HOPES BOTH BLIGHTED AND ACHIEVED!

8^thJULY - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

A perverse week of rain, wind and dark clouds has finally been replaced by brilliant sunshine, blue sky and temperatures getting back to normal. It is amazing the havoc one week of cold wet weather can cause, especially when it is completely out of season. The ‘Tomato Blight’ that was presumed conquered at the end of June has returned with a vengeance, even three spray applications of the ‘Magic Potion’ have had no effect on one bank of ‘tub grown’ tomato plants (the speed with which the leaves turn brown, the stems turn black and the fruit rots is astounding and ‘very annoying’). The emergency tomato seed plantings when the ‘Blight’ first appeared on the 16^th June have now become the ‘great future hope’ for a tomato crop this year. Nature maybe ‘Wonderful’ but it certainly knows how to keep Gardeners on their toes!

The poor weather has not affected the Chilli and Pepper plants. They seem to gain height by the day and are now covered in flowers - fingers crossed for pollination in the current sunshine and heat (the ‘over wintered’ chilli plants are now heavy with ripening fruit, so it does seem to work). Aubergines having wallowed in deep depression for the last three months have had a change of heart and are now coming into purple flower and are growing 6cm per day. Haricot Beans and Climbing Beans are cropping freely, cool days have kept the ‘Black Fly’ at bay, and there are plenty of bright red and deep purple flowers coming into bloom on the now 2m high vines.(See picture below).

Cucumbers are ‘rubbish’, Courgettes are in full production and the ‘Winter Squashes’ are now 4m long with a selection of green, yellow and beige globes growing larger every day. Great year for lettuce and radish. The ‘Sweet Corn’ has another 24 days to produce ‘table ready’ cobs (according to the story on the most expensive seed packet?).

WINTER SQUASH COMING ALONG NICELY

Peaches are splendid this year, have started picking whilst a  little ‘hard’ to ensure well ripened fruit rather than over ripened fruit on the tree. The three varieties of plums in the orchard are starting to ripen well - the ‘Golden Yellow’ first, the plump ‘Reds’ next (large, sweet and juicy) followed by the ‘Dark Purple’ in around ten days

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PEACHES,  PLUMS, BEANS AND COURGETTES IN ABUNDANCE

Fuchsia are still in full bloom, Roses getting a little tired(must feed and water well for a late August show), Dahlias big and ‘blousie’ as always, Petunias coming again after the ‘big chop’ ten days ago,Erythrina (Brazilian ‘Tears of Christ) and Campsis (8m high and a mass of yellow flowers rather than the more common orange) are paying their way this year.

 

ONE OF THE PRETTY SMALLER FLOWERED FUCHSIAS

 

BUDS OF THE ERYTHRINA HAVE NOW OPENED - VERY EXOTIC

 

DAHLIA, COLOURFUL AS USUAL

 

FLOWERS OF THE CAMPSIS LESS COMMON YELLOW VARIETY

Well if the new found weather decides to stay the ‘Blight’ may disappear as quickly as it came. Might get some respite from the Head Gardener (can’t hide in the shed much longer!) See you soon

Stuart.