A SLUG'S PARADISE!

20TH APRIL, CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Ravenous, rumbustious and reviled by Gardeners, the repulsive slimy black Slug is back for its share of the fresh young growth in all sectors of the garden. It must have been a ‘Bad Day’ for nature when this rampant garden ravisher was sent into the world. Does it really have a purpose?. The only resort is the liberal application of slug pellets, always the day after the slugs' massive campaign of  destruction has occurred.  The sight the next morning of silvery trails ending in a decomposing ‘slug porridge’ tends to ameliorate the distress of the previous couple of days. (Always re-apply the pellets after heavy rain and examine the underneath of trays and pots for the hidden foe lurking out of sight).

The first tomatoes planted out (Cristal F1) are growing on well and were joined by another blight resistant variety ( Sweet Baby F1) to complete the initial bed. The next planting (Money Maker) will be in tubs as an insurance that the ‘blight resistance’ primary crop is genuine.

Young tomato plants - two hopefully disease resistant varieties

All three types of Cucumbers are thriving. The ‘Danka’ and ‘ Salanga’ are about ready to flower, with the ‘Pepino’ looking strong and fecund. Lettuce are being picked daily and then replaced weekly with new plug plants from the market (at 50 cents for ten seedlings, there is not a viable alternative). Planted in rows of bright green, flame red and copper brown the lettuce bed always looks attractive and what can ‘better’ fresh crisp lettuce, firm sharp cucumber and succulent newly picked tomatoes with any hot or cold dish.

Cucumbers in their new homes

rotating lettuce crop

The Strawberry Farm is productive; picked first crop yesterday with masses still to come from the first ‘cropper’. With the other three types to follow, should have Strawberries until the palate is well satiated. The Raspberries are in full flower and forming fruit. Tayberries will be the first to be ready for picking in about two weeks.

  

First strawberry of the season - was delicious - many more to come

All the Beans (Scarlet Runners, Purple Climbers and Haricots Verts) are performing well. The Scarlet Runners are one metre up their poles and the Haricots Verts should be in flower next week - all subject to continued sunshine and light showers at night.

Haricots verts coming along nicely

Scarlet runners leaping along on the left - purple climbers just in

The Damascus Apricots are starting to colour, the Quince tree is full of growing fruit, the Peaches are well formed and numerous, Plums are plentiful and the Apple trees are fertilising each other with gay abandon. The black cherry trees look as if they will give the birds their usual banquet - hope they leave a few for the table.

Iris are at their very best just now in bronze and yellow or rich purple and gold. The dry conditions on the Spring terrace certainly ripen the tubers for the following year's show. Roses are well away. The large red ‘tea’ rose on the ‘Coffee’ terrace is in the full splendour of it’s first display of the year; the ramblers will be ‘out’ next. Can’t for the wonderful fragrance of ‘Rose’ mixed with divine smell of Orange blossom. 

Some of the Head Gardener's favourite iris

Dahlias are 400mm tall and ready for staking; the Petunias are amazing and the Pansies are still putting on a splendid display. It really is going rather well so far!!!!! Hope the threatened thunderstorms don’t materialise.

There goes the ‘Bell’, the Head Gardener must have had yet another 'Good Idea’,

 must dash to hear the wisdom,

See you soon,

Stuart.

FLOWERS, BLOSSOM VEGETABLE PLANTS ALL AROUND

9TH APRIL - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Wisteria dancing in the breeze in all its glorious purple and lilac splendour (Chinese certainly have the most artistic taste when it comes to flowers), the shining gold of the Banksii Rambling Rose accentuates the  perfection of a sunny, warm spring day in Portugal. Petunias and geraniums already in bloom and the first rose buds ready to burst forth. This glory has already deleted the memories of a cold winter with the exuberant colours adding more texture to the spring garden. Tulips still present and the cherry trees are in their full dress mode.

beautiful, highly scented wisteria - main attraction for the bees

Rosa Banksii hoping it will intertwine with wisteria - maybe next year

Best year so far for our cherry tree

 The new bees recently installed by my Talented Neighbour are gorging themselves on the banquet of rich pollen laid out by nature for their benefit. The expectation of copious quantities of honey by the late summer, are somewhat tempered by the control of Diabetes and Weight, but seeing, smelling and dreaming are boycott free in the world of honey. Lots of information quickly acquired on the ‘Bee’ lifestyle, Queen in charge lays 60,000 eggs per day, Drones only mate and then die happy (sounds like a male paradise), ‘Worker Bees’ don’t mate, just work till they drop (life span is six weeks in service), sounds a bit similar to the average gardener’s mate. They also sting - the Portuguese native bee is most aggressive; not a trait followed by the local population.

Cucumbers planted in new raised bed (constructed from redundant wood pallets) are growing well.  Runner beans are about to sprint up their poles, Haricots Verts, whilst having their foliage ravished by snails, are progressing. The first Sweet Peppers and Aubergines are planted and the Okra seedlings are fighting a battle with reclusive slugs in the cold frame and are already on third planting but have scattered  Slug Pellets very freely this time.

 

young cucumber plants in their new bed

Strawberries are very fecund in the new raised Strawberry Garden, full of flower in all four varieties (early, main and late fruiters for crop insurance). They all understand that the weak producers will be eliminated at the end of the season (bit like the X-Factor).Raspberries in full flower and luxuriating in the new bed.

Flower seedlings are popping up daily, Cosmos, Marigolds (all varieties from French to African), Calendulas, Corn Flowers (pink, white and blue) etc. etc., where to plant them out will be the main problem but there can never be enough colour in a summer garden.

Pansies are  at their peak just now - fantastic colours and multiple shapes always fascinate.  They always deserve their front row status and never cease to give pleasure. 

cute pansy "faces"

Nasturtiums, some already in flower, are having the new seedlings freely distributed on all terraces. There is nothing more impressive than a two metre waterfall of bright colour flowing over the terrace walls in May and June (remember NOT to feed or they will simply produce leaves not flowers).

Have just arrived in the orchard for the Fruit Setting  inspection.  Damascus Apricot has fruit the size of ‘Pigeons Eggs’, all the Peaches are full of small fruit as are the variously coloured Plum varieties. All the Apple trees in blossom at the same time this year so  maybe a ‘bumper’ crop in September. Pears are heavy with young fruit and Nectarines trying hard, as expected. 

 

Not apple blossom, but our small quince tree with very pretty flowers

There goes the Head Gardeners bell - only 65 steps to climb for coffee!.

Must dash, see you soon,

Stuart.