SUNSHINE ALL THE WAY

31^st March 2015   CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Glorious sunshine, midday temperature in the mid twenties - just managed to squeeze in the last bonfire of the spring season. Total ban on garden fires from the 1^st April to 31^st October due to Portugal’s propensity for forest fires. Vast areas of the Beiras are planted with Eucalyptus trees (which really burn well) which are used to make paper. The BombeIros Volonterios (Volunteer Fire Brigade in every country town) is a Right of Passage for the majority of young, and not so young, men with a smattering of young ladies now also joining. It is amazingly dangerous and unfortunately there are often fatalities amongst the BVs, so everyone obeys the Ban (encouraged by a 1500 euro fine) and is ever grateful for their brave and appreciated service to the community.

The last few days of lovely weather have propelled the growing cycle of many plants which leap forward with great alacrity. Everything in the  cold frame is chaffing at the bit to be moved forward to its final growing, cropping or flowering position. Runner Beans are about to be introduced to their growing  pyramids, whilst the Haricot Vert (seeded directly into the ground two weeks ago) are at the sixth leaf. Aubergines will be planted out by the weekend, half in tubs and the balance in raised beds. (This provides insurance if there are any cool wet periods in April or May  as the tubs are easy to move for protection).

Raised beds are being prepared for the first of the sweet Peppers, ‘California Wonder’ for the green, ‘Summer Sunshine’ for the yellow and ‘Corno Rosso’ for the long reds. And again will plant a tub of each, just in case of prolonged wet weather.

The Petunias are planted - F1Hybrids in troughs and Surfinias in planters, as they tend to expand in every direction in their profundity. Have found the secret of longevity with all the varieties of Petunias is to prune them back severely in late June and again September, feed well before and after the trimming  and they will be back in profuse bloom within ten days and will continue to flower until the cold of  November.

The first tentative shoots are appearing in the Dahlia tubs (find planting in the 90 litre grape baskets (black plastic and 2.30€ each at the Co-Operativa) with a mix of spent potting compost from last year with 30% addition of  estrume  gets the best results (with continual feeding throughout the growing and flowering season of course).

  

Nothing beats Dahlias, in all their guises, for colour and flowering profusion - such a shame they are cheap and easy to grow as otherwise they would be the darling of the gardening CognIcenti and not consider vulgar in Chelsea and the Home Counties.

The first rose buds should open next week, the first always open immediately after the Wisteria makes its gracious appearance in regal purple . (This is imminent as the flower buds on the Wisteria are just showing colour). The yellow ‘Banksii’rose will take the honours, closely followed by the magnificent ‘Golden Magic’(prolific rambler with small intensely golden double flowers and a hint of claret at the heart of the flower).

Really getting quite excited with some much beauty  appearing from every corner and talking of  beauty. there goes the Head Gardener’s Bell, 

must dash,

See you soon,

Stuart.

NB  Pictures to follow - Head Gardener

FLOWERS EVERYWHERE - WONDERFUL SUNNY SPRINGTIME

22^nd  MARCH 2015 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Tulips are at their best - glorious colour and shape combine to produce something that could only be originally Dutch. They are growing in pots as the combination of very hot dry summer and ravenous mice make ground planting impractical, so we just have to imagine those endless fields of spectacular colour about to burst forth in Holland.

Tulips - from Lidl!

Same again - need one say more?

 Iris are flowering on the spring terrace. The ‘Delft’ blue flowers always arrive first, followed by yellow, bronze and then the deep purple (almost black) to end the display. As with Tulips, the display always seems to come slowly and disappear too quickly. (Maybe it’s a sign of ‘Age’ and nothing to do with the  plants).

The first of the Iris - many more colours to come

Spectacular displays of blossom on the Plum tress - always amazed at the amount of flower that can be ‘crammed’ onto each branch, twig and spur. The blossom is the same each year but the fruit crop only follows in such profusion every two to three years (must be similar to mature Gardeners and the prevalence of ‘Exhaustion’). The Peach trees in all their guises, White, Red, Paraguayan, ‘Wild’ and Nectarine, are also quite splendid in their floral display. Hope the wind from the Northeast does not put in a prolonged appearance to disseminate embryo fruit as it did last year with the Olives.(A visitation not unheard of in March but not expected, as last year, in late April).

Plum Blossom

Peach tree which just "appeared"!

Having reasonable success with the seed germination in the propagator but, as usual, the ‘mixing’ of varieties causes ‘chaos’, some seeds poking through in two to three days, while others stubbornly take twenty five to thirty. This usually means that if the ‘removal’ timing of the precocious seedlings is not perfect, they tend to become ‘leggy’ or ‘rot off’ and have to be re-seeded.(This ‘mixing’ in the propagator is due to the experience of many years of seeding the whole quantity in the seed packet and ending up with excessive quantities of plants as euthanizing the mass of healthy but un-useable plants has never been acceptable).

Ground planted ‘Haricot Vert’ seeds are about to burst forth, Green and Yellow Peppers and Aubergines are ready to plant, half in tubs and the rest in the vegetable ‘beds’(this method stretches the productive period of the plants from first ‘picking’ in July to end of crop in late November).

The ‘Strawberry farm’ on the Belvedere terrace is progressing with amazing vigour. Two of the four varieties of strawberries are planted in fourteen raised troughs to allow the anticipated ‘massive’ crop of fruit to hang down in garlands of large, colourful, sweet and very tasty berries by June.  They are well in flower and have started to form fruit, whilst the other plants are still lagging well behind (would be happy to give details of the ‘plants’ but all have been ‘market bought’ or ‘scrounged’ and are without ‘nomenclature’). The best producers over the season will remain and will replace the ‘non-performer’s next year.

Ready for a fruitful strawberry season

The recently relocated Raspberry canes continue to grow into verdant green growth, the remains of last year’s canes having burst into life with a vengeance and there is even sign of new growth from the bases of the ‘transplants’. Feed, water and sunshine should do the rest.

Sweet corn is about to be ‘seeded’ individually in the cold frame for a ‘first picking’ by the end of June. Trying out two new varieties this year, ‘Franchi’s’ Mais Zuccherino (very Italian) and ‘Mr. Fothergill’s’ Swift F1.(‘Extra Tender’ claimed on the seed packet, so would assume of North American origin). Both claim to be ready in 90 days from planting (watch this space for results).There is no comparison between ‘shop bought’ Sweet Corn and the magnificent flavour of a freshly picked ‘cob’ eaten within fifteen minutes of being picked. Just one more benefit of being a ‘Home Gardener’.

The early Clematis ‘Armandii’(both white and pink) are now in full fragrant flower, wonderful to be greeted by their exotic bouquet and abundant flowers first thing on a ‘Gardening’ morning.

Clematis Armandii at its stunning best - can't download the perfume - sorry!

 And the Easter Lilies are appearing right on time as usual.

There goes the ‘Bell’ and the patio terrace has still to be ‘washed down’(has to look good for the Tulip pots as everything ‘Dutch’ is always very clean). So quick ‘swill’ and off for a most welcome coffee (still a little ‘chill’ in the air when the wind blows).

Must dash, see you soon,

Stuart.

ALREADY VERY COLOURFUL IN CENTRAL PORTUGAL

16^th MARCH – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Sun’s still shining, bit colder than last week when noon temperature reached high ‘twenties’ three days on the trot, but still in the high ‘teens’ with a little rain forecast by Thursday. Everything is certainly growing, including the weeds (those plants which grow where the Head Gardener has not designated). The tubs of Tulips (planted last November) are bursting forth being Dutch they are mainly orange and always most welcome. March is the real time of year for Tulips -  those blooming in late April always seem to hold the summer back (so plant early next year if yours are yet to show buds).

Tulips bring lovely colour to the patio

Always amazed to have Petunias in flower when the Geraniums are being brought out of hibernation. The warm weather has persuade the over-wintered cuttings to show signs of life.  These, together with last season’s ‘Mother’ plants are ready for re-planting or, in the case of last year’s established cuttings, top dressing . (Use your own compost or a proprietary brand for this and remember NOT to feed as this will slow the flowering cycle with excess leaf growth). The Fuchsias, being lovers of a rich environment and lots of ‘food’ can be top dressed now by removing the top 75mm of soil from their pots and replacing with a rich compost or ‘well rotted’ manure (then just water and stand well back to keep clear of growth).

Geraniums repotted after winter

The first of the petunias getting started

The Roses, both bush and ramblers, are full of strident new growth latent with the first flush of flower for Easter when they augment the white ‘Easter Lilies’ to perfection. The rose cuttings taken last October have become established and should be planted out in the next few weeks (this is the most productive and least expensive way to increase the rose population in the garden). 

Lavender and Buddleia cuttings taken in November are now well rooted and will be transplanted to their permanent position in the garden (mainly in the orchard for the Lavender and covering unsightly walls for the Buddleia). Always find it difficult to understand the antipathy of many Gardeners towards Buddleia. It comes in so many lovely colours, has magnificent flowers, encourages butterflies into the garden and grows back every year after having severely pruned (often ‘badly’). Maybe this should be the ‘Year of the Buddleia’ with an ‘International Buddleia Day’ worldwide?.

The captivating blossoms in the orchard from Peaches, Nectarines and Apricots has transformed the valley bottom into a sea of contrasting shades of pink - hope this encourages the Bees to do their ‘work’. The multi floral pastiche must clearly advertise the availability of pollen ‘free’ for a little intrepid pollination.

 

Peach blossom at its best

Under the clear instructions and assistance (digging holes) of the Head Gardener, the ‘arid’ terrace (one up from the orchard)  is being transformed into a Yucca Forest (some now 2m tall, and all the progeny of a 200mm high plant bought from Lidl for€ 1,49 five years ago, wonder what Tesco charge?).  Chose Yuccas for this position as they seem to grow in anything (mainly stone no soil here) with minimum amount of water (hose too short).

The beginnings of the Yucca "forest"

Might even get a suntan if this weather prevails. Whatever happens the ‘Straw Hat’ is due for early use this year. Well just finished and there goes the ‘Head Gardeners’ bell, must be serendipity!

Must dash, see you soon

Stuart.

The Head Gardener draws your attention to her favourite Clematis - variety armandii.  Now in full bloom and very fragrant

SO MUCH IS HAPPENING IN THE GARDEN

8^TH MARCH – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Well the switch has been thrown and the real ‘Spring’ has finally started with a vengeance. (Brilliant sunshine, clear blue skies, night temperatures above 12 degrees and the daytime warmth soaring to 28 degrees yesterday). Everything in the garden has finally decided to Grow, Flower or Fruit.

The blossom race this year has been a resounding success for the Damascus Apricot trees, closely followed by the Nectarines, with the usual ‘first blossom’ favourites, the Almond Trees, coming a poor ‘third’. The advantage this year of the seemingly endless ‘cold and frost’ of January and February has been the late evolution of the early blossom on the fruit trees, thus ensuring that there are plenty of insects to fertilize the flowers and little chance of further low temperatures to destroy the embryo fruit. Peach, Cherry and the first Plum blossoms are in full latent ‘bud’ and are anxiously awaiting their moment of glory in the Spring limelight. The potential for a highly fruitful crop is truly amazing.

The very first of the Almond blossom

Damascus Apricot blossom

The yellow and red Raspberry canes transplanted two weeks ago into a new growing position, augmented by two new Tayberry plants, are already in leaf and seem to be growing away to considerable success. The row of canes has been fully ‘Staked’ and ‘Wired’, with full access from both sides for picking (as per the explicit instructions of the Head Gardener, who knows about these things from past experience of ‘teetering’ on terrace edges, to pick the choicest fruit, in the Raspberry Bed’s previous incarnation).

 

Newly transplanted raspberry canes

The ‘French Bean’ (Haricot Vert) plot has also been prepared with fresh well rotted ‘estrume de cavalho’(Horse Manure in Portugal) and directly seeded - stand by for ‘lift off’. With this heat the germination should progress with great speed as it says on the packet that the seeds are ‘F1’ hybrids (might even be ‘up’ for the Australian Gran prix next week end to see Hamilton win again). The seed for the ‘Scarlet Runner Beans’ and the ‘Fagiolo Rampicante Violetto’(purple runner beans, only the Italians could make a bean sound so romantic) are already planted in the individual modules of the seed trays (seem to perform best when given a head start before planting in the ground at the end of March).

 The Cucumber seed planted on the 14^th February is now transplanted to pots and is growing ‘away’ well (variety is ‘Delikateb’ from Lidl seed).The first Tomato seedlings (Sweet Baby) and  ‘California Wonder’ Sweet Peppers transplanted from the propagator last week are also progressing so back to propagation of the more’ delicate’ varieties can now progress.

Germinated seedlings from the propagator

On the flower front, Primulas, Pansies and Petunias are in flower, Tulips are showing their ‘buds’ and the Roses are very active. The yellow ‘Banksii’ rambling rose is favourite for first flush of bloom and already has well in excess of one hundred flowering ‘spurs’. Rose cuttings taken and planted last Christmas are already in leaf and well rooted (still the cheapest way to fill your garden with magnificent colour).

Pansies in the sunshine

pretty selection of primulas

The first of the petunias

Lots of lovely spurs on the rambling rose promising wonderful shower of flowers

The new, experimental, Strawberry terrace is fully planted with four different Strawberry varieties in twelve troughs, which have been raised about 600mm above the terrace, on tressles, to give the plants maximum exposure to sunlight and allow for the ‘runners’ to trail down from each side of the troughs. A 60/40 mixture of new compost and ‘estrume’ is the planting medium and liquid fertilizer will be applied every week during the growing/fruiting season. (Many of the plants are already in flower with first strawberries forming)

Looking forward to a strawberry summer

Oh it really is an exciting time of the year, masses more to do. Was that the Head Gardener’s bell? New instructions expected on an hourly basis, so must dash.

See you soon,

Stuart.