AUTUMN ACTION FOR SPRING RESULTS

27^TH OCTOBER - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

The morning mists, the gloriously sunny days and late afternoons of mellow fruitfulness have arrived. The glories of the long autumn are evident in every quarter of the garden and country side. Amazing how quickly the nights draw in as soon as the clock changes; one hour back may not affect the growing cycle of the plants but it has an amazing effect on the Gardeners’ habits.

Plants, bushes and trees nurtured into exceptional growth since early spring suddenly become the target of the pruning saw and secateurs and must be cut back severely to ensure their continuity next year. The perfect horticultural specimen can easily become the garden ‘Thug’ when allowed to grow beyond acceptable bounds. 

Started the cut back with the lavender bushes.  The large native Portuguese lavender, used for hedges up to a metre tall, has already been trimmed and topiaried into tidy form.  (The cuttings have been planted around the trees in the orchard as the lavender aroma seems to reduce the number of pernicious insects during the fruiting season). 

Lavender cuttings around the base of a peach tree

Fruit trees have had much of this year’s excess growth cutaway, leaving the outward facing fruiting spurs in place for next year’s crop (always remove any branches in the centre of the tree together with any new shoots that face inwards.  This allows the air to circulate around through the branches, reducing disease and promoting blossom fertilisation). A handful of pellets of  proprietary fertiliser scattered around the base of each tree, one metre from the trunk, will promote excellent new growth in the spring having been washed in by the winter rains.

A well-pruned peach tree

 Fig trees should be severely cut back in the next few weeks to maximise the next crop. Cut back dramatically the Olive trees as soon as the fruit is picked (Olives are a bit like ‘Hens teeth’ in this garden in Portugal this year). Burn all the cuttings taken to prevent any spread of disease. Don’t cut back grape vines now as they will ‘bleed’, wait until the end of next February.

Good time to take cuttings from roses, flowering shrubs and vines, fuchsias and geraniums. (Should really have done this earlier in the month for best results but should still ‘strike’ if kept in warm sun during the day). Remove the new side growth on Yuccas and plant directly into the ground.  Winter rain will ensure their growth - no watering needed.

Cuttings have been taken from this favourite fuchsia

Still picking chillis?  Decide now which plants you want to over winter for early crop next year; if in tubs put in sheltered place; if in ground lift and ‘pot-up and keep compost damp, but reduce watering as the night temperatures fall. (Never water if there is any chance of temperature falling below 10C.)  Sweet Peppers are best grown from seed each year, so save some seed from the best cropping plants and put the others on the compost heap when the last peppers have been picked. As the Chilli Plant is most promiscuous and will easily cross with a neighbouring chilli of a different variety, keep some of the seed from any chillis in close proximity with other varieties and see if your breeding programme produces the ultimate HOT chilli (in excess of 1 million on the ‘Scoville’ scale next year)!

Plenty of piri piris in the freezer now - still looking pretty!

Winter Pansies and ‘Heartsease’ (small Violas) planted last week now growing well and producing new flower buds, should flower all winter whatever the weather and chill factor, with abundant colourful blooms.  Remember to feed every fortnight and never over water.

Pretty little Heartsease ready to give continuous show all through winter into spring

 Orchids (Cymbidiums) are now inside after their summer vacation on the terrace in the dappled sunshine under the Tangerine trees.  Should see the first flowering shoots early December for Christmas and New Year flowers. Hydrangea cuttings taken now and brought inside will bloom by February.

Garden still full of lovely flowers

Suns starting to set and the temperature has already lost 10C from mid day- been listening for the Head Gardeners bell for last half hour, must be my turn to make the tea,

must dash,

 see you soon.

Stuart.

SUMMER RETURNS!

20^TH OCTOBER – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

The ‘Second Spring’ certainly started with a ‘Splash’, not of colour but of torrential rain for ten days, accompanied by grey skies and cool wind - very depressing so early in the autumn season. But wait, this morning the sky has returned to brilliant blue and the temperature is again in the upper ‘Twenties’. The fickleness of climate never ceases to amaze. A quick look at the forecasting ‘Oracles’ assures continuing sunshine for a further six weeks with only a single day of rain in November - we shall see!!!!.

Everything in the flower garden has been drowned by the rain and decimated by the cool night airs but, on the bright, side vegetables seem to have prospered. Lettuce looks better than ever, beetroot and winter radishes thriving.

 

lettuce still thriving

 Even the chillis are burgeoning forth with masses of brilliant red fruits. With all the rain this year the oranges are very large already, although still very green. Tangerines, Mandarins and Clementines are starting to change to pale yellow, so should be ready for their traditional place in the Christmas ‘Stocking’. Figs are too plentiful to pick and the Diosperos  (Sharon Fruit) are starting their long journey to ripeness  The Portuguese variety suffer from the ‘Teeth Coating Syndrome’ unless absolutely soft and ripe when consumed.  This gives the grower a window of around forty five minutes around early February when they are worth picking for immediate consumption.  A  little of the Israeli’s horticultural expertise in breeding this fruit into a successful dessert could be applied here.

Should dried herbs be important in your culinary world, now is the time to trim the bushes and bundle the leaves for slow drying prior to winter use. Rosemary usual survives the winter months in-situ. However, cutting and drying does intensify the flavour for use on winter Lamb roasts. Cut back the mint varieties and remove leaves from stems and freeze as ice cubes - much easier to use. Same process for Sage, Lemon balm and Winter Savory.  Horse Radish is best left in ground until root required.  This will preserve the wonderful ‘heat’ for use on Roast Beef

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Still picking the Chillis as they ripen -  Piri Piri being put into last year’s Olive Oil to infuse into a ‘Fiery’ sauce within weeks (wonderful on ‘Spatchcocked’ grilled chicken, even improves ‘French Fries’ beyond the dreams of every Belgian.) Mode of Chilli preservation is a matter of national pride - we still believe they are better frozen. Possibly this is sacrilege in the eyes of many. 

 

more and more chillis and peppers

   The Hungarians and Poles tend to pickle as freshly picked; the Mexicans dry them; in Peru they make very hot sauces; in Texas they make the meat ‘palatable’ at barbeque picnics; the French ‘Stuff’ them (but then this is a national pastime) and the majority of ‘British’ tend to avoid as they are considered ‘Very Foreign’ with ‘Yorkshire Pudding’.

Tulip bulbs are planted and majority of cuttings’ taken for next year.  Collecting mature seed heads from any plant willing to supply. When taking chilli seeds note the adjacent variety of chilli as these are remarkably promiscuous plants and the cross bred seed may be the next ‘super hot’ variety ready for world domination amongst the ‘Chill officianados’(anything with a ‘Scoville’ heat in excess of 1million units should create financial security for ever for the ‘lucky’ grower).

Must get on with the Autumn pruning and enjoy the pleasure of the first bonfire of the ‘Fall’(fires are banned in Portugal from March to October). Think it must be a ‘Man Thing’ to enjoy garden fires as they seldom seem to be tended by ‘Ladies’.

Must dash - that could be the ringing of the Head Gardener’s bell disturbing the clear mountain air and solitude. Back to reality and coffee on the terrace in the glorious sunshine of late October,

 see you soon,

Stuart.

A SECOND SPRING SURPRISES

3rd. OCTOBER - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Only in the unique climate of the ‘Beiras’ of central Portugal can ‘Autumn’ and a second ‘Spring’ be experienced simultaneously. The influence of the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic ‘Trade Winds’ of October ensure that the temperature remains in the mid to high ‘20’s’ with the added advantage of copious rain (mainly at night to leave the days bathing in a halcyon blue sky).

Suddenly the summer ‘heat’ hibernated plants all rush into action with a myriad  of luscious multi hued green shoots bursting from the scorched earth plus the amazing ‘pink and cerise’ of the leafless Nerine flowers which never cease to create an image of life on another planet.

So, the season of ‘Mellow Fruitfulness’ is enjoined to a season of new life and anticipation.  Have always considered the gardening year starts on the 1st  December’ so the bonus of a ‘Second Spring’ in October and November softens the year-end ‘Blues’.

Good time to order your seeds for next season as the Seed Merchants all offer big discounts and excellent special offers at this time of year (it seems most of the buying world is concentrating on Christmas). About time you planted your new tulip bulbs if you want a colourful result in February and March ( having tulips blooming in a Portuguese garden in April just demonstrates lack of for-sight the previous ‘Fall’ – so there). Amarylis (Hippeastrums in polite circles) should be planted for Christmas blooming. (Remember, only two thirds of the bulb should be in the potting media, which should be just damp on planting. Never water until first flower shoots appear or you will only get leaves). Keep inside on a window ledge and enjoy massive, full blown, trumpets over Christmas.   

Last chance to take ‘over wintering’ cuttings from Geranium and Fuchsia, (take too late and they will not root and will usually rot off). Strawberry cuttings should now be rooted and ready to pot- on for next year fruiting. Good time to lift and split early fruiting Raspberries, or simply cut out the old canes and leave the new shoots to flourish. This keeps the bed around the same size for next year).

About time to do an early pruning on most of your fruit trees.  Remove all dead and diseased branches and cut out the middle of the tree and all inward facing shoots.  This keeps the trees from ‘rocking’ in the winter winds and encourages strong new growth. Cut the tall new shoots from Plum, Apple, Pear, Marmelos, Apricots and Peaches.  This makes them much easier to harvest when the fruit is ripe.

If Olives are poor again this year, (had this experience for last three years, abundant flower, little fruit set, could it be lack of bees?) give the trees a good verbal dressing down and threaten with total destruction if this happens again, then cut of the top third of the branches (that should ‘kick start’ its hormones).

Still picking Chillis, freezer full, taste buds ‘Fried’, but still they flower, fruit and ripen. Will move the chosen few plants into winter quarters in the next few weeks. (Fruit always ‘hotter’ in the second and third year according to the ‘Pundits’.)

The Head Gardener needs some herbs -  must be getting fed this week - and coffee is ready on the sun drenched terrace. What a life, but somebody has to enjoy it don’t they?. Must dash before the second bell (precursor to the fall of the ‘Sword of Damocles’ from the HG’s hand), 

see you soon,

Stuart.