SUMMER SUN AND HIDDEN PLEASURES

2nd  AUGUST – CENTRAL PORTUGAL.

DRIZZLE on the 2^nd August -  has the weather gone mad in Portugal? Or is it just a reflection of the current national problem?  Last week the Portugal News reported that 80% of the population are ‘dissatisfied’ with their lives.  Must plant more Sunflowers, as they always seem to improve the national spirit wherever they are grown.

The  chillis Wenk’s Yellow (or are they?) have now started to turn orange and the round fruits (two different shapes on same plant) are now bright red.  Could this be a new variety?  Chilli plants are remarkably promiscuous -  must be something to do with their heat.  Maybe  it’s a cross with Cayenne or Tabasco as they grew side by side in the last two years. Will save seed and see what happens next year (will have to think of a name - possibly ‘Stuart’s Peach’ just to further confuse the issue. Perhaps the seeds will be worth 1euro each on the world ‘Chilli’ market?)

Wenk's Yellow, turning orange

The ‘Californian Wonder’ Peppers really are true to their name;  must be due to the perfect ‘West Coast’ breeding  ( like their children - full of orange juice and sunshine). Up to twenty peppers on each plant already and still flowering vigorously.  Big debate is should they be picked green or allowed to go red?

Lovely big green pepper

Tomatoes are all starting to turn from basic green to every hue, from ‘Black Ukrainian’ through ‘Yellow Cherry Bell’, striped ‘Tigerella’, grey pink’ Garten Pearl’ to flame red ‘Gardener’s Delight’ (no, not named after Head Gardener), fire engine coloured ‘Red Alert’ to vermillion ‘Principe di Borghese’.  As always nature is truly wonderful to behold.

Lots of lovely tomatoes - many varieties

The Winter squashes are performing very well.   Just picked two ‘Galeux d’Eysines’ (very old French variety, bit like the ‘Tricoteuses’, covered in warts) It makes very good soup.  This pair weighed in at just over 5kilos each and not over ‘warty’.  The green ‘Burgess Squash’ are still maturing but also profuse. Here’s to a ‘windy’ winter then.

Our first two Galeux d'Eysines squashes

‘Cosmos’ is now 1m high and about to burst into glorious flower, ‘Petunias’ doing well after their summer ‘haircut’, 

Just one Surfinia Petunia in this pot

‘Fuchsias’ still full of decadent bloom, 

‘Dahlias’ reaching for heaven (up to 2m high with dozens of flowers), Roses are simply enjoying their second  ‘Wind’ and as usual perfection amongst the other flowers, 

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‘Datura’ massively profuse but still think it looks ‘Alien’,

 Geraniums are majestic and quite ‘imperious’,

 

Window box of geraniums beside basil - very convenient for the kitchen!

 ‘Plumbago’ a sea of blue

 

Good companions - soft blue plumbago with deep red roses

 and ‘Solanum’ rampant in white and rich purple. Yes the garden is looking good for August (never complain too much about the weather, a little rain and few dull days allows the ‘Showy’ plants to regroup and triumph).

White Solanum doing its "thing"

Grapes going to be poor this year, too much rain at the wrong time and good solid ‘dose’ of ‘Blight’ have seen to that, never mind still plenty wine left from the ‘good’ years so expect multitude of  ‘bad heads’ at the ‘Vinhos e Castanhas’ (Wine and Chestnuts) festival in October.

Must go and turn the Pumpkins ( gardening may be solitary exercise but there are  certain hidden pleasures not spoken about in polite company!) before the Head Gardener gets excited and starts ringing  the ‘Bell’ again.

See you soon.

Stuart

Note from Head Gardener - see, I promised you flowers this time!