27^TH SEPTEMBER – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Second Spring has arrived in Portugal. This is a strange phenomenon which occurs on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula around the last week in September and can last six weeks. Following the long hot summer (early May to mid September, no rain and daily temperatures in the 30s) the first real rain (around 125mm on day one followed by 85mm on day two) fell ten days ago. Seven days later the juices can be seen to rise in the dehydrated horticultural landscape.

Flowers which were struggling to survive the drought, suddenly bud and burst into bloom. The August sowing of speculative seeding literally burst from the ground in unabashed enthusiasm .  (They have to rush if they want to fruit early in November when the cold nights start to bite). Courgettes planted on the 7^th August have their first fruiting.  Sweet corn planted on the 18^th August is 1500mm high and already has flowers. (Expect to pick and eat around the 15^th October – if the information on the seed packet is correct - sixty days from planting to cooking).

New young yellow courgette

The Sweet Peppers are still going forward with gusto, flowers still forming, fertilizing and fruiting. California Wonder (big and green then red if left unpicked for a further three week) are exceptional this year; the Long Red Italians are almost red enough to pick and the Yellow Peppers are pale yellow and preparing to turn that glorious golden shade which indicates perfection.

California Wonder

Long red Italian Pepper

Chillis know no bounds in their profundity. Piri Piri plants are covered in masses of small brilliant red cones and the pre-ripened fruit, which is black on this year’s  grown variety, is covering the top of the plants just waiting for its moment of ruby glory. The Hotscotch chillis are turning from green through lustrous peach to vermillion (which gives natures ample warning of the excessive ‘HEAT’ of the chilli – Scoville around 1million). Cayenne has done well and another plant (name unknown, but from own seed from last year so possibly a new cross breed- see picture) is producing very ‘red’ fruit which in early trials – bite off small amount from base of fruit and wait – tends to numb the lips and tongue, plus cheeks if allowed further oral access, for up to twenty minutes (still thinking of a name – possibly ‘The Head Gardner’ for obvious reasons  - perfectly formed and red hot).

Piri Piri

Hotscotch

New chilli - no name

Brugmansia (Angels' Trumpets) is back in profuse flower for the fourth time since May. So many trumpets are in bloom that it resembles an inverted pipe organ (but smells exotic in the evening air). 

Wonderful trumpets

Trumpets viewed from underneath - amazing perfume in the evening

Roses still doing well, with lots of new buds for the new Spring. Miniature Cyclamen are flowering in the shaded areas and Geraniums got their second wind before the annual taking of cuttings.

Tomatoes have had a terrific year but are just about over now (thank goodness as freezer is overflowing with Italian winter treats). Lettuce well settled for autumn salads (plant ten plants every two weeks until end of November for winter salads). Leeks planted two weeks ago and Beetroot – planted week earlier- are progressing well.

The end of the tomato crop

New beetroot and leek plants

Have been exuding litres of perspiration on the clearing of the wood shed – job avoided for many years but most satisfying on completion (amazing the things you can find in a thirty cubic metre pile of assorted detritus. Ten metres of logs cut, carried and stacked, to the great satisfaction of the HG (so pleased - coffee guaranteed until Christmas).

Emptied old woodshed

New wood store

The ‘Mists’ of  October mornings are nearly here so take cuttings, plant bulbs and start reading the new seed catalogues, enjoy a little ‘Rest and Recuperation’ before Autumn weeding starts.

There goes the bell

must dash, see you soon,

Stuart

STOP PRESS: H.G. picked over 40 limes today - G and T anyone? 

NEAR MIST AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS

13^th September 2015  CENTRAL PORTUGAL

First signs of autumn - sun has gone on vacation and the high clouds have been acting as caretakers for the last two weeks; no real rain yet, just a feeble, very light drizzle that simply keeps the dust down (no serious growing potential).

The other sign of the impending season of ‘Mist and Mellow Fruitfulness’ is the heightened activity in the kitchen. Having started seriously to harvest lemons and limes (not just the picking of the odd ripe fruit for the evening ‘G&T’) the resultant quantities require to be processed. Lemon Chutney and lime Chutney are now rubbing shoulders on the store room shelf with both red and green tomato chutney, pickled beetroot, pickled mixed vegetables (cauliflower, carrots, red Sweet peppers and gherkins) together with the first of the chilli oils (1litre olive oil infused with 200grames of chilli of choice (this year’s chillis are, so far, piri piri, cherry bomb and jalapenos).

Lemons and limes fresh from the trees - ready for action

A selection of pickles and chutneys from the store cupboard

The experimental planting of the new chilli ‘Hotscotch’ is progressing. Currently the green ‘bonnet’ shaped fruit are the size of small plums and are just starting to turn orange. Early taste sampling confirms their unbelievable heat. Touching the flesh with the lips produces almost instantaneous numbness followed by pain! (Should be a major success in the masochistic world of the chilli eater?). Will report on any fatalities that may occur.

Hotscotch!!

Tomatoes still producing, but in weekly reducing quantities. (Find most varieties start to flounder after the initial six or seven ‘good’ trusses). The Cristal F1 has produced the greatest results in both flavour and quantity. (At least 70 kilos from eight plants and still producing around 1 kilo per week per plant). Moneymaker is coming to the end of production. However, the various fancy cherry plants continue to fruit and flower. (Red Sweet Baby and Yellow Cherry Bell are the best performers this year).

Sweet peppers have had, and continue to have. a wonderful year. They have had lots of hot sun for three months together with lots of feed and expensive water (just got the horrendous June and July water bill)  ‘California Wonder’ is now turning red, August Moon an orange yellow, and there is just a hint of red on the Italian Long Reds.

The first yellow shiny sweet pepper

Last of the courgettes picked from the first sown seeds. Soleil F1 and Grisette de Provence were the best producers. Planted second sowing of seed 7^th August (Eight Ball and Golden Zucchini) which are just coming into flower, so will have late season Courgettes to astound the Head Gardner. (Silent groan from HG!)

Raspberries and strawberries are continuing to flower and fruit (lots of feed and regular water supply. At least ‘Strawbs. and Rasps’ now more expensive in the shops). Yellow raspberries have been very prolific this season; newly planted Tayberries a bit ‘poor’ so far (maybe better next year- the ever optimistic Gardener!).

Raspberries still fruiting

Roses having their second ‘fling’. Remember to take cuttings for new plants as soon as rain comes. Roses are very easy to propagate in Portugal - just cut a 300/400 mm. stem and plant about 200mm. in the ground behind the blade of a fully inserted spade and ‘heel’ in. Leave for six months- plant ten cuttings to get five new rose plants.

September roses in the rain

Dahlias now finished. Cut back to around 500mm., feed well and water for another two weeks before lifting. Trim, clean and replant for next year. Keep dry until next February for a great show by next May.

Dahlias as they were earlier - now resting

Having inspected the tulip bulbs lifted in June and removed the dried detritus, these have all been replanted (including the small side bulbs) fed, watered and put out of the sun (proverbial ‘cool dry’ place) until December. This year  bought new  bulbs (great value in’ Lidl’ just now, €1,05 for twelve large bulbs, less than 30% of the price from the catalogues). Daffodils, crocus and alliums are all ready for their new cycle to start. It’s a good time to split Snowdrop ‘clusters’ (if you can remember where they are - they do tend to disappear completely in this hot climate. Bulbs will be awaiting attention when found).

Brugmansia is (Angels’ Trumpets) is full of Golden Trumpet Flowers for the third time this summer (must be best value in the garden though highly toxic) .

Third time of flowering for the Angels' Trumpets

So, back to the wood pile. Lots of logs to chop for those cold winter evenings - just another task prescribed for the late summer ‘Fitness Regime’ by the HG.

 There goes the bell for coffee, the ‘Gardener’s Glow’ (only ‘Woodchoppers’ sweat) can be assuaged by the ‘cup that cheers’.

 Must dash, see you soon.

Stuart.