Hello from france

gentian · Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 16

Hi, I found this site awhile back, but lost internet for a month due to a large storm we had here in the south west of france. just wanted to say hello and looking forward to reading the forums. I'm originally from ireland but been out here quite a bit. Spring feels like it has sprung, even though frost can still come calling. I have a decent size garden which I have to admit was very badly hit by the winds and now I have a lot of trees lying and waiting to be cut up which we have started, but it's a big job. Grow most kinds of plants and all my own veg and fruit, almost !

sal · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject:

hi from sunny kerry Smile

Liparis · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:46 pm Post subject:

Hi gentian. Have fun.
Bill.

PennyG · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:28 pm Post subject:

Hi there and Welcome. Very Happy

BlackBird · Ash Tree Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 208

Welcome to the site gentian. I think I would put up with your winds for the ability to grow grapes outdoors. Must be magical.

gentian · Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 16

Thanks for the welcome !!!
now there's a lot ot be said to be able to pick a grape straight from the vine, do you know what's better though? picking a warm peach or fig, dripping in juice, still haven't lost that thrill of doing that !!

Sive · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:34 pm Post subject:

Hi Gentian, Whereabouts in France are you? Are you in a town or a village? I couldn't imagine anything lovelier than picking your own figs! Welcome to the site.

walltoall · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject: Hearty welcome from Essex

Bon jour, Gentian. Ca va? Nice to have an out-of-towner lending extra width to our conversations. I have grapes and figs (well most years. See previous posts). A big fat lucsious fig in the late evening in July is to die for. Hope to see lots of posts from France this year. A biento

gentian · Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 16

Hi I am down in the south west, merci !! yes fresh figs are just a treat, I only eat them off the tree.

gentian · Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 16

Forgot to say I'm in the countryside!

walltoall · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject: among the rustica francais

I would never have suspected Ha Ha Did you ever read C'est la Folie by Michael Wright? It's ok! It's in English. He went native in the SW. In fact he is still there and he is only hilarious.

I'll be interested in what you decide to tell us from your perspective. Here in Essex the weather is more like France than Ireland. It makes for great fascination for me having lived in Clare for 25 years! Until I came to Essex I don't think I ever experienced blue skies three days in a row.

I just today did the last pruning on my fig and I suppose the grape will erupt shortly. They make one work don't they or have you found a way of getting grapes by doing nothing? If you have I want to know.

gentian · Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 16

No I don't know the book, do you know where he was in the SW ?
I must prune my grapes now you remind me, I see them out in the vineyards finishing off the pruning. Have you climbers or just wine grapes ? I tend not to prune my figs much, just branches that get in the way. Blue skies 3 days in a row, that made me laugh !!

walltoall · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:00 pm Post subject: climbers or winers

Now you are confusing me.

My grapes climb up all over a pergola and I stuff the ripe grapes down my neck in September if I score over the starlings. So which is which or what?

As for "la folie" .............

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3334272/C%27est-la-folie-having-a-ball-(or-two).html

Trust me this guy keeps you interested. Try googling

c'est la folie michael wright

gentian · Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 16

Often climbing grapes are grown as dessert grapes, ie to graze on as I do !, whereas the smaler ones are grown to produce wine. what varieties do you grow out of interest ?

walltoall · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:30 pm Post subject: This is a great way to learn

I have only one vine. The grapes are purple and small, a little tart but very edible even when fully ripe which they do late September. I have no idea what variety the vine is but it keeps me busy. I'm on a steep learning curve as they are being trained all over the pergola. I am experimenting with nipping out whole hanks before they begin to swell in the hopes that the remainder will grow bigger. Roll on 2009