29th DECEMBER - CENTRAL PORTUGAL
Strong wind out of the
North East has dropped the daytime temperatures dramatically in the last few
days and lowered the night temperatures well below freezing; not a usual
condition in Portugal, even in mid winter. As the old adage suggests ‘One night’s frost
is acceptable, Two nights of frost is unusual and Three nights on the ‘trot’
invariably constitutes disaster for the Orange and Tangerine crop’. The problem
surely lies with the Swiss expressing their desire, prior to Christmas, for
heavy falls of snow to facilitate ‘Skiing’ in their mountain resorts (bet they
don’t grow oranges!),causing a vortex of extremely cold winds to blow over
France, Spain which creates ‘freezing’ discord in Portugal. (Must get the Head
Gardner to have serious words with them - that should get them ‘sorted’).
Well Christmas is over
and it’s nearly time to return the Christmas Tree to the garden for another
year. Don’t replant in the ground or it will start to grow vigorously after the
visit indoors; best to keep it in the pot
and encourage another year of the ‘Bonsai’ effect. Those trees purchased in
northern Europe without roots should by now be mostly free of any pine needles,
these having been inherited by the carpet or vacuum cleaner, and will already
be anticipating their demise in the ‘Shredder’ and recycling to compost (Never
let it be said that Gardeners don’t keep the natural world going).
Not a lot happening on
the flower or vegetable terraces just now.
Lettuce, winter radishes (Moule), beetroot, turnips and cabbages seem to
be the only ‘fare’ still performing (and of course the Chilli Plants, which still
have vast quantities of brilliant red ‘very hot’ fruit to pick. Note to Head Gardner -‘Is this where all the
HEAT has gone?). Flowers still blooming include Roses, Kiphofia, Fuchsias (obviously
the Arctic strain), Pansies (no not those with ’dainty’ clutch bags and ‘blue’
rinses) and the usual assortment of seasonally disoriented ‘climbers’ plus the
ubiquitous cyclamen that continue to thrive in the cold.
After last summer’s ‘multi
blighted Tomatoes’ have been trawling the internet for ‘Resistant’ seeds. ‘Defiant’,
‘Jasper’, ‘Mountain Merit’ and ‘Sun-gold’ seem to be the most tried and tested
(at reasonable price per seed). There would also appear to be a new strain
available, which can only be bought in Europe as a pre grown plant at around
Eight Euros per plug (is this to ensure the patent licence is not breached?.
When did nature allow ‘Patents’ to ’granted’ on her bounty? Seems it’s an idea
from the US, so buy one, if you can, ‘Save seed’ and plant profusely the
following season). However, these plugs can only be purchased in UK, Holland and Germany
(Growers must have relations in Belgium!). It would seem that sustained and avid
spraying with ‘Daconil’ (very effective on the dreaded scourge) will be the
only way to a blight free tomato crop on Portugal next year.
Now what should precedence
in the ‘Propagator’ from the 1st January 2015? Certainly not
tomatoes - best to wait until end of March
as the ‘brought on’ seedlings seem to hibernate when planted out earlier than
late April. Maybe a few Chillis (will have to sneak these in without the
knowledge of the Head Gardner after the miss-calculation on production quantity
this year). Might concentrate on the less fiery varieties and the ‘Sweet’
peppers for 2015.
Will leave all the other seed packets hanging
on the Potting shed wall for a little longer, put another log on the stove,
relax in the chair and await 2015 with only the anticipation that can be mustered
by an ‘Old’ Gardner. Well just got ‘cumfy’ and there goes the summoning ‘Bell’
- must be time for coffee and the New Year.
Best wishes from the
Head Gardner and her Staff,
must dash
See you soon
Stuart.
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