SEASON OF MISTS - BUT LITTLE FRUITFULNESS

25^TH SEPTEMBER, CENTRAL PORTUGAL

The autumn equinox has passed so the days now shorten until the arrival of winter. The very high temperatures of summer have passed with night temperatures falling to around 10 degrees, and with day time highs in the region of 22 degrees with, as yet, little rain.

 So, not a lot happening as there is little fruit to harvest this year. the grapes are very poor as there has been so much sun and little water ( yield is around 60% of normal around the village) and the olives just about non-existent. Tomatoes are now finished with plants out yesterday (lots of Green Chutney currently being produced by the HG). 

Head Gardener's chutney production - so far!

Aubergines getting progressively smaller as their season ends but my Indian friends tell me they can do wonders with a ‘Small Aubergine’. 

"Small" Aubergines still prolific

Peppers and Chilli still exuberant – Jalapenos very large with all the sun and constant watering.  The ‘New for this Year’ Chilli ‘Ring of Fire’ is prolific and very very HOT(all grown in tubs this year under controlled feeding and watering – much less water used).

Green and Ripe Chilli "Ring of Fire"

The Sweet Corn (seeded on the 14^th August) has managed to produce its top seed tassels and is forming ‘cobs’(let’s see if they are edible on harvesting). Leeks, a favourite on cold winter nights, which were planted in August, are now substantial. The lettuce (five varieties) patch looks to be becoming productive (twenty plants from market planted every fortnight in September and October keep the supply going until next March).

Hoping for late season sweet corn

Leeks coming on well in the pot

Five varieties of lettuce, accompanied by more leeks

The Banana Trees, pot planted out last April are very ‘Chunky’ (no fruit this year but with a well protected winter just might produce next year) and the Tamarillo tree – also 250 mm dia. pot planted – is now 1.5 metres high with three solid stems (the stems give off a strange smell when handled – bit like Macadamia nuts) have no idea if and when it will flower or fruit but know it must have winter protection in its early years – will observe with interest as is one of the Head Gardener’s ‘Silent Pleasures’. Both these plants were acquired at the Beiras Grass Roots plant swap, last year, so am looking forward to the next event being held at Tabua on the 8^th October.

Banana tree a year on

Tamarillo has made great progress

This was also the venue that a number of discarded Cactus cuttings were found on the floor, rescued, returned home, planted up and have now turned into an overabundance of fast growing and flowering Cactus plants. The Cactus Theatre is now completely overwhelmed with plants that have grown up to a metre in their first year.  These have been cut back, ‘pricked out’ and will be ready to swap in October.

The Cactus Theatre

Cactus cuttings awaiting new homes

The Dahlia seeds sown in mid June have produced very sturdy and free flowering plants. The glorious range of reds and autumn tints in the flowers produced by the ‘Bishop’s Children’ seedlings have been splendid and will hopefully continue in flower until Christmas or first really cold night (under 3 degrees usually puts an end to the Dahlia progress) Will attempt to take seed but as they are F1 hybrids they may not come true next year (however only sowed half the seed packet so can still hope for colourful result next summer)

                                       Two of the Bishop's Children Dahlias

With the start of the ‘Second Spring’ in Portugal (a micro climate of the Western side of the Iberian Peninsula caused by warm southerly or south westerly winds giving ‘balmy’ days in October, but often chilly nights), lots of work is required in the garden after the lazy days of summer. Orchards are usually cleared of the dry, brown weed detritus of the dry summer – this was always done to allow nets to be placed on the ground to collect the Olives (non- existent it would seem this year) before the weeds could germinate with the soft autumn rain. About time all cuttings have been taken, roses given a top prune, over ambitious rambling and climbing plants cut back a little to increase the light on the plants below, and everything is fed to take advantage of the late growing season.

Zinnias and Begonias still giving pleasure in the garden

Good time now to get your bulbs planted. A workable potting compost can be made from combining half of the old compost from your finished tubs, with one sixth new compost, one sixth ‘estrume’(Horse Manure) and one sixth of soil from the ground (without this addition the mix will be sterile, the organisms from the garden soil ensure the bulbs and plants will thrive through the winter months).

This year my favourite bulb supplier, Lidl, are offering a wide range of very well priced Tulip, Daffodil, Crocus, Hyacinth plus a myriad of all those little fiddly bulbs that many ladies seem to like. All for around €1.19 – €1.69 for 10 or 12 bulbs. It certainly beats buying on line or from the usually overpriced catalogues.

The last of the new Brugmansias, potted up last year and not properly labelled (HG not pleased), has bloomed a pure Virgin White with a delicate bouquet.  Always amazed at the bad reputation this plant has in many parts of the world; in South America it is called the ‘Devil’s Breath’, and being full of the drug Scapolamine, it is used as a ‘Truth Drug’ or a tool of the Assassin. Often best not to tell of the extensive array poison available in all our gardens.

So alluring - white Brugmansia (Angels' Trumpets)

There goes the HG’s bell for coffee, 

better dash and remain favour with all these toxic plants about – 

keeping in favour - picked this for the H G this morning!

See you soon

Stuart. 

NOW THE WELL IS DRY!

5^TH SEPTEMBER 2016 - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

So the Autumn (officially started on the 1^st September according to the MET Office) in the Beiras has begun with another heatwave.   The forecast for the week has temperature well into the 40’s –due to a South Easterly wind straight from the Sahara.

Anything in the garden that need refreshment and remained un-watered, is now very dry and crispy. No need to strim in the orchard, just break of the burnt brown weeds and brush up the remains. Most wells are now dry so the only water is coming from the mains supply – constant still, but very expensive. This could be the start of a new wave of gardening for the next decade and beyond – must get used to conservation and using minimum of water or only grow between November and May – leave the other months to Figs, Olives, Oranges, Pomegranates and Vines ( seems rather a Biblical roll call in its simplicity).

So what can survive a long HOT Drought?  Apart from the previously mentioned ‘Talmudistic’ grouping, consideration could be given to the myriad of Cactus varieties available. Whilst they enjoy the ‘Wet’ of winter, they are happy to survive with little but the morning dew for four to five months – even flowering with alacrity and in profusion during the dry time. 

Cacti enjoying the summer heat

Cactus in flower

Those trees, plants and shrubs that have put down very deep roots (usually after two or three years) tend to survive, if not thrive, in the dusty high summer and there are a number of ‘Climbers’ that at least stay green – Solanum and Plumbago even giving  a wonderful display in the white to dark blue sector. Bougainvillea are enlivening in pink, purple and yellow.

Blue Plumbago and White Solanum happily intertwined

For those requiring a more verdant and tasty garden the use of large Tubs (75 litre to 90 litre grape tubs from the Co-Operativa and €2.80 each, do admirably and don’t collapse after 2 sunny years, like their very expensive terracotta coloured plastic cousins) will, with the a minimal addition of tap water (tub usually requires around 3litres per day against the same ‘ground planting’ using at least 12 litres). These tubs can be filled with a ‘Tailor Made’ growing compost for the particular plant to be cultured and can be very specifically fed and watered throughout the growing and fruiting season to encourage spectacular results.

Tomatoes, Aubergines, Peppers, Chillis, and Cucumbers all thrive in ‘Tub Culture’ with their cropping season being extended well into the winter. Peppers and Chillis can simply be cut back to 150 mm in January and the new season starts 2 months earlier than those sown each year from seed. Usually the crop is much larger in the second to fourth years.

 

A good selection of this year's tomatoes

Shiny purple aubergines

Plump green peppers

Raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries and rhubarb (Yes rhubarb can be grown in Portugal in a tub) all thrive  in their own individual space, even Sweet Corn (sixty days from planting to eating) and leeks (maybe the sweetest you have ever tasted and they will be available with all year round with progressive planting) all perform rather well. The only way to find out is to try the method. You never know you may be saving the planet!

Needless to say, most of the summer blooming plants (and 80% of the winter flowering) are Tub grown. The half size 45 litre capacity units are best for bulbs Plant Tulips by the end of September for a display next March, and Lily bulbs by the end of October for best results next year. (Don’t over water). Cyclamens perform best in small pots. Plant in October for winter flowering under the trees.

Dahlias love the solitude of individual planting and flower profusely if regularly fed and watered well into November or December if the temperatures hold up.

Pretty "Bedding" Dahlias grown from seed - Bishop's Children Vatiety

 Roses can be grown in big tubs. Water in summer leave dry in winter, and will bloom for ten months a year. Best varieties for container growing are ‘Bush’ plants.  Climbers and Ramblers out grow the tub in a first season. 

Some roses just keep on going

Now is the time to top up all your current Tubs and Pots with ‘estrume’(Horse Manure) as most will already have lost a fifth of the compost washed out by watering and they are all desperate for a good feed. If you dislike the idea of ‘estrume’ use ‘Blue Ball’ Fertilizer or a ‘Liquid Feed’ of choice but DO FEED now if the garden is to remain in its prime until Christmas.

In case you didn't believe me!

The thermometer has just topped ‘40’ degrees and it’s not yet Noon. At last the tintinabulation of the Head Gardener’s bell with the summons to a ‘Hosing Down’ 

and coffee –

must dash, 

see you soon

Stuart.