Winter Ramblings from Central Portugal

 November 2013 

Bright Blue Sky and Brilliant Sunshine, Freezing Cold Clear Nights. Winter approaches in the “Beiras” and Christmas is nearly here.  Suddenly all the glories of warm weather gardening are looking very sad - about time the geraniums are put to bed, together with their new cuttings. Keep them in the light and a few degrees above freezing and they will love you enough to be magnificent by next May. Most Fuchsias will over winter if kept in the light and away from chilling winds.

  It’s the wind that does most of the damage to both the soft and hardy plants in the garden during the winter; remember 5 degrees becomes minus 5 degrees in a 10 KPH wind from the North East. Roses love the winter.  Keep them damp, not wet.  Remember when it last rained - it could be dry until January.

Last chance to - plant Broad Beans if you want an early crop in March, -prune fruit trees. Cut out the middle and trim top for height, and perimeter for shape.   Olive trees - just “murder” them as the locals do - plant cabbages if you must!!! but why would you really?  Hang chilli peppers up to ripen and dry in a sunny window.

Plant pretty violas for winter colour - and perfume - near a window from where you can enjoy them on cold days. 

Now settle down with a big fire and view next year’s seed catalogues. What’s it going to be then? Just the usual, or are you going to plant to impress next year. Maybe some strange South American highly scented flowering vines or strange shaped but taste free vegetable from deep within the Amazonian Jungle - or is it just the usual “tried and tested” again? Remember one of the benefits of living in Portugal is that most things will grow here with just a little effort.   Go on - experiment next year and enjoy the” Gardening glory” next summer from an early December “choice” adventure.

Enjoy the festive season with those new potatoes and parsnips you planted in September or a glorious bowl of Daffodils or Amarilis from that moment of late summer madness at the market! Oh! You forgot to get them “ in”. Never mind there’s always next year!!!!!!

Must dash or might miss Christmas and New Year “worrying” over those seed catalogues.

See you soon,

Stuart

AUTUMN TASKS IN THE PORTUGUESE GARDEN

 Autumn Tasks in the Portuguese Garden

After first eight days of the Portuguese Monsoon Season, 380mm of rain so far, and gentle wind from the south west at a constant 22degrees C., the weeds and grass in the orchard are beating all previous growing records, “Strimmer” time looms again if it’s not to be waist deep by Christmas. The wells got water again just when it has little use, yet another burden for the weary gardener’s shoulders, but very wet ground rules out ‘digging’ so some relief.

The Peppers and  Chillis are still enjoying a strong spell of  production -  seems the ’HOT’ chillis got mixed up during planting earlier in the year so careful ‘nibbling’ required to ascertain their position on the ‘Scoville’ chilli heat scale.  Currently three varieties in the pleasant to moderate category with two in the ‘AARGH’ level, but the colours are spectacular. Still awaiting the tasting of the purple ’Cardinals Hat’ variety, grown from Portuguese produced seed by a ‘Mrs.Bartlett’, which is claimed to have a ‘Scoville’ rating of 650,000.  Piri Piri is 150,000  so she has a remarkable sense of humour or must come from Gois

Basket full of a variety of peppers

 The early cuttings of geraniums, fuchsias, hydrangeas and roses all seem to have taken.  The recent rain has made further ‘Snipping and Sticking in’ even more viable.  Remember this is the time of year when you visit your friends’ gardens equipped with’ Secateurs and a Plastic bag’ to gather ‘plunder’ cuttings, much cheaper than the garden centre.

Fuschsia full of prospective cuttings

Daffodils need planting in tubs now if you want an early show, tubs are better than direct into the ground as this avoids feeding the mice throughout the winter months on expensive ‘Dutch’ treats. Make sure your compost has lots of sand and ‘Vermiculite’ for drainage as the bulbs will drown in the heavy rain.

Pinch out the middle of the Coleus you planted in late August for a good Christmas show. Bring in the ‘Over-summered in the garden’ Cymbidium Orchid plants. To encourage the flower spikes place plants in good light and keep moist but not damp. If you have a ‘Begonia Rex’ - that’s the Begonia with

dark red, pink and grey leaves and’ awful’ flowers -  cut a good leaf and ‘pin out’ on good compost in a tray or plant pot, cut the leaf veins,water and  you will have a pot full of new plants by next January.

Remember everything needs feeding NOW

Latest on the Angels' Trumpets - just look at it now!

Even more flowers out since this was taken last week

The sun's come out and the sky is suddenly blue, Ah! The pleasure of being a gardener in Portugal.

Must dash, bet there’s lot to do after the rain,

See you soon.

                       Stuart