It is time to forget about spinach

The big sandstorm which paralysed much of Greece also affected Symi with the thickest cloud of dust passing over the island in the early hours of this morning. We will be covering the story and its ramifications in greater detail in the May edition but suffice to say, not even the Symi was not allowed to run in this one and is only just about to depart for Rhodes now with a boat load of rather disgruntled tourists who spent an unscheduled weekend on board! We have heard that Rhodes airport has now reopened, as has Pireus so things should be back to normal soon. The forecast for the rest of the week remains unsettled with more southerly winds and possible rain on Friday and Saturday.

Unfortunately none of the rain which was supposed to accompany this latest storm fell on Symi apart from a few muddy spatters. It has been a very dry spring thus far and the grass is dying back in many places. The wild garlic only lasted a few days and it is only those plants whose defence mechanism for survival involves producing as many flowers as possible in a short time that are putting on a good show at the moment. This is one of those years when the poppies outnumber the yellow daisies. In the garden, despite daily watering, most of the radishes ran to seed without forming good roots and leaf crops are bolting. It is time to forget about spinach, parsley and lettuce and concentrate on tomatoes, courgettes and peppers. Digging up potatoes for dinner is becoming increasingly hard work and now involves cracking the crust with a pick!

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana