28th FEBRUARY 2017 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL.
It’s Blossom time in the Beiras. The last couple of
warm and sunny weeks encouraged the Apricot, Peach, Almond and Plum trees into
their glorious spring finery. The spectacular displays never cease to amaze and
the vibrant colours in deep pink, gentle peach and vanilla ice creams transform
the forest of plain brown, seemingly lifeless sticks, into the wonderland of
nature’s awakening Spring Fantasy.
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| The miniature Nectarine tree |
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| Full size Nectarine tree in full bloom |
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| The large Damascus Apricot awaiting pollination! |
Even after seventy plus gardening years it always
stirs the horticultural heart into action for new triumphs in the seasons to
come. A small problem that seems to be exasperated more each year is the lack
of insects to fertilise this grand overture to the growing year. Bees seem to
be in very short supply and most other Flying Lotharios are still at home,
presumably awaiting higher night temperatures, even though the very warm days
(over 20 degrees) should kick start their appetites for fresh pollen supplies.
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| The young purple plum |
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| Just a little blossom on the almond tree this year |
What the plants, trees and garden in general now
need is a good feed and a lot of tender loving care. The liberal application of
the Blue Balls, or if you are a ‘Tree Hugger’, lots of natural manure, topped
off with a generous mulch of last year’s compost will ensure everything gets a
good start in the growing stakes. Remove all damaged and dead wood from
everything (use sharp Secateurs as blunt instruments squash the cut ends and
allow the ingress of lots of ‘nasties’ into the stalk or branch), trim for
shape (no this not a spring prune) as nothing looks worse than a lop-side bush
or tree and ensure the ‘leaders’(those long whips that grow directly towards
the stars) are removed to keep cropping trees within ‘fruit picking’ height.
Soft fruit is desperate for a little attention, Raspberries
and Loganberries need the old fruiting canes removed and the new fruiting
shoots given space to grow and breath. Strawberries should have been serviced
before the January frosts , for those tardy few, it is about time the plants
were cleaned of runners (which, as they will be mainly rooted can be planted
for new stock), weeded and aerated. Ease
a small fork around the plant and loosen the compacted earth around the roots, then feed and top off with fresh compost.
Seed planting is now very tempting, but not directly
into uncovered ground as the still latent cold will delay germination and may
well rot the seed. For those with Poly Tunnels, big Cloches and Green House -
what are you waiting for? Just get on with it and stop making excuses.
Cut back last year’s Chilli and Sweet Pepper plants
to within 150mm of the soil and await the first shoots and you should see
flower in six weeks and chills in twelve weeks. Check all last autumn’s
cuttings for growth.
Brugmansia, Hydrangea, Fuchsia, Ivy Leafed Geraniums
should be showing some life. Geraniums
now need water (no feed yet and then only sparingly if flowers are required).
Cuttings from most trees such as Fig, Apple, Catalpa, Olive and Chestnut will
be showing plump buds at the growing tip. Don’t be tempted to move - just leave
for another three months before transplanting in to separate pots.
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| Last year's geranium cuttings springing forth |
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| Here come the Hydrangeas |
Roses are ready for their second Feed. The recent
sunny days have encouraged masses of new growth which will translate into
abundant flowering by May on the HT(Hybrid Tea) roses, and into masses of bloom
on the ‘Specie’ rambling roses. By late March earl April, stand back and enjoy
the King of the Garden in its full regal splendour.
Looks like a good year for Wisteria. There are lots
of buds on the numerous growing tips and the white and purple Solanum are
puckering up for their usual summer long show. Easter Lilies are serene even
though its only Shrove Tuesday.
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| Wisteria is full of fat buds |
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| The first of the lovely Easter Lilies |
For the productive gardener, get your vines pruned
NOW or it will be too late. Potatoes should be in by now (ok, the frost of January
and rain of early February can be your excuse) and most cabbages can still be
cropped - if getting a little tough. Broad beans should be ready in a two to
three weeks if planted back in November. ( Ah! you forgot, pity!)
So easy to become verbose at this wonderfully
emergent time of year. Must curb
enthusiasm as they Head Gardener’s list is getting ever longer and the time for
the life preserving coffee will become ever diminished.
Now there goes the ‘Bell’ that cheers
must dash,
see you soon
Stuart.
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