Robins are favourite birds of many of us, a symbol of winter and the festive season. At Viveros Florena one arrives every autumn-time to overwinter with us and join us in cleaning-up chores around the garden centre. This little fluffy bundle of friendliness, weighing only 20gm, can fly 3000 km in the space of a week or so to escape the icy conditions further north. Over the last decades their numbers arriving in Spain have been steadily increasing, linked to abandonment of the campo and reforestation. However, in very recent years, this upward trend is reversing and it is believed to be because of climate change – northern winters are becoming less harsh, food is still available, so they stay home. The robin is an important bio-indicator, one of the first of the birds to note change in our climate. We feel extra lucky to have a robin around this year. During the lockdown, I found our robin dead in the garden – possibly an argument over territory or simple old-age for these fiery red warriors have a very short life, sometimes as little as 2 years, averaging 5 years and the oldest recorded at 13 years. Maybe this new arrival is offspring, a continuation of the robust red line. Great devourers of slugs and snails (as well as worms, but not so many of those in our Spanish gardens!), they are friends of gardeners and balm to our souls – we always smile when we see a robin!!
Important Days of the Month:
1st December: World AIDS Day
2nd December: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3rd December: World Day for the Handicapped
4th December: International Cheetah Day
5th December: World Soil Day/World Water Day/International Volunteer Day
6 th December: Día de la Constitución. Fiesta in Spain
8 th December: Viveros Florena 25 th Birthday and Christmas Market
8th December: International Children’s Day, World Pear Day,
Feast of the Immaculate Conception, fiesta in Spain
9th December: International Anti-Corruption Day, World Techno Day
10th December: Human Rights Day, Nobel Prize Day
11th December: International Mountain Day
12 th December: Worldwide Candle Lighting Day
14th December: World Energy Conservation Day
15th December: International Tea Day
18th December: International Migrants Day
20th December: International Human Solidarity Day
21st December: Winter Solstice, Yuletide, International Dalek Remembrance Day
24 th December: Viveros Florena will be closed until 10 January 2022, inclusive
25th December: Happy Christmas Day
31st December: New Year’s Eve, Hogmanay, World Peace Meditation Day
Moon Phases: New moon 18th December and 31st December is the full moon
December Birth Flower: the narcissus. Don´t confuse this with the daffodil (a type of narcissus), which is the birth flower of March. Here we are talking about winter flowering narcissus which are native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. Commonly known as jonquil, it is one of the earliest flowerers in the year and is commonly depicted as a harbinger of spring. Narcissus takes its name from the mythological Greek figure, Narcissus, a handsome youth who was so vain that he become transfixed by the sight of his own reflection in a pool of water and stood gazing at himself until the gods eventually turned him into a flower. For that reason the flower depicts self-admiration and egotism – their upright stems bend at the neck to be able to admire their own image in water. We have in stock narcissus albus plenus odoratus, an heirloom cultivar which was introduced around 1860. The packed white petals stained with a yoke-yellow centre are famed for their fabulous perfume. Our narcissus Pueblo, a native of the southern Med, reminds us of all our lovely pueblos. It’s a perky little flower that opens soft primrose-yellow; as the petals fade to creamy-white, the cup stays yellow – a very pretty combo. You’ll get several flowers on one stem and it is tolerant of wet windy days. A potful of these would make a delightful little gift – come and see us and we’ll pot them conventionally for you.
Narcissus albus plenus odorata
Narcissus Pueblo
And to make it even more festive, let your narcissus join the party! Incredibly, it has been found that these small-type narcissus grow stronger with a tipple – gin is ideal! A common problem with forced indoor bulbs is that they can grow rather tall and floppy – not what you want in your narcissus! By using alcohol, they will grow 1/3 to 1/2 shorter on stouter stems but with equal-sized flowers. How? Plant your bulbs in stones, gravel, glass beads etc. and water as normal until the roots are growing and the shoot is about 5cm tall. Then pour off any excess water and replace it with a solution of 4 to 6% alcohol – any spirit will do if it’s around 40%. Add 1 part alcohol to 7 parts of water. Then use this mix for subsequent irrigation. Don’t give them the dregs of your gin and tonic – they’re not keen on tonic, these fellas like it neat! If you don´t believe me, grow 2 pots, one as a control.
We’re so lucky with our winters in southern Spain. Yes, it’s very nippy at nights, but once the sun says hello to another bright crisp day, it’s a delight to be out there. As gardeners, winters are much less onerous than in northern Europe. No need to lift plants and store them from frosty weather; bulbs and herbacious perennials can stay snugly in the ground. No pots to wrap to protect them from frost, no snow to knock off conifers and succulents (well, barring three times in my memories of Cómpeta) and no ice to break on frozen ponds. Just throw a bit of fleece over more tropical plantings. But don´t think you can just laze around – these are busy times for gardeners! Although we’re still waiting for rain, it is good planting weather. Cooler conditions allow plants to settle in without stress, dewy mornings give moisture and sunny days convince them to grow!
Planting: Remember with new plantings to firm them in well and check after heavy winds to make sure they haven´t loosened. If plants are rocking, they don´t get a chance to root in and establish. Apply a mycorrhizal rooting product – this increases root growth by up to seven times and makes the plant much more self-sufficient in terms of water and food. It’ll save you money – and heartbreak – in the long run.
Trees: Generally, plant at the same depth as they are in their pot and never cover the graft line. It’s important to dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball and a little deeper. Backfill with a half and half mix of compost and garden soil. Fibrous side roots will be the first to develop, searching for water and food so it’s vital to invite them to spread. In most cases, the tougher tap root is quite capable of breaking through poor soil.
Fruit Trees: We are constantly asked for more unusual fruit trees. I know the feeling, once you’ve been here a few years, you’ve got all the common types. So, some new ideas: in citrus, kumquat, limequat, Buddha’s hand, lime, kaffir lime, finger/caviar lime, Yuzu lemon and the delicious Meyer lemon (which is a cross between a lemon and a mandarin and, hence, slightly sweeter than a straight lemon). In deciduous fruit trees, try mulberry, kaki/persimmon, crab apple (a super pollinator for all apple varieties and very pretty and useful in its own right) and the oft-forgotten nut trees – walnut, chestnut, hazelnut and
pistachios. All will grow with us and we have stocks.
Keeping warm: Don´t forget the horticultural fleece now that nights are colder. At only
€0,60 per m2 you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes to tender plants/new plantings.
Just cutting the wind and the wind chill factor makes a huge difference to things like mango, avocado, banana, papaya and some succulents if conditions get really frosty. Older plantings can usually cope, but if your babies are tiny, wrap them up warmly.
Mulching: Part of keeping warm is protecting roots too and after heavy rain, is an ideal time to apply mulch thickly. Triple purpose, it keeps roots warm, renovates soil by improving earthworm and beetle activity and blocks weed growth. An organic mulch is always best as it will be incorporated into the soil, bit by bit, and improve growing conditions.
Protect your palms: palms are semi-tropical and tropical plants, so planting in areas like Cómpeta is not always advisable. There are a few you can safely plant, in order of hardiness.
Chamaerops humilis is our dwarf Mediterranean fan palm and it will survive brief cold spells as low as -18C, so no problem there. Butea capitata is another low-grower, not often seen, and hardy to around -17C. Phoenix dactylifera, the date palm, to -16C and its cousin phoenix canariensis, the Canary Island palm, commonly used here, is hardy to around -7C, though it will experience a lot of leaf burn at that temperature. Washington filifera and w. robusta will support the same sort of temperatures as will brahea armata (the lovely Mexican blue palm) and brahea edulis. Trachycarpus fortunei is another one that will be happy at -7C. You’ll often see arecastrum romanzoffiana on offer but it is really not hardy enough around Cómpeta unless you have a really sheltered courtyard garden; it’s a beautiful palm but don´t be tempted unless you live on the coast. When palms are newly planted, or in exceptionally harsh conditions, tying the leafage together will help protect the heart, stop the leaves getting battered and ease wind resistance.
Harvesting: Lots of citrus mature around the end of the year. Keep picking and eating those golden blobs of sunshine! They taste fantastic fresh from the tree and are so good for us.
Cutting Back: With the long and late autumn, there’s still time to cut back herbaceous perennials. Leave grasses for the birds, if you’re happy with the natural look – you’ll enjoy the bird acrobatics – and, if the grasses get lightly frosted or heavily dewed, they look fab!
Pruning: If you live in a very cold area, you may prefer to leave pruning evergreens until early spring so there’s no danger of new growth getting frosted. Remember that citrus trees are pruned after the crop has been taken or, in the case of lunar lemons (perpetual fruiters), prune branches now and again (avoiding the summer months) so as not to lose flowers and fruit. Deciduous vines, fruit and ornamental shrubs and trees should all be pruned once they have lost their leaves. Olive trees are pruned after harvesting, December into January. Right at the very end of this month and all through January, you can prune roses but more on that next month – I’ll give you full info then.
Wind: if branches crack or break during strong winds, cut them back cleanly. Safer for you and better for the tree.
Winter Veg: It’s time to sow things like winter lettuce, radish, beetroot, chard, spinach, cabbage, pak choi, cauliflower, peas, beans, leeks, onions and garlic and root crops like carrots. Work the soil well for carrots otherwise you’ll end up with some weird twisted offerings, though tasty all the same. We have bio plug plants of most of these in stock, an easy and quick way to get you going.
Beasties: Keep a sharp eye out for processionary caterpillar nests. If they’re low you can just cut out the nests and burn them. Always cover up well and mask the eyes and mouth when working around pine trees; the fine caterpillar hairs can blow around in the wind and cause severe irritation. Under new European regulations, the Ynject system that we used to offer is no longer available to home gardeners. You have to be properly licensed now to use the insecticide and it means employing a professional. We have a spray product if the pines aren’t too high. The only other answer seems to be traps wrapped around the tree trunks so that when the caterpillars start to descend, they are trapped, but you need a very tight seal between the trap and trunk or they will find their way through.
As the threat from the palm weevil abates somewhat, its close relative, the agave weevil, is
ravaging all agaves, yuccas and dracaenas. Please do look out for your yuccas and dracaenas, most people don’t seem to realise that they are also under attack. The weevil seems to have a preference for mature plants and is particularly fond of the agave americana, the grey-leaved century plant; the variegated form does not seem to be so desirable, though I’ve noticed that as the greys become rarer, the stripes are also being attacked. Prevention and treatment is difficult because the grubs live and do their damage right inside the thick heart of the plant. Preventative spraying with a 10% solution of neem
oil, weekly, is probably the best bet but, once the plant is under attack, it is almost invariably too late. You will see huge agaves rotted and collapsed in gardens and roadsides.
Fungal Problems: This is the time of year when fungal diseases are very prevalent – things like mildew, rust, black spot etc. Spray with organic neem oil or copper fungicide; a cheap home-made solution of skimmed milk, water and bicarb of soda is effective on minor infections. It is largely a seasonal thing too, as plants tire and weaken so don´t be too concerned if your roses and deciduous trees are looking sad. Once leaves have dropped, gather them up (if infected) and dispose of them. Give your bare plants a spray with copper fungicide to prevent over-wintering of the disease. This is important in almonds, peach, nectarine and plums to stop the spread of peach leaf curl.
Save Our World: The new environmental buzz words are 15-minute cities; a concept where residents live within a 15-minute walk or short cycle ride to most facilities, such as healthcare, schools, employment and food. Walkable neighbourhoods have been popularised by the Parisian mayor Anne Hidalgo and French-Columbian scientist Carlos Moreno (both with remarkably Spanish names!!). The idea derives from a time when cities were designed for people rather than cars. Many of our European cities still have this core
but automobiles have been allowed to squeeze, bludgeon and blur boundaries. The famous Parisian arrondissements each have their own particular character and they are traditionally proud of their unique identity – a series of ‘villages’ within the city. Re-borne during the covid epidemic when travelling was restricted, it’s an idea that is catching on. It would be grand, let’s hope it’s not just a dream.
Job of the Month: Our new supplies of roses will be arriving this month from Holland. Lots of new and exciting varieties, especially chosen for Mediterranean climes. Take a look on our web page and pre-reserve with us. Because they’re bare-rooted, they’re cheaper, establish quickly and, for those of you further away, we can easily post them to you.
Tip of the Month: Get on down here!
We are 25 years old this year – memorable and (largely) happy years! We think we’ve helped changed the landscape of Cómpeta and surrounds for the good. If you look around the hillsides, it’s not all avocados and mangos! Our gardens contribute hugely to the livelihood of wild creatures and help our planet to survive.
A huge hug and thank you to all who have supported us over the years and helped us grow from nothing to a green and very personal oasis. We’re proud of ourselves but we’re even more proud of you all for proving that we can all live together in harmony.
We’re going to celebrate all of this big style on 8 th December and we want you all to come
and join us. It’s going to be a mighty shindig with, currently, 35 stalls scattered all over the
garden centre. All sorts of lovely craft stalls from local people. Forget the big shops, support small businesses. Come and get some lovely unique and special gifts from these creative people. We need them in our villages, towns and cities, so let’s show it by supporting them.
And, of course, it’s going to be fun! We have Danza Africana Málaga – Ballet Sunugal coming to kick up a storm – don´t miss this fabulous show. Followed later by Skatz – he’s new to Cómpeta and is going to keep the music and song going through the afternoon. Anybody want to jam? – we’d love to have you all! There’ll be lots of food and drink to give you energy to sing, dance and be merry.
Plant of the Month: As the end of the year looms, it’s good to think of all those years that have gone by. One of the plant families that has seen more years than most is the magnolia tribe. Fossilised specimens of magnolia acuminata have been found that are 20 million years old. These were some of the first flowering plants on earth, along with water lilies, and were around long before pollinating insects. Botanists conjecture that they grew aromatic flowers to attract beetles for pollination. Imagine what this family of trees have seen! The first primates, for example, emerged 2 million years ago when magnolias had already been around for 18 million years! Plant one of these true survivors in your garden and, one day, you’ll be able to hug it and feel the waves of generations gone by. A true monster in our lives.
There’s always something happening at
Viveros Florena Cómpeta
with Shabby Shed Shop, The Shambles down below and our Café
with free tea and coffee whilst wandering around our little paradise
stuffed with interesting plants, art and treasures!
Drop us an email and we will add you onto our mailing list to be kept up with
all the latest happenings!
And, in case we haven´t said it enough yet, our fabulous Christmas Market and 25 th
Birthday Party is on 8 th December.
Our Team want to wish you all a happy Yuletide, filled with lots of joy.
We will be closed 24 December 2021 until 10 January 2022, inclusive.
Lorraine, Maddie, Grace and Ainhoa – we’re here to help you!
Opening hours 10am until 4pm
Closed Sundays and Mondays
Tel:689928201/681168400/633884096
Axarquia Garden Club 