK I have grown them from seed - quite easy if you have patience. Drought resistant and hardy here. Pot grown varieties will be better in flower but will need some water for first 2 years. Australian flowers are v interesting but some have rather specialised requirements. My current success story is Tradescantia of the non PC Wandering Jew type. Do very well , lots of different types, die down in winter but spring back to life after being put in a sheltered spot. Use a decent sized pot and give a bit of feed in summer. Will tolerate you going away for a few days . Only problem is getting new plants these days - yes I know your granny had one on the windowsill. As for selling plants I think I'd leave that to the local experts.
Forget veg. Yes it is very satisfying to grow your own but when yours are in season then more magnificent specimens will be available in the co-op etc and cheap too! Plant an orchard Fruit trees are cheap here and you can grow things like peaches and apricots and cherries. Upside - plenty of fruit for the family minimal work - prune once a year, keep the grass low maybe spray once a year Some water as the fruit is expanding can help but not essential Downside - your fruit will not look as good as the co-op but it can be picked when it is at it's sweetest Jam-making could be needed to deal with gluts but YOUR jam will taste great! Do not bother with sharon fruit as they are horrible! Good Luck
You might get away with using a decent sized container and putting it in the most sheltered corner you can find for the winter. Altho' water needs will be slight it must get some!
I shouldn't of worry about the phase of the moon as I ignore it completely without too much trouble. Although the locals do deem it of great importance. Double-digging is great if it doesn't kill you first. Constant useof the hoe (sharp!) is good provided the ground is reasonably soft. Before sowing I have to use a mattock to make any impression but after that everything OK. I assume you have no wild boar or porcupines as they will need fencing out. Don't forget some basil to go with the tomatoes. Good Luck! ( failing that keep a very close eye on what your neighbours are doing)
Leave them alone, proper nettles are stingers but if you are very poor can provide vit c , iron etc early in the year. These sound like dead nettles to me not the same thing!
Just a thought, if v slow to fill do check the filter in the inlet pipe. They can get blocked, particularly if you have a pozzo! Mine is a cheap co-op one - just fine, particularly as the latest model does not set off across the kitchen floor on its own.
If it's any help have a look at Gilkesenergy site, they have supplied the world with hydro-electric equipment from 5kw up for donkeys years from their factory in Kendal UK.
Hope you get sorted out, but if you use ADSL on a landline with a modem do remember to unplug the telephone line and the mains supply to the modem when leaving the house for any length of time and whenever the thunder gets near. I'm on my third modem but lately things have been OK after taking precautions. The same applies to heating boilers, laptops and printers - I kid you not!