Growing from seed in a hot dry climate

Egypt

I have a garden in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. I can obtain the usual, ubiquitous plants like Bougainvillea, Oleander, Hibiscus, Jasmine and Basil but the range of plants available here is very limited. I have tried seeds brought from the UK and had some success this year with lupins, poppies and courgettes but many seeds just won't germinate. I especially want to grow Lavender. I have tried sowing Lavender seeds in a variety of places and seasons such as pots indoors; outside in the very sandy, poor soil; in compost outside, all to no avail. I thought that, as Lavender is a Mediterranean plant, the conditions here would be ideal. There is an irrigation system in my garden. Do you have any idea how I can get lavender to grow here? Also do you have any idea what else I should be able to grow with some success? I want flowers and perfume in my garden and feel very frustrated having had lovely gardens in the UK in the past. Many thanks, Jane

On plant Lavender

12 Jan, 2014

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Answers

Bulbaholic

It is one of the downsides that you get by relocating, Jane. I am sure that the permanent hot and sunny weather of Egypt is great but you cannot expect to grow an English cottage garden easily or without a lot of expense.

12 Jan, 2014

Wylieinthea..

Go to www.dianeseeds.com/flowers/plants-warm-zones.html
I have bought seeds from her in the past, and like her. She has a list of what will grow in warm zones like yours. When we have a mild fall, petunias will continue to flower. Snapdragons will winter over and flower again. You should try for something every day of the year. Also try googling what grows in zone 11 for suggestions.

12 Jan, 2014

Janey

Hello Jane.....I had wild lavender growing in my garden in North Eastern Spain. The terraces faced north and the land was chalk stony and scrubby. Though the plants had maximum light, they were sheltered from the sun at the hottest hours, only the long stemmed flowers baking in the heat. The plants always looked sparse and spindly yet produced an incredible amount of blooms, attracting so many insects to the garden. Obviously this lavender along with many other wild flowers were native to the region, have you seen lavender flowering elsewhere in Sharm?

Try and have a look at what is growing in waste land and dry, free draining areas, you will more than likely see the forefathers of many of our garden plants. Scabious, antirrhinums, verbascums, violets asteracea (daisy like)
brooms and herbs like rosemary thyme sage.

12 Jan, 2014

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