THE DAY THAT THE RAINS CAME DOWN!

26TH OCTOBER 2015 CENTRAL PORTUGAL

The hammering of raindrops on the potting shed roof heralds the arrival of autumn in the ‘Beiras’. The south westerly approaching low pressure storms, historically known as the ‘Trade Winds’ to long gone imperial mariners, pound the coast from the Algarve to Vigo and deliver the long awaited rain to the land desiccated by months of drought. (The local ‘Barragem’, quite large with a perimeter of 195 kilometres, has dropped to a new low level for late October of 17metres below normal).

Brugmansia trumpets swinging in the rain

Needless to say, the garden is enjoying every single drop of replenishment. The orchard has been transformed from a ‘Mid Western’ dust bowl into a lush green meadow almost over-night  - weeds now 400mm high in a week, so it’s Strimmer to the fore. The mass fertilisation of seeds discarded over the past summers on the growing beds has progressed like a green tide causing lots of knee bending and finger tip removal (between the heavy down pours of course, very difficult to weed holding up an umbrella in one hand).

Digging up the over-grown plants from this summer is now much easier with the wet ground; have decided to ‘split’ the vigorous varieties into quarters with a spade, planting three and saving fourth to swap. (Fellow Gardeners are always  keen to diversify their own stock at minimum cost). The Beiras Grass Roots Garden Group had an excellently organised and attended ‘Seed and Plant Swop’ last weekend; managed to acquire a number of new specimens in exchange for the garden’s ‘particulars’.

Now is just the time to take over-wintering cuttings from almost anything that grows with vigour on the plot. Cut the long majestic growth from the rambling and climbing roses, cut into 400mm long pieces and plant around the edges of a deep plastic plant tub,  (not terracotta – loses moisture very quickly in the winter winds), leave a quarter above growing medium,(heavier the better for roses) water and place in moderately sheltered place, then forget until late March. For every ten cuttings taken there should be at least five new plants to grow on next year. This also works with most fruit trees Take this year’s pruned ‘whips’, reduce length to around 400mm, plant in the ground or in a tub and ensure bud end is above ground. Wisteria cuttings can now be taken for the best results, remember these will flower in the third year after planting (from seed the wait can be eight to ten years).

Roses grown from cuttings three years ago

Olive harvest in full swing, against the ‘odds’ would seem to be reasonable with considerable quantities of fruit for oil extraction. So following the excellent grape harvest (20% up in many areas) and the splendid results from the Cork Oak bark cutting season this ‘decade’ (usually bark is removed every eight to ten years) it has been a good year for the ‘traditional’ Portuguese ‘Cash’ crops. The Portuguese country ethos is based on the planting of vines for yourself, olive trees for your children and cork oaks for your grand children to enjoy and benefit from.

Geranium pots are all in the barn, sheltered from too much rain and protected from cold winds and low temperatures until next March (with no further watering till the warm sun in early March). Fuchsias are ‘winter hardy’ so stay out with the pot saucers removed (suddenly too much water, no need now for ‘drought’ containment). The late autumn and winter terraces furnished with Phormiums, Yuccas, various grasses (large and small) and brightened by miniature cyclamens (fully hardy), Heartsease, Violas and Pansies, with the first flowering bulbs in bloom by late January.

Phormium giving winter structure and colour

Fuchsia Beacon Rosa will give colour all through the winter months

Amazing how early the darkness falls as soon as the ‘Clocks’ change. At last, just heard the HG’s bell so off for a ‘Cup that Cheers’, (still drinking ‘Yorkshire Tea’ from Harrogate – certainly more substantial than ‘Earl Grey’).

Must dash, tea cools quickly in late October,

 see you soon,

Stuart.