SHOW TIME!

19TH JANUARY - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Still cold but frost seems to have gone.  Heavy rain one day and glorious sunshine the following – must be the pre-cursor of the Portuguese Spring which is just around the corner and can be expected during the first week of February. (seems the ‘Jet Stream’ has moved north once again and is ‘pummelling’ U.K. and the Northern ‘Euro’ using states- but for how long?).

 Got a reminder from the local Garden Club regarding their Flower Show in May (so Spring is definitely imminent). Must plant flower seeds as well as vegetables to ensure representation in every available class (not for competitive reasons but to ensure the ‘Show’ is full of exhibits – being ‘Olympian’ is the true Gardener’s way – taking part being more important than winning). The early morning walk around the garden prior to the ‘Show’ is the time to harvest whatever is available and proceed to the venue for the ‘setting up’ of the maximum number of ‘classes’. If all Club Members do this, without considerations of ‘perfection’, then it should be memorable success on the day. (There is nothing embarrassing about having a ‘bent’ cucumber or ‘twisted’ runner bean).

Still pruning and burning, although the wet days are causing more smoke than usual.  Good time to get on top of the weeding before the added moisture and warmth of spring encourage the usual ‘express’ growth. While the ground is soft it is a good time to dig out the ever present tubers of the ‘Poke Weed’ (a present from the U.S. in the ‘fifties’) and burn to ashes (even the smallest chip will re-establish it’s self within a year), it can never be eradicated but can be 

given a seriously ‘bloody’ nose, so act now!.

Fig tree after pruning - have assured the Head Gardener that it will grow back and produce fruit!

 Orchids are looking good, those ‘over summered’ on the terrace and brought inside during late November are full of flower buds, but a word of caution when moving to their ‘Showing off’ position - make sure the buds are starting to open. Took the first plant with a flower bud stem into the kitchen in early January hoping for a magnificent display but within one week the twenty two buds turned yellow and fell off. leaving a barren stem.  So much for a ‘Growers’ vanity.

Cymbidium Orchids budding up nicely - hope these will open soon

Also made the mistake of planting out last May three large pots of ‘Snow Drops’. After intensive search, this morning, nothing in evidence, so must have made a tasty snack for the garden mice?. Have found over the years that the only bulb to survive ‘un-eaten’ is the daffodil (but only the ordinary and inexpensive ‘Yellow’ varieties; the fancy expensive bulbs also seem very attractive to the garden residents).

Still pondering which variety of Tomato seeds to plant ( being swayed towards any that offer in- bred ‘Blight’ protection after last summer’s fiasco) and have strict orders to minimise the production of ‘Hot’ chilli, so shall concentrate on Sweet Peppers starting with ‘Californian Wonder’(still seems the best for early, large fruit in copious quantity) and ‘Corno Rosso’ from Italy for long, sweet ‘Mediterranean’ cooking peppers (found most of the ‘Multi coloured’ Spanish cultivars look good but have little taste).

Just a small selection of the different varieties of chilli pepper now filling our freezer!

 Note from Head Gardener - we have enough chilli peppers in the freezer to keep us and the whole village supplied for the next 10 years!

Well all this ‘in-depth’ contemplation and lack of ‘stoking’ attention has let the stove go to a faint glow, hope the Head Gardener’s bell rings soon as a coffee would be most welcome, particularly in a warmer environment as the stove has now gone out.

There goes the ‘Bell’, must dash and get warm –

  

see you soon.

Stuart.