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
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