FORECAST SET FAIR

15^th AUGUST – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Sun’s back!!!!   Mid ‘thirties’ the last few days and set fair for another couple of weeks (or so say four out of the five ‘Forecasters’ consulted.) Have to admit the US based service is most accurate, the Norwegian, most pessimistic (but then you would expect that), ‘Accu. Weather’ based in Monte Carlo, the most optimistic (using such terms as ‘Lovely day’ and ‘pleasant light airs’ and ‘Weather Bug’ always cloudy with occasional drizzle ( wonder where they’re based?). Living on top of a hill thirty Kilometres from the ‘Atlantic’, the most accurate forecast is the view early in the morning from the bathroom window. South Westerlies- Cloud and Rain (Summer or Winter); North Easterly - Blue Sky, Sunshine and cool breeze (All Year); Westerlies - Cloudy or Mist and Heavy Rain; Easterlies - windy (Cold in Winter, Warm in Summer); South Easterlies - HOT.

Roses keep on going!

Final demise of the climbing beans this week, a  poor crop this year (Head Gardener says ‘Must do better’), due mainly to cool nights in May and June together with general lack of early pollinating insects (must be due to ‘World Cooling’?). Bean bed replanted with second crop Cucumbers (seeded in mid-July and doing well) and lots of Lettuce (Red, Green and Brown) for September salads with the Tomatoes, seeded on the 16^th June and already at the ‘Fifth’ truss.

Second planting of climbing beans, and various lettuces

Sweet Corn are sensational. The flavour of this ‘60 day’ variety from California is as good as it gets - straight off the plant, boiled and eaten with ’salty’ butter, it really the ‘Best’. While praising the US Seeds-men, must  say that the ‘California Wonder’ Peppers are way ahead of others tried over the years. They are bountiful in crop and crisp to eat, (just as a Pepper should be)

First Chilli consumed was ‘Wenks Yellow’ (but orange when ripe) medium hot when yellow, hot when ripened to orange; and ‘Hungarian Wax’ which is best when young and ‘banana’ yellow. ‘Piri Piri’ (Birds Eye Chilli) are amazing in their quantities on each stem (up to twenty chilli on each so every plant will probably produce two hundred ripe fruits) with ten plants in cultivation we can look forward to a ‘very hot’ winter at the kitchen table. ‘Palivec’ and ‘Cherry Bomb’ are also trying hard to make a name for themselves this year. (We will see the results in October of all the vying participants.)

Big handful of piri piri chillies

The ‘Perpetual’ Lemon tree is doing its bit continually to surprise. Grown in a tub and only three years old it has Lemons in various stages of growth, plus an amazing display of flowers, with equal ‘Portuguese sunshine’ and ‘Tonic Water’, ‘Gin O’clock’ should continue throughout the coming months without supply interruption.

Lemon blossom keeping the bees busy - smells wonderful too

 Picked the last ‘Plums’ yesterday. They are still a little hard but a glorious rich deep purple and very sweet.  To get the balance between ripening to perfection on the tree and being the ‘central feeding station’ for Wasps, it’s best to ‘soften off’ in the controlled conditions of the Head Gardener’s Office.

Today's crop of lovely plums

‘Surfinia’ Petunias just had their second haircut of the season - always intrigued to see how they manage to re-grow and flower profusely within ten days of their ‘Trim’. (If left they tend to fade away after their first flower flush). Cosmos are now in full bloom (in pink, purple, magenta, white and mixed combination of aforesaid) and well over one metre tall (dead-head, water and feed in abundance).  They should then keep going until end of October then seed profusely. 

mixed Cosmos - so elegant

Cut back Dahlias now, feed well and wait for the September display, it never disappoints. Just keep feeding and watering the Fuchsias for a continuing display (must be one of the greediest plants in the garden - needs weekly feed, but never fails to reward the effort.  N.B. It’s a good time for cuttings, early rooted plants survive the winter and start to flower in  April.

   

Can't resist - more roses

Dry spell and fierce sunshine have reduced the ‘weed’ strimming efforts in the orchard. Head Gardener now frustrated as the signs of perspiration are less evident at coffee time, expect it will be ‘window cleaning’ and ‘wall painting’ instructions to keep the pores open on those ‘expected’ brilliantly sunny days to come. Must dash and find somewhere hide in the shade,

see you soon.

Stuart.