19TH JULY
2015 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL
Still hot and no rain, enjoying
a life spent watering! This is the time of year that the thought of the
horrendous water bill (no bore hole) against the local market cost of fruit and
vegetables always seems to rear its head? However the pleasure of planting and
watching the crops grow, not to mention the specific enjoyment of eating home
grown produce, soon banishes any financial stigma.
Picked the white
peaches (15kg) and the red peaches(12kg) yesterday, just in time as they had
started to fall. They were quickly stoned and blanched for immediate freezing
(minus a few ‘star’ examples which were rapidly consumed) Peaches go rotten so
quickly when picked when just ripe. The flavour of most fruit, with the
exception of Medlars and Portuguese ‘Iron’ Pears, when tree or bush ripened is
always superior to the bought examples (maybe it’s the salt from the sweat
expended during cultivation and picking that gives them that extra ‘Je ne sais
quoi’). Quick freezing can often retain
a modicum of their celebrity status. Of
course, the Head Gardener also made spicy peach chutney and friends make lovely
peach jam.
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| Just a small part of the peach crop |
Tomato season now in
full swing - Cristal F1 are being picked and eaten; first trusses already
consumed with many more to go. They are just
as good as it said on the Seed Packet (and no disease – amazing). Expect to get
around 8kg each from the eight original plants. Sweet Baby also being picked;
flavour is exceptional and the quantity of fruit per truss is spectacular (20 –
30 at least). However, the description ‘Baby’ is correct as they are the size
of ‘Maltesers’ (UK produced round chocolate and cinder toffee sweet) and almost
as sweet. Reckon around 2kg per plant. Good old ‘Money Maker’ (been growing for
it about for years and quietly does the ‘business’ without too much fuss). Still green but very heavy with ripening fruit
(hope to start picking following the main ‘Cristal F1’ crop), should give a
late crop for ‘freezing’. The fancy multi coloured cherry tomatoes are all
growing well with well formed fruiting trusses, but at least a month away from
picking.
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| Sweet Baby |
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| Crystal |
All colours, shapes and
sizes of courgettes are giving of their bounty (new recipes now exhausted so
freezing in spectacular quantities). Aubergines are so plentiful may consider
export to India to supply the Lady chef who does wonderful things in her
kitchen with a ‘Small Aubergine’. It always seems such a shame that something
that looks so spectacular in its colour and shape should taste so bland. (The Head Gardener finds slicing, griddling
with application of garlic and chilli oil then covering in cheese sauce improves the culinary
experience).
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| One day's picking of Tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, courgettes, patty pans, and a few beans |
The salad front has
been trying hard for the last few weeks.
Over production of cucumbers has calmed down (only around three per day
now). Lettuce, in all its many hues from flame red through autumn brown to
vibrant green, is still in full production. The re-growth, after initial cutting, to the
next full size lettuce takes around three weeks with plenty of water in the
current heat and the supply of Italian and Thai Basil complements every meal.
The Okra plants are in
flower (think they should be grown for the flower rather than the fruit as
‘Ladies Fingers’ can be a bit ‘slimy’ if not cooked correctly, but that’s just
me). Growing in a tub this year so water supply (copious) can be easily
regulated.
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| Okra has such pretty flowers |
Flowers are profuse - the pictures speak for themselves. First cuttings being taken from Geraniums
as there are signs of Rust (small brown patches on leaves) It’s one of the
penalties of scorching hot days and warm nights. Dahlias are being sprayed to
minimise Mildew (as are the vines in the local vineyards where their leaves are
taking on the familiar purple coating of
home made Portuguese Bordeaux Mixture).
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| Lovely perfumed lilies |
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| Lilies and Cosmos - nice combination |
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| Stunning archway of plumbago at the entrance to the patio |
Yellow Plums picked,
Purple Plums should be ready next week and Green Plums still working hard.
Apple and Pear trees are ‘groaning’ with weight of potential crop (at least
another six weeks to initial picking). Nectarines are as usual very poor (maybe
trees out this winter when the apricots are also erased).
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| Just one branch on the purple plum tree |
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| One of the six apple trees - good crop this year |
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| Pear Tree also full of fruit |
The view from the
‘recovery’ bench (just completed in the orchard after seven years of
consideration) placed under the afternoon shade of the oldest olive tree, is
tranquil. Even the insects have given up
in the 38 degree plus heat.
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| And finally - a new recovery seat for tired workers! |
At last - there goes
the Head Gardeners resuscitation bell. Now must face the ‘39 Steps’ to the coffee
terrace
Must dash (slowly),
See you soon.
Stuart.
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