FEELING LAZY BUT LOTS TO DO

21ST NOVEMBER 2016 - CENTRA L PORTUGAL

Cold, Wet and Windy – but then it is the end of November even in Portugal. Little new in the garden due to the adverse weather conditions, apart from super lettuce, chunky leeks and early ripening tangerines, oranges and diosperos. 

Several varieties of lettuce, side by side with young leeks

More lovely lettuce

Oranges nearly ready for eating

Lowest temperature so far is 1degree and this cannot have been for long as nothing, including cacti, dahlias and bananas have been affected. As the forecast for the next week promises further low temperatures, the garden fleece will have to be cast over the more vulnerable varieties. Have often wondered why this thin, porous material works so well; think it must be something to do with keeping the plants free of morning dew just prior to the snap of near frost.

Cacti still surviving outside - not for much longer

The log store is well filled, so roaring fires are the order of the day; lovely to start and finish the day in flickering fire light. With the current adverse conditions, sitting in front of the fire, reading a book and drinking coffee during the day is also worthy of praise. The lovely story of the Sage sitting by the fire for the winter months comes to mind. When asked what he did to pass the time the response was ‘Sometimes I sit and think and when I’m bored of thinking, I just sit’.

Lots of lovely logs in store

But alas, being a Gardener there is always something that needs doing, however chilling the wind may be. About time the Christmas Tree was rescued from the summer quarters, a quick tidy and top up the compost with a little feed, water well in the tub, leave for a couple of weeks and it will be ready for its annual three weeks of glory in the Limelight. Looks as if the Holly Trees will be full of red berries and the Ivy has had very good growth year so no excuse not to have a well traditionally decorated ‘Wassailtide’.

The beauty of pot plants adds much to the special festive atmosphere. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and hippeastrums pot planted back in September and kept in that cool dark place should now be brought into the light and heat for late December flowering. Pansies and primulas planted now in window boxes will give great flowering satisfaction until March, irrespective of wind, rain and tempest. Give the cymbidium orchids (now ensconced inside for the winter months) a generous feed and water to encourage the flowering spikes that always impress your seasonal visitors.

Mini pansies ready for winter in the window box

Primulas just planted for the season

The pleasant somnanbulance of fireside relaxation stirs the thoughts of next seasons projected triumphs and necessitates an in depth perusal of the new Seed Catalogues(orders placed now often elicit a rather good price discount). With the price of seeds from the UK Seedsmen increasing annually, plus the provocative exchange rate, a set budget will be required to ensure a degree of stability and common sense. (Are the five new varieties of ‘Bead’ tomatoes really necessary – and they say ‘Black’ but they always seem to be dark brown or a poor Claret). The HG has put limit on the number of Chilli varieties, and quantity of plants, to be grown next year. Having disposed of much this year’s crop to un-suspecting friends, the devastation reaped by the ‘Ring of Fire’ and the ‘Cayenne/Scots Bonnet’ cross has created a group of ‘husky’ voiced people who stand a great deal.

So very many piri piri chillies - where will it all end!

The fire needs stoking and here comes the HG with coffee (no bell required today) –

must dash for more logs,

see you soon

Stuart.