BUSY BUSY, WITH SO MUCH TO ANTICIPATE

22^nd APRIL 2016 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Coldest March in Portugal for the last forty years (Official – it was in the Portugal Times today).  Happy to agree, as there has been nothing but rain, more rain, wind and more wind, snow on the mountains (and even on the hills) accompanied by very cold nights and not so hot days. The result is that little has prospered in the garden so far this spring but all looks ‘latent’ like ‘Greyhounds in the Slips’ and awaiting the warming sunshine, which must be just around the corner. My Neighbours in the village put it all down to the ‘El Nino Effect’ and have decided to wait until May before venturing out into the planting fields.

Blossom is just emerging on the apple trees.  Cherries and pears just burst forth but the cold keeps the bees at home, so little chance of a good  ‘Fertilisation’. Lots of fruit formed and swelling on the almond tree as it blossomed early and caught the last warm days in February to be well serviced. Nectarines, apricots and plums seem to have struggled to produce embryonic fruit so far, whilst the peaches are trying very hard to please.

First apple blossom

Cherry blossom - from afar!

Masses of seedlings are well forward in the ‘Lidl’ green house , all awaiting pricking out. Tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, okra, courgettes, runner and French beans and sweet peppers (California Wonders) on the vegetable front are all bursting their seed pots.   The flower garden is going to be well supplied by the Cosmos, Zinnia, Lobelia, Impatiens, Tagetees, Nasturtiums from seed and Geranium, Fuchsia and Dianthus from cuttings that just need a little sun.

Seedlings in the little greenhouse

More seedlings

Even in the ‘cold’ there is always something going on somewhere in the garden. Five different varieties and colours of  lettuce, together with Mizuma (excellent and easily grown oriental leaf) and Pak Choi on the salad front; red and white onions, leeks and beetroot on the ‘veg’ patch. Strawberries are full of flower and forming fruit, which are also appearing on the Loganberries and early raspberries. Last year’s cut down Sweet Peppers and Chilli plants are now coming into leaf (this pruning in late November produces first Peppers by June – usually six weeks before the newly seeded plants).

Lots of flowers on the strawberries

Roses well in bud, should be in flower next week, with the benefit of a little sun-shine. Wisteria magnificent (enjoying the cold), Jasmine rampant and filling the terrace with exotic scent and the purple Iris, accompanied by white Arum Lilies, are quite a sight even under very grey sky.

Wisteria now twining in with the Rosa Banksii

Lovely elegant purple iris, and one yellow and purple just coming into bloom

Fuchsia never disappoints.  Been flowering all winter

 All the plants in tubs on the high terrace are growing (if not well) and the Cactus Cloche is keeping the day temperatures well into the ‘forties’ so the first signs of flowers are appearing on a number of the ‘Pricklies’(the seeds sown three weeks ago are stubbornly remaining dormant).

Cacti enjoying the sunshine while still in their "Winter Quarters"

Investigation under way concerning the overnight disappearance of a trough of ‘growing on’ Pak Choi, eight green Pepper plants and half a dozen Mizuma plants, all cleanly removed at soil level. No sign of slugs. snails or mice (not a dropping in sight). The H.G. suggests possibly an ‘Airborne’ attack by Pigeons or maybe the Hoopoe (which we hear but never see) or it may be due to some insidious ‘Drone’. The mystery continues.  However, the addition of a ‘Curry Plant’ and a few Piri Piri pods (from last season) ,on the growing on table , have certainly caused an immediate cessation of nocturnal ‘feasting’ for now.

At last the Bell, must have a coffee to revive the feeling in the frozen bodily extremities thank goodness for the H.G. 

Must dash before ‘rigour mortis’ sets in

See you soon –

Stuart.

HOPEFUL GROUNDWORK

3^RD APRIL 2016 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

April is here and it’s cold enough for snow. The tops of the Estrela Mountains viewed from the Belvedere terrace, and only twenty five kilometres away, are sparkling white in the weak morning sunshine. Night temperatures are down to two degrees, and even with clear blue skies and sunshine, the day temperatures are hovering around ten degrees (normal for late February on the ‘Beiras’).  However hard the April showers, we know that sunshine will soon be here.

Almost everything in the garden is on hold awaiting the sudden rush of heat which will almost certainly come in the next couple of weeks. The blossoms on the plums, peaches, nectarines and apricots are holding on in the cold, with the hope that some errant bee may come and enjoy a bit of fertilisation. Apple and pear blossoms have still to show themselves in the harsh conditions, but the Almond blossom that had an early display in February has become extremely fecund this year with lots of young fruit in evidence. Nothing weather wise seems to deter the orange, lemon and lime blossom which is burgeoning forth with floriferous abandon.

Hoping for lots of peaches this year

Almonds are already formed - so many more than last year's two!

Orange tree producing masses of buds

Masses of glorious Jasmine flowers are delivering their alluring aroma, and the Wisteria is producing its usual unsurpassed purple haze of spectacular blooms. These, together with ‘long Life’ Tulips (benefit of cold conditions, in flower for last four weeks and still going strong), Hellebores, Lilies and Alliums have kept the myth of ‘springtime’ alive, and all seem oblivious to cold (must be their Chinese genes).

Wonderful headily scented Jasmine

Wisteria just coming to its best

Spring alliums sharing the shade with a shy primrose

The leaf salad varieties, Mizuma, Pak Choi, Oak Leaf, Iceberg, Flame and flat Leaf Lettuce are thoroughly enjoying the cold sunny days and are growing forth with unmitigated abandon. Similar results are being achieved with Onions, both red (from sets) and white (from seed) and the Leaks have never looked healthier.

Onions well on their way

The various stages of lettuce

Misuma leaves - add a peppery flavour to salads

Nice healthy leaks

The numerous seeds sown in the last few weeks seem, in the main, to have enjoyed their sojourn in the well used ‘Lidl’ mini green house (now positioned in full all day sunshine, when available) in the new nursery garden on the Belvedere terrace. All seeds sown this year in 80mm dia. plastic plant pots and enshrined within a plastic bag (basic double glazing reduces overnight cold a little). Having sown around forty varieties of seed, can report considerable success so far, from minimal surface movement to 75mm tall burgeoning plants. Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Courgettes, Beans, Aubergines (yes, really), various Basils, Okra, Fennel all growing forward.

The mini greenhouse full of seedlings getting ready to be planted out

On the flower front, Geraniums, Zinnias, Tagetees, Petunia, Lobelia and Cosmos are all well away; so looking forward to a massive pricking out campaign in the next few weeks.

The Rose cuttings planted back in October have survived the winter and would all seem to be rooted as the majority (at least 80%) are in leaf and some are showing signs of first buds (still the least expensive way to extend the rose garden as the cost is zero).

One of last year's rose cuttings - accompanied by an early nasturtium!

In these current conditions the potting Shed fire has a late winter attraction but an extra jumper, pair of good gloves and a little enthusiastic ‘Strimming’ (why do weeds always grow whatever the climatic conditions offer) will keep the blood circulating on these sharp misty mornings. Thoughts of excessive heat, possible drought and the usual various ‘Blights’ in the months to come can be cast aside with the anticipation of those bountiful crops and glorious blooms which are surely just around the corner.

Just heard a Cuckoo and there goes that Hoopoe again, and that sounded like the Head Gardener’s bell. 

Must be time for a warming mug of fresh coffee –

must dash, see you soon.

Stuart.