SUDDENLY IT'S SUNNY AND WARM

25^TH NOVEMBER 2014 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Sun’s shining, simply amazing, thought it had been put out by the torrential rain.  Apparently not. as it is looking magnificent in a clear blue sky. Must be the old adage that ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’.

The trees are enjoying their last glorious fling of Autumn. The colours are sensational, as usual, but easily forgotten, turning the late afternoon into an ‘Impressionist’ paradise. Enjoy NOW as the fall will happen overnight leaving bleak bare bones of branches for at least three months. (Thank goodness for ever-greens).

Maples giving wonderful autumn colour in our town

This Catalpa (Indian Bean Tree) is already naked!

 

The mild but excessive wetness of October and November has fooled a number of plants into unseasonal growth and bloom.  Kniphofias (Red hot Pokers), Impatiens  (Busy Lizzies) and Canna Lillies are amongst the many. Maybe it’s not a second spring but an exceptionally early one.  Keep up the ‘Global Warming’ - or do warm winters reduce the amount of ‘Fossil Fuel’ burnt which then reduces ‘Carbon emissions’, which reduces ‘Global warming’? Bit complicated so make your own decision and join the ‘Hot’ or Cold’ camp.

Budding Kniphofia (Red hot Poker)

 

Busy Lizzies with seedlings below

Canna Lilies flowering in November!

Remember there are only four basic ‘Conditions’ in the World, Warm or Cold and Rich or Poor, basically ‘Rich and Warm’ is preferable to ‘Poor and Cold’ but is it a matter of choice?

Orchids are starting to bloom - some in flower, some in bud, some just making the initial effort. The thousands of variations in the orchid genus will always fascinate where ever the ‘Gardener’ decides to put down roots, which, of course many Orchids do not do, as they are happy to grow half way up a tree with their roots in the clear air(wonderful system must be nearly perpetual motion).

A selection of our orchids - Moth, spider and Cymbidium in bud

Cyclamens are making a great show on the terrace.  Most cyclamens bought for Christmas in northern climes tend to die quickly due to central heating and dry in-door atmospheres.  If indoors is essential, place plants on a cool window ledge on a tray of wet pebbles. Here in Portugal they survive as natural ‘high meadow’ and ‘timberland’ plants throughout the winter months.

Cyclamens around the base of an orange tree

Pansies and Heartsease are coming into their best.  All the plants are putting on lots of new growth and flower. Keep well fed for longevity. Primulas are also progressing well - always amazed to see their happy smiling faces on the most ‘dreech’ (Scottish term used to describe their usual weather in winter, Wet, dark, cold and misty) of January days.

Pansies, Heartsease and primulas preparing to give winter colour

The Tangerines are ready to pick (at least one month early). The skins have ‘thinned’(always the true sign of ripeness) and the segments are plump and sweet with that wonderful smell that ushers in the Festive Season.

Tangerines - ready early this year

Must keep ‘stringing’ the super red Chillis for the Head Gardener’s indoor decorations  as the birds have had all the Holly berries again. Is that a Reindeer Bell? No it’s the Head Gardener's summons for tea.

Must dash, see you soon,

Stuart.

15^THNOVEMBER  2014   CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Thunder, lightning soft hail and torrential rain, ( six days, 170mm of rain). Let’s consider the benefits of a Water Garden! If the pond is big enough you get to eat the fish - unless the locally friendly Heron gets there first (they usually do).

So what are the positives of all this ‘Weather’?  No watering  just now, at least not outside, the indoor exotics still need their daily ‘drip’ or ‘spray’ in the centrally heated interior (can’t believe the boiler is on full blast this early).

The cold never deters the determined Gardener but ‘THE WET’ has a definite negative effect on the morning enthusiasm. Potting Shed gardening is obviously the order of the week (forecast for solid rain for another week), comfortable chair by a well-stoked round stove with kettle simmering on the top certainly lifts the spirit on a cold wet day. This is the perfect environment for making those essential ‘Lists’ to prepare for the winter season and next year. A few of the lesser palatable tasks will include: Washing and sterilising the plant pots, dirty pots carry forward last year’s pests and disease; might as well start a little ahead of these problems next year. Clean and oil all garden tools and implements, dirty tools cause dirty habits. A row of pristine spades, forks, rakes, hoes and ‘clippers’ of various sizes (suitably sharpened) hanging on the shed wall always impresses the ‘Non Gardening’ fraternity when they visit the ‘Shed’: Service the power tools, ‘Strimmers’ and ‘Hedge Cutters’ always need lubrication, be it summer or winter. However, a good ‘clean and oil’ now will improve the ‘temper’ next March: Give the garden boots a good clean and heavy ‘wax’ if leather (keeps out the water on a ‘squelchy’ progress around the lower terraces): that’s about it from memory maybe should consult the ‘Head Gardeners’ recently prepared list of tasks to complete (Blessings and Peace be upon Her Head). – Note from Head Gardener – Amen!

Saving ‘Seed’ now will reduce the cost of next year’s cultivation. Bit late for Tomatoes (there may be the odd example still hanging on or in the fridge – may even be ok to take from the freezer if stumped).  Just the right time for Chilli and Peppers seed harvesting.  Take the pulp and seed from the middle of the fruit and spread on a thick piece of kitchen roll, leave in the open until the seeds have gone mouldy (this part is essential to create easy fertilisation when planted), when fully dry after this process put in air tight container until required.-  P.S. Best to label?.  (Note from Head Gardener – please don’t save too many – freezer has sufficient chillis for the next three years!!)

Oranges, Tangerines, Lemons, Limes, Grapefruit and Mandarins are  all looking good. Why not sprinkle a little ‘fertiliser’ around the base of each tree just as a ‘Treat’ or early Christmas present?

 Make sure the Fuchsia and Geranium plants put away in late October are not being wintered in a ‘wet and windy’ spot (never know what the vagaries of ‘Climate Change’ can do to your ‘Historic’ storage places). For some reason the summer Impatiens have re seeded, grown into fine plants and are now in flower on the most exposed part of the top ‘Belvedere’ terrace, so you never can tell what is the best policy with some plants. Maybe these are the ‘NEW’ hardy variety that the world is waiting for with baited breath.

Kettle’s boiling, stove needs more wood and the Head Gardener’s bell has rung for the second time. Coffee made (two cups), umbrella up (still raining), dash to the back door (don’t slip on the wet leaves). It’s bound to clear soon, after all this is Portugal in November.

See you soon,

 Stuart.

SO LITTLE TO DO - SO MUCH TIME!

10^th NOVEMBER 2014 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Four days of torrential rain, driving wind and low night and day time temperatures leave  a look of devastation in every sector of the garden at first inspection. Suddenly, whilst preparing for a further ten days of inclement weather, the sky clears and the sun miraculously appears in the firmament, temperature rises as if by magic into the low twenties and the sodden ground becomes instantly friable. Yes, this is a further chapter into the vagaries of gardening in Central Portugal in November.

Just the perfect day to plant a few rows of  Broad Beans for picking in late February. They love damp to wet ground and seem  to ignore totally the temperature variations.  The certainly make a dietary change from the culinary all pervading Cabbage of the winter months. The burden of Cabbage for the winter cook can be slightly alleviated by the wide choice of the varieties available. Those with a ‘Cast Iron’ constitution, and deviant taste buds, will enjoy the dark green striated leaves of the native Iberian variety.  This tastes mainly of ‘Iron’(so it must do wonders for the health of those who partake).

 However there are numerous other more palatable types available from large ‘Cannon Ball’ (perfect when blanched in boiling water and lathered in molten butter) to the pale ‘Eau de Nil’ of those designed specifically for salads and ‘Coleslaw’. The Portuguese ‘Red Cabbage’ is excellent for pickling or turning into the most unctuous of dishes to be served with the turkey at Christmas Lunch. ( Lightly boil, max.5 mins., the chopped cabbage leaves, drain, add brown sugar and a large glass of port, simmer for 30 minutes and enjoy), possibly just has the edge on Brussels Sprouts with chestnuts.

Having struggled with rock hard ground through the long hot summer, the plentiful supply of rainy days makes the earth easier to work, so take advantage of the brief respite between the thunderstorms due in the next two weeks and dig. Well-manured and deep-dug soil always produces the best results next season.  The effort instilled into the land now will ensure perfection in all garden departments from next March until late November.

First flower shoots are appearing on the Orchids. Just ignore and let nature take its course for the best results (maybe a very little water if the interior holding room is warm). Amaryllis are about to flower. Keep planting new bulbs for a long winter display. 

Pretty Spider Orchid getting ready to flower

First of the Amaryllis bulbs to enjoy through the winter months

Just picked the first Limes of the year. Expect they will continue to mature till end of January when the Lemon trees will be in full fruit. Tangerines and Mandarins should be ready for Christmas Stocking duty -  all well orange coloured - need a few weeks to become sweet. Orange trees are very heavy with fruit but leaves are starting to yellow.  Now is the time to sprinkle a  couple of handfuls of ‘Epsom Salts’ around the base of each tree (if in tubs spray on as a foliar feed for same result).

Tangerines getting ready for the Festive Season

Plenty of maturing Lemons

Todoay's harvest - Pomegranates, limes and those chillis - again!

Still picking Chillis - freezer full and can’t give them away anymore.  Must remember to cultivate half number of plants next year (maybe potting up the best plants to over winter undercover will reduce the pressure on the  propagator next spring). Buddleia cuttings taken four weeks ago are now growing, Fig cuttings looking healthy.  Lavender may fall to the ‘weed’ category if it keeps on out-performing expectations.

Note from Head Gardener - must insist on less chilli plants next season!

Buddleia cuttings below, Lavender cuttings above

It’s raining again, no ‘Brolly’ so will be rather wet by the time I can scramble up the terrace steps to the sanctuary of the Head Gardener’s coffee table

Must squelch,

see you soon.

Stuart.

HERE IT COMES - WET, WET, WET

3^RD NOVEMBER 2014 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

The ‘Second Spring’,  and an autumn of ‘Mellow Fruitfulness’ did not last long in Central Portugal.  Five days of glorious sunshine, clear blue skies and temperatures in the high ‘twenties’ has suddenly given away to heavy blustery rain from the South West and the thermometer struggling to get above 10 degrees. Cold nights, well below 10 degrees have put an end to any lingering growth in the flower garden (apart from Heartsease and Pansies, which are both just relishing the winter conditions). Summer vegetables not fairing any better (but it is November). The Chilli plants look sad (anything under fifteen degrees and the leaves start to fall) and the Fig trees and Catalpa (Indian bean trees) have all but lost their leaves. So the ‘Doom and Gloom’ of early November will last for another few days before the fresh air and blue skies of the real Autumn commence - looking forwards to Christmas Day drinks on the terrace in the mild mid- day sunshine under a clear blue canopy.

 Hear reports from the ‘North’ that they expect the ‘Coldest Winter’ in two hundred years, that North America is already experiencing a super ‘Cold Plunge’ of freezing Arctic air with heavy snow in the Mid Western States, that the North Atlantic sea ice is further south than usual and Siberia is very cold as usual (no change their then). Maybe ‘El Nino’ is growing up and moving south just to upset the ‘Global Warning’ gurus.

So what to do on an unexpectedly cold wet day! Collected all the geraniums from their summer positions, cut back this year’s growth by two thirds, topped up the pots for winter with a fifty/fifty mix of compost and sand, placed in a cool, light and frost free covered ‘spot’(second floor of open fronted barn) and sorted out the trimmings into large quantity of ‘plantable’ cuttings. (Always plant cuttings around  the rim of plastic plant pots, 150mm dia. for best results.  Water and leave to ruminate and grow roots during the winter months). Do the same for Fuchsias, Hydrangeas, Lavenders  and Euphorbias.  Plant ‘Whip’ cuttings from flowering trees, shrubs and fruit trees directly into the now wet ground.

 Best method is to take a spade and push into ground to depth of the blade, while in the ground pull handle forward leaving a space behind the blade, insert the 350mm long prepared cuttings into the bottom of this void, remove the spade and ‘heel’ in the cuttings.  Leave undisturbed until next April. Plant three cuttings for every single plant required this will ensure when two out of three prosper that a surfeit of plants will be available next year (the swopping potential, next spring, with fellow Gardeners will increase the varieties in home garden without cost).

Have you planted your Cabbages, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Turnips, Winter Radishes, Celeriac, Lettuce and Winter Greens?  If not, it is getting late and remember to plant Broad (Butter) Bean seeds by the 15^th November or your plants will mature in late March ready for the early ‘Black Fly’.(Plant now and pick in late February early March before this pest gets going).

Talking of ‘Getting Going’ there goes the Head Gardeners bell, must dash.

See you soon.

Stuart