Friday 19 June 2015

Creating a garden in the desert and summer plant camp

This week saw some last minute gardening. I sowed some seeds a few weeks ago I never imagined that they’d actually grow now we are in summer in Dubai. I’ve transplanted them now but I’m in Canada and relying heavily on hubby to water them for 3 weeks.




However, the weeds seem to be growing very well in the sand. I had to finish outside by 8.30am as that’s when the sun hits the sandpit full force and by the time I finished it was 33c with 66% humidity.




My Garden in the Sandpit has been entirely experimental, observing what the municipality is growing, visiting garden centres and just sheer potluck.




The marigolds were a great success, they grew well and flowered for ages, but sadly, this week, I was left with a big gap in the raised sandpit that needed filling.





During my visits to garden centres I’ve been purchasing ‘bargain’ plants. You know the ones no one wants to buy as they are at the end of the season and finished flowering, With a bit of TLC they are thriving and as they are annuals, they will flower again next year and slowly I’m establishing a nice looking flower bed.


Our garden and that of the neighbours is surrounded all year round by these plants, I have no idea what they're called, but they're very pretty.







Bringing the garden inside just hasn’t worked, it looked lovely for a few days, I had to refresh the water daily as it was heating up and the herbs and cut flowers don’t seem to like the constant air con and wilted within 3 days.





3 of the 4 tea cup plants have survived as they are houseplants and the two I placed outdoors in my bargain buy planters from Ikea are also doing well.




I have wondered what people do with their houseplants when they flee Dubai for the summer. Easy Dubai Garden Centre are offering to look after your plants free of charge. You are limited to 6 plants per person and no more than 1.25 meters in height, simply drop them off, the garden centre take care of them for you and you collect on your return.

I have some seedlings that weren't big enough to plant out before I left, I recognise some of them as Basil, but will have to wait and see when I get back what the others are.




Sadly, since taking this photo at the start of the week, the tomato plants are no more. They never really survived the move from direct sunlight to the shade and have failed to flower.


I just have to keep reminding myself that not much grows in a UK winter so why should it grow in summer in Dubai when the temperatures are at such extremes.

Next weeks post will be coming from South Africa and a trip I took in September last year to see the spring flowers in the Western Cape.


15 comments:

  1. Those big pink ones are bouganvillas (sp?)

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    1. thanks Louisa, i'm sure i'll just keep referring to them as 'cant remember their name' lol

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  2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainvillea

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  3. Despite some failures due to the extreme temperatures it looks like you are succeeding to grow somethings which is great :-)

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    1. thanks, by the end of dec i will have done a full year and be able to know what to plant when and where

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  4. I'm rather partial to 'bargain plants'. Most of the time they just need some water and a bit of deadheading. I put some bargain pansies in at the beginning of the year and they are still flowering. Glad to see you are finding a few things that will grow in the hot climate, nice to see all your seedlings too.

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    1. I'm hoping to start sowing again in september so that the plants are more established by the time I plant out in December, there will be more bargain plant buys for sure

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  5. I do hope that you and Catherine are having a blast in Canada at the moment - lovely that you are together.
    I really admire your experimental spirit when it comes to your garden, trying ,seeing what works and adjusting to the results. If your husband is reading this - get watering! ;)

    Thank you for joining in again lovely x

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    1. having a lovely time, yes hubby has been watering, he's moaned enough about it...lol

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  6. I'm with you on the bargain plant buying, I've had some great plants for next to no cost. What a great service from your garden centre looking after plants for free, can you imagine the response if UK garden centres did the same?! Hope you return home to lots of big healthy seedlings :)

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    1. I don't have any house plants other than the ones i've put in cups and saucers, i'm not very good with them at all

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  7. I'm amazed that anything can grow in such soil and indeed sand as it is some places. It seems your hard work in the garden this year is paying off.

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  8. You've had some wonderful successes here, such a shame that it's not that way for all the plants.
    Bargain plants are the best, TLC goes along way!

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    1. I'm impressed I've managed to grow as many as i have

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