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.