26TH OCTOBER
2016 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL
Autumn really arrived
with heavy rain and cold winds but then, just as all the village fires were
being lit, out came the sun in a clear blue sky and an ‘Indian Summer’
prevailed amongst the Thunder Storms - most confusing for the Gardener and equally
mystifying for the plants. The sudden damp conditions and day time temperature
in the upper twenties have persuaded some species that they have already
experienced a short sharp winter and are now proposing to perform for another
year ( don’t expect it will last with the incoming ‘Easterlies’ of mid
November).
The myriad of cuttings
taken in late September are revelling in the un-seasonal conditions, growing
away with abandon. They look good now, but what will happen when, or if, it
becomes a traditional winter? Aubergines, Chillies and Peppers are in full
flower and heavy with ripe and semi ripe fruit (well can you think of another
word to describe their crops). The Tangerines and Oranges are turning ‘Orange’,(about
one month early) and the Limes and Lemons are ripe enough to use.
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| Ring of fire Chilli plant - beware, very HOT |
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| Young limes - nearly ready for picking |
Plumbago in
powder blue; Solanum, in white and dark blue; deep purple Tibouchina in full
regal splendour; Brugmansias, all colours from pure white through pale pink to
yellow and deep gold. They are giving a further ‘Fanfare’ from their orchestral
trumpets (must be the fifth or sixth this year),filling the garden with colour
and exotic fragrance.
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| Plumbago scrambling through a peach tree together with white Solanum |
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| Purple solanum |
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| Exotic Tibouchina - may need winter shelter |
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| This Brugmansia is at its most stunning now |
Roses in full ‘Fig’, Cyclamen getting going, Fuchsias
still performing but the Geraniums are starting to falter.
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| Lovely blush rose |
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| Mini cyclamen will be in flower all through the winter, with care |
The delicate
‘Heartease’ (Winter miniature pansies) are growing and flowering strongly -
have always found if pansies are in flower during the first week of November
they will produce a wonderful show all winter.
Seed needs to be sown in June, pricked out in July and potted on in
September to ensure a winter extravagance.
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| Miniature violas (Heartsease) will be tumbling over their troughs by spring |
So is it time to wrap
up and protect the tender plants? Banana plants should have the leaves removed
before’ wrapping’(next year’s leaves grow from the old stem, so if you want a
taller tree leave plenty of stem). If left they cause wet rot to destroy the
root. Use sacking or green breathable
garden wrap and fill around stem with straw. Keep out of direct rain, off the
ground and water sparingly every three weeks throughout the dormant period. New
leaves will start to appear in April.
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| Banana tree ready for its winter preparations |
Geraniums do best in the winter out of
the weather but in a light and airy place. Water once a month until March then
give them a feed before putting out in a sunny spot.
Have always taken the
Cymbidium Orchids inside during the winter following their summer sojourn on
the sunny terrace. Following a full ‘re-potting’ of the stock last year there
was little flower evident during the winter and spring. The Portuguese Lady opposite planted hers
twenty years ago in tubs placed on the veranda. They are ignored and left to
the elements, rain, wind, sun and cold, throughout the year. These plants
always seem to produce the most eloquent display annually. This year half of
the plants will remain on the terrace and the balance will reside inside. Will
post information on their progress - looking for first Orchid Flowers for
Christmas!
Bit late to plant bulbs
for the Festive Season in the garden. However,
if Spring flowers are a must over Christmas and New Year. Bulbs planted now
(Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths) and ‘Forced’ in dark, mild (not hot or they
will ‘Bolt’) and moist place should perform in late December early January.
Lettuce beds now full
for winter picking, eight varieties, twenty plants each, market bought as plugs
(at €1 for twenty cheaper than the seed), at eight a week (HG big lettuce
eater) should last till spring. Of
course, you can replant with twenty new plugs every fortnight and never run out
of salad.
So if the weather stays
‘mild’ for a further week or two might please the HG by thinking about taking a
few more speculative ‘Cuttings’ to generate a uninterrupted Winter supply of
coffee.
The telepathy seems to have worked as there goes the ‘Bell’
must dash
see you soon,
Stuart.
