Another new bee

[Busby]

Hello all you hardy growers. I'm in Switzerland, just near Zurich and I've had my allotment for 35 years now. And I've enjoyed every minute!
Looking forward to a mixture of hints, tips, knowledge, chat, experience, suggestions, worries, solutions - and so on...

[Shirley]

Hi Busby

:welcomeish:

35 years of being a lottie holder - I'm definitely looking forward to your words of wisdom

[2steps]

hello :) hope you had a god xmas

[the.fee.fairy]

Hello

I'm also eagerly awaiting any knowledge you can impart!!

Is it nice in Switzerland at the moment? I have a friend who comes from there. He went home for xams, but i haven't been able to speak to him yet.

[red]

welcome!

[Wombat]

Wow, Switzerland!

Welcome to the site Busby!

Nev

[Rough Jack]

Gidday Bushy

Welcome to this place. It sure is a very diverse bunch on here.

By the way, I heard that Switzerland had lost most of it's snow, is that right?

And what do you grow up there?

[The Chili Monster]

[Millymollymandy]

Hi there and welcome!

[Busby]

Thanks for those generous welcomes, it's nice to be amongst people who are all fascinated by the same interest.

Just to answer a few questions: The ground is frozen here as we are at a height of 500 metres, but snow is only to be found at the moment at about 15oo metres, cold enough though to let the snow machines run - something, by the way, with which I don't agree. If we all complain about warming up the planet and then let these machines run for days outside , well, what else can be expected.

There is a very strongly growing English/British representation here in CH and some of them are my neighbours in the local allotment area. In fact CH has the highest ratio of foreigners than any other country.

I'm off to breakfast!

[Rough Jack]

Gidday

Hey Bushy, I'm from New Zealand and I always thought that Switzerland was a lot higher than that. What sort of things do you grow?

This sure is a great place to find out what people with similar ideas can learn what others are doing.

[Busby]

Yes ,most of Switzerland is naturally higher than 500 metres, in the Alps the mountains have a height 0f 4500 - almost 5000 metres. The mountain summer falls in June when those pastures which haven't been spread with artificial fertilisers are covered in an amazing range of beautiful flowers.

The difference between those things grown in England (I can't speak for NZ) isn't so big. But we have a lot of vineyards in the north of CH, mainly for white wine. This isn't exported but kept for home consumption, it's a very fine wine, somewhat more than just dry but very fruity. South of the Alps in the Tessin there is a mediterranean climate allowing a completely different sort of gardening and here red wine, mainly Merlot, is grown. The French part of Switzerland has many famous and rich wines, mainly from Pinot Noir grapes.

Outside we can grow celeriac, winter salad sorts, melons, aubergines, kohlrabi, chillis and florence fennel. Swedes, turnips and celery are almost unknown. Most of us have some tomatoes under cover because hails storms are frequent in summer. These storms can also play havoc with cherries and lettuces etc.

The fee.fairy asked if it is nice here at the moment. Well as long as there is fog and mist in the lower regions, as there is now, you only have to get above the fog to be in the sun. At the moment it's gorgeous. In case you don't know you get browner in winter than in summer because the alpine sun is so strong.

From where I live it's about 45mins to get into the sun.

[Andy Hamilton]

I will double wombats wow switerland it- I am glad you found us and welcome to the site.