HOT WEATHER MAKES FOR HOT PRODUCE!

28th JULY -  CENTRAL PORTUGAL 

Very HOT!

Hungarian Wax

 After a very misty start, the thermometer made 35 degrees yesterday.  Looks as if the same or more for today. Weather not the only thing that’s ‘Hot’ in the garden - Chillis have taken off with a vengeance, now that twelve varieties of seed were planted.  However, am having considerable problem recognising the varieties as  some of the labels have become mixed during early growth.  Recognition becomes easier as they start to mature.  Piri Piri are small (even when they are ripe) and ‘Palivec’ have a certain ‘Je ne c’est quoi’. ‘Bartletts Bonnets’ (similar to the ‘Scotch’ variety but plants grow to 2m high) and ‘Cayenne’ (350mm high at a push) are easy.  However,  ‘Hungarian Wax’ and ‘Jalapeno’ look similar and are green until maturity. ‘Tabasco’ is orange, 25mm long with fruits which grow upwards on the plant.  They are also VERY hot if nibbled). ‘Wenk’s Yellow’ is yellow to orange, 50mm long, lozenge shaped, and is a mix of Peruvian native chilli and the ingenuity of a California plant breeder called ‘Wenk’.  (Yes! definitely spelt with an ‘E’). ‘Cherry Bomb’ (red and round, what did you expect it’s all in the name?) is medium hot.  They  should all be  open to recognition eventually. ‘Paper Lantern’ is tall for a Chinese cultivar and extremely hot (Scoville 450,000 so there).  ‘Serrano’ is  tall for a ‘Mexican’ and also hot when allowed to ripen to ‘Dark Red’.  This may lead to the thought that the taller the Chilli plant the ‘Hotter’ the fruit.  Expect all will be revealed by October. (By the way ‘Full Fat’ Greek Yoghurt is an excellent stand-by to quench burning lips and tongues caused by excessive Chilli imbibing).

Wenk's yellow, turning orange!

Cherry Bomb

Serrano

Palivec

Tabasco

California Wonder

Paper Lantern

Amazed at the growth and flower on the late-seeded tomatoes (those planted 16^th June following the outbreak of ‘Tomato Blight’). They are now at the fourth truss with fruit starting to form.  Is it really worth planting in March hoping for an early crop and then suffering massive disappointment when they go brown and die? Those plants that stayed free of the blight  are Varieties ‘Red Alert’, ‘Principe de Borghese’, ‘Roma’, ‘Garten Pearl’ and ‘Purple Ukraine’; one American, two Italian, one German and one Ukrainian, (no Portuguese cultivar survived). They are now happily producing an abundance of tomatoes, around 2 kg. per day, with lots more to come - should crop until the emergency plants start to produce fruit in a couple of weeks.

After the poor results from the Cucumbers planted in April, re-seeded  last week and up to sixth leaf already, so late September Cucumbers here we come. Also seeded some Beetroot (Sanguina) Winter Radish (Wiener Runder Kohlschwarzer) and ‘Romanesco’ Cauliflower  (that’s the green one with the ‘knobbly’ bits) all up to the eighth leaf already (in eight days from planting).  Obviously all very anxious to please the Head Gardner.

So the ‘blurb’ on the seed packet was correct - Sweet Corn, 60 days from sowing to eating   Ate the first cobs for supper last night. It really is impossible to beat the  flavour of freshly grown, picked  and cooked served with butter.  (Note to self - must write to seed company and apologise for the negative thoughts of last month).

Sweet corn - doing its thing -almost as high as an elephant's eye!

Still ’Strimming’ and ‘sweating profusely’ in the orchard.  Is it ‘false hope’ that, by cutting the weeds back before they flower, the orchard will turn into a ‘Meadow’ next year,  or should the weeds be left to flourish, flower and seed then it can become a ‘Fashionable’ Wild Flower Meadow?  (Having viewed the ‘Show’ Gardens at ‘Chelsea’, ’Hampton Court’ and ‘Tatton Park’ Flower Shows (where hardly a cultivate plant seemed to be used) the latter option may reduce the ‘perspiration’ and induce kudos from those who view the ensuing ‘tangle’.  Don’t expect the Head Gardner would be too pleased with this result.

That sounds like the ‘Bell’ must dash ,

see you soon.

Stuart.

Note from Head Gardener - we grow beautiful flowers too - more next time!