LONG HOT SUMMER

19^th AUGUST 2015 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Still hot – around 35 degrees at 11 O’clock, and very dry, with little more than heavy morning dew for the last ten weeks. This could be the start of a real drought? The heat and lack of water has certainly shortened the cropping season for much on the ‘Veg’ terrace. Cucumbers, courgettes (first seeding),runner beans, French beans and Pati Pans have all given up the ghost and are now becoming (very dry) compost. The first rule of gardening on steep valley side terraces is that ‘what grows on a terrace stays on the terrace’(except the crop of course which usually languishes in the ‘freezer’).

One day's harvest - note from Head Gardener "need second freezer!"

Tomatoes are loving these ‘conditions’ – with a liberal daily supply of piped water and constant feed. The ‘Cristal F1’ is a great success, 50kg. from eight plants already picked, with at least the same to come in the next few weeks. ‘Moneymaker’ just plugs away at a regular one kilo per plant per week and the Cherry varieties (Sweet Baby, Yellow Cherry Bell, String of Beads) are in full production; so good for those on a diet as more energy expended on picking (due to small size and large quantity) than calories gained on consumption!

 

Tomatoes after cropping - lots more on the way

Never seen sweet peppers, both green and yellow, produce some many and such large fruit. California Wonder (like the ones on the Uncle Ben’s Rice advert) are already two metres tall and full of ripe and ripening peppers plus loads of flower still coming. The local Portuguese yellow strain is also quite overwhelming in its fecundity and the long reds are actually turning bright red.

Lots of lovely sweet peppers

Although the HG required a greatly reduced crop of chillis this year, the few plants grown have been unaware of the sanction and are about to produce unprecedented results.  Cayenne and Tabasco have mature red pods with serried ranks of green fruit waiting their turn to shine, whilst the white flowers still proliferate on the top of the plants. Cherry Bomb and Paper Lantern are covered in small fruit and a new planting this year of ‘Hop Scotch’, is full of  bonnet- shaped pale green, immature fruit. Trial tasting yesterday produced numbness of tongue instantaneously and numb cheeks today (so would consider the ‘Scoville’ reading of 850,000 possibly on the low side).

THE HOT ONES!

Aubergines have got their ‘second wind’, covered in both swelling dark purple gloriously shiny fruit and lots of mauve flowers - all ready to give more fruit in  September and October. (Just feed, water excessively and crop frequently). The very large Aubergines look spectacular but tend to be full of seed and inedible, so best for photographs only and eat the medium sized production.

Aubergine promising more fruit - lots of flowers

Purple plum tree has done very well with around 50 kilos picked, and very sweet and juicy (winter crumbles here they come – via freezer of course). The large Fuji plums are also starting to look almost ready to pick, so, with the over-supply of yellow plums early last month, this has certainly been plum year.

One again, not an Olive year.  There has been lots of blossom, lots of embryonic fruit in May, lots of sunshine and no water in June, equals no fruit AGAIN! is this the year for the ‘Big Chop’?.

Actually have good crop of apples. the Granny Smith’s and New Zealand Starkings,  have made to the end of August on the tree and are ‘real’ apple size (maybe not Grade One’s but definitely Grade Two plus). Must mention the Quince tree as, after eight years of cultivation, it has three very large  fruits nearly ready for picking (Quince Jelly here they go)

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The Sweet Corn, grown from the excessively costly packet of twenty four F1 seeds purchased in UK last year, has produced twenty one edible ‘heads of corn’. Half already eaten, absolutely splendid, sweet and very flavoursome - well worth the price, effort and water (will never again be persuaded to plant the local seed which produces corn ears only fit for hen food- Thompson & Morgan have got it ‘right’).

Geraniums are in full bloom again (fed with the ‘Blue Balls’ two weeks ago). Dahlias suffering from the heat and starting to show signs of powdery mildew (spraying having little effect once the leaves succumb to the virus) so they will be leaving the garden very soon. The heat has not helped the Fuchsias so far, but at least they have another three months to go. The Petunias have kept going but are now exhausted and a little sad. The Roses are showing signs of life and new buds ready for the ‘second spring’ in September.

Geraniums still wonderful - roses trying hard

Yellow and Red raspberries are fruiting again in competition with the Strawberries (which are still producing two bowls of fruit per day). Head Gardner very pleased with the new growing arrangement in the raised troughs as no bending required.

Ripe yellow raspberries - full of flavour

Must remember pick a lettuce before the coffee bell.

 Ah! there goes the bell- must dash

see you soon.

 Stuart.