6TH MAY 2015 CENTRAL PORTUGAL
Ten days of rain, often torrential, with thunderstorms and high winds, has finally ceased and the normal Portuguese weather pattern has returned today with temperatures in the low 'twenties'.The amount of 'Home-Brewed' and often highly toxic 'Blight' remedies that have been applied to the potatoes and vines should be more than adequate prevent the insidious spores creating their usual 'Springtime' havoc.(It is not unusual to see purple vine leaves from the amount of Potassium Permanganate and Sulphur applied as the standard 'Cure All'). Lots of sunshine and a little 'light Rain' at night is the hoped for progression this year.
It looks as if the fruit crops could be exceptional this year, even after the heavy rains the trees are still heavy with steadily swelling fruits. Apples and Pears are abundant with the Cherry Trees weighed down with ripening fruit (a special feast for the 'Avian' world is almost available - have noticed the 'Dawn Chorus' extra loud in recent days). Plums are the size of 'Pigeon's Eggs' with another six weeks before the earliest varieties are picked, red first followed by yellow, green and finally black in the bottom orchard.
The Lime blossom is well ahead of the Lemon and various Orange flowerings this year, so possibly the Orange trees will contain themselves this year after the abundance of fruit (some still to pick) from last year. Nature's abundances can often take away much of the early delights. Picking Strawberries from the new 'Farm Troughs' but alas they are already down to .99 cents per kilo in the market. However, the four varieties planted should give a continual crop until September when the commercial supply has long gone. Raspberries are full of immature fruit and flowers just need the 'miracle' sunshine to become 'Pudding Pleasers'.
Runner Beans are 1,5 metres up the sticks and have burst into glorious orange flower this morning.The purple runners (Crosis Violette) are trying hard and the Haricot Vert (Lidl's Neckarkonigen seed) are just about to flower - so fresh beans within the month(note - must eat the remainder in the freezer 'FAST').
Tomatoes, planted out two weeks ago, have survived the deluge and the 'Blight' resistant Cristal F1 have their first flowers (plus plethora of side shoots to remove (didn't say anything about that side effect on the packet). The others planted are 'Sweet Baby' (growing well but no flowers yet) and 'Money Maker' (old and well tried, seldom fails to please) which is just showing signs of flowers. Bulletins of progress will be forthcoming until the last picking is complete (around late October with luck and fair wind).
All three varieties of Cucumbers planted are progressing well, 'Perfection' and 'Slangen' well in flower and looking very promising (just love cucumber and cheese sandwiches, speciality of Head Gardener on a good day). Aubergines are about to flower and the Red, Green and Yellow Peppers are looking most plumptious. Piri Piri's are in but still look very small (they always do until late June) and other Chilli's are very limited after the 'glut' last year and groaning freezer (they seem to keep their 'potency' well when frozen).
Roses are magnificent, hope the quality remains until the Beiras Grass Roots Garden Festival on the 23rd May.Geraniums are flowering, Fuchsias have been 'pinched out' for late May 'Mega' blossoms, Petunias will recover after the rain(they always do don't they?) and Cosmos, Impatiens, French Marigolds are lining up for their place in the sun and the limelight.
Pots galore to plant to maintain the Head Gardener's schedule so must dash,
see you soon,
Stuart
The Head Gardener apologises for the lack of pictures in this bulletin. Having technical problems with computer!
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