Allotments 4 All

Would welcome any advice any one has for growing things in hotter climes, particularly re the likelihood of the normal stuff we grow here surving. It's about 25 degrees there at the moment  :) I'm interested in veg and pretty stuff aswell.

Where's Antipodes? Probably weeding.  ;)

Try the Seeds of Italy website for ideas as they cover most of Europe but are originally based, obviously (!) in Italy. I would suggest, if there are drought issues, that you plant things further apart so your veg plants aren't competing with each other for limited water. Also perhaps a little deeper, and work in plenty of bulky organic matter such as manure which will improve the soil structure and help retain water - adding compost for example will have the opposite effect.

Hope this helps, for what it's worth!

Been thinking, you could grow chillies and peppers and olives and stuff like that? Lots of citrus fruits and banana plants maybe? My grandparents have a house in Normandy but the climate is pretty much like the south of England so they grow pretty much what we grow there.

http://www.seedsofitaly.com/ - they are excellent seeds, especially the beans.  Misticanza (mixed salad) is also very good.  Buy online, they despatch very quickly.

Re seed, there was a thread earlier that might interest you both regarding Baumaux seeds.

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,27402.0

To go directly to the site...

http://www.graines-baumaux.fr/

HAHA ! You were quite right, I have been doing some real gardening instead! Agree though, it depends where in France, it's a big place and the north has an English style climate while the south can have either a lush (SW) or mediterranean (SE) climate. Here in the West there are good conditions for growing veg as it is mild.
You can plant just about anything you can in the UK and more of the hotter stuff like tomato, melon and beans. Here many gardeners grow what is called half-dry beans (demi-sec) like Coco de Paimpol, that you let swell in the pod and pick Oct-Nov for eating or freezing, they make lovely casseroles. Also lots of different salad varieties, like lamb's lettuce, chicory endive, winter scaroles and roquette.
There are a few gardening oufits, I prefer Jardiland because it is a bit cheaper but there is Truffaut (pretty but dear) and lots of local places to buy plant starters and seeds. I find that the DIY places (CAstorama, Leroy Merlin) often have cheaper potting mix, tools etc.
In my lot this year I have/could potentially have if it grows :)
garlic, onions, potatoes (white & red), lettuce, roquette, peas, dwarf beens (green/yellow), toms, peppers, chilli, melon, pumpkin, strawbs, gooseberry, raspberry, cape gooseberry, carrot, parsnip, beets, fennel and herbs.
tell me where you are, you can PM me no problem.

Hi Yorkshire, Long time no write. Didn't we once correspond on Corn on the Cob, multicoloured. How does that grow in France. How is  Marje...regards Ken69 Your pm inbox says tis full.