Gardening in Israel- Intresting points from abroad

After a week of no gardening (second week of a course fire fighter finished-ho ya) - I think this cold weather might be a good time to read about gardening in a hot country.Gardening in Israel Does not have a long history and is not part of a culture like the English gardening.But in about 65 years from no gardens to very impressive gardens and many gardeners, plants and fashions.In 1940 there were not even many trees in the country- as the Turkish empire Used their wood for steam trains. The Pioneers that arrived to the country came from all around the world- some with no gardening culture and some with lots of knowledge from Germany or other places in Europe(sure they had to learn and try new plants in Israel).The plants list was very limited as It was hard to grow plants with no irrigation. sourcing plants from other countries was limited too.With the years there were more and more plants that came to the country and also lots plants were bread from the wild plants to the gardens.In Israel we celebrate every spring a birthday to the trees- At that time everybody planting trees-not just in their gardens- where ever possibale- many services at schools and so. It is when the almonds trees are blooming. (there are few songs and so like ''the almond tree is blooming and sun is shining).But still it was far from real gardening till about the 80's when irrigation systems were in use not just for agriculture( at that point there was lots of knowledge and research for the greatest source of farmers that grow flowers to export).Suddenly you can grow nearly everything and faster and even better (warm winter and about 8 month of hot summer) Many plants brought to the country from south Africa, Australia,and Europe.All sorts of tropical palm trees were very popular and that point, bedding flowers and all perennials, After few year of drought on the 90's fashion was more easy care plants and lots of Australian plants.The end of 90's there were lots of impressive gardening projects -gardens became a fashion everywhere.Private gardens or municipal projects.Indoor or on in balconies and penthouses.Nearly all gardens got a green lawn, tropical plants, herbs and fruit trees-the list of fruit is very long (maybe on another day) but some are far harder than others as the hot climate enable lots of pests.One of the most impressive gardens in Israel and the world is the bahai gardens in Haifa, The bahai is amazing religion- that can go well with any religion and science theory and in Israel the bahai got few gardens.I think it was open to the public at about 2000. It was build in the centre of the city on the carmel mountain. In the centre it is formal Italian style and on the sides it is nearly wild garden.The way the garden was build and maintain is amazing- All cut by hand.The stone work made from local stone that was shipped to italy to be cut there and buck to the garden.Enormous budget.It is very shortly more next time.

Hi Cat, It is made me smile as the county I was brought up called Sharon (and sure I loved it- lots of citruses flowers and beautiful beach).

The Sharon fruit like many others is not originally from Is China, But yes it is grown in israel well and is part of the israeli culture I can guess (Israelis eat lots of veg and fruit from breakfast till night time)
I never ate it-not sure why- probably as being fussy with food but I had a a tree in one of the gardens that We maintained and studied a bit about fruit here is a bit for you Cat -especially

The name in English is Persimmon, popular in jappan and china as commercial plantations and today in Italy Brazil Argentina Spain and more. It is Usually eaten fresh and the main worldwide trading of this fruit is, true Cat, from Israel. In some countries is eaten dry.

Yes main problem is to make it ready to eat, some varieties you can not eat the fruit Unless it is really soft the fruits usually picked before there are ripe -and get artificial ripening. The fruit are fully ripe when they are fully orange color. In one of the varieties (triomf) you can keep it under water for three days, change the water daily and keep it for day or two-out the water.
I know it sounds mad- I just read about it now- so another way is to freeze it -and can actually keep it frozen few month .
It is full of keratin (vitamin A) 2 fruits are contain more than daily recommended amount.

The main thing I remember is that It is not good to eat more than 2 a day (not sure what the tummy effect)
from gardening point of view , Deciduous small tree -needs some cold weather. nice big leaves that turn to red at Autumn, It can produce fruits after about 4 years .
Thats all
for now
It is good for cooking, jam and so.

"Others have ID ed it.
I chop them off at ground level with secutears then spray a drop or two of Praxys on the wound... if it doesnt killt he first time, it will the 2nd or 3rd"

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Comments

PRO

Craig McGinty February 1, 2009 at 10:14pm

Hi Ofer,

The Bahai gardens look quite stunning!!!

Just spent ten minutes looking over the Bahai gardens website as well.

Thanks for highlighting such a beautiful place.

All the best, Craig
Cat Fereday February 3, 2009 at 4:37pm

Ofer - Hi. I'm interested in the Sharon fruit - I've bought a couple from our local market, but I'm never sure when they are ripe to eat or if you can cook with them. I think - sorry if this is wrong - that the Sharon fruit is from Israel. Is this correct? If so, can you tell us more about them / any recipes?

Cat
Ofer El-hashahar February 3, 2009 at 7:52pm

Hi Cat, It is made me smile as the county I was brought up called Sharon (and sure I loved it- lots of citruses flowers and beautiful beach).

The Sharon fruit like many others is not originally from Is China, But yes it is grown in israel well and is part of the israeli culture I can guess (Israelis eat lots of veg and fruit from breakfast till night time)
I never ate it-not sure why- probably as being fussy with food but I had a a tree in one of the gardens that We maintained and studied a bit about fruit here is a bit for you Cat -especially

The name in English is Persimmon, popular in jappan and china as commercial plantations and today in Italy Brazil Argentina Spain and more. It is Usually eaten fresh and the main worldwide trading of this fruit is, true Cat, from Israel. In some countries is eaten dry.

Yes main problem is to make it ready to eat, some varieties you can not eat the fruit Unless it is really soft the fruits usually picked before there are ripe -and get artificial ripening. The fruit are fully ripe when they are fully orange color. In one of the varieties (triomf) you can keep it under water for three days, change the water daily and keep it for day or two-out the water.
I know it sounds mad- I just read about it now- so another way is to freeze it -and can actually keep it frozen few month .
It is full of keratin (vitamin A) 2 fruits are contain more than daily recommended amount.

The main thing I remember is that It is not good to eat more than 2 a day (not sure what the tummy effect)
from gardening point of view , Deciduous small tree -needs some cold weather. nice big leaves that turn to red at Autumn, It can produce fruits after about 4 years .
Thats all
for now
It is good for cooking, jam and so.
Cat Fereday February 3, 2009 at 8:14pm

Thanks Ofer.