MIDSUMMER MAGIC

22^ND JUNE 2017 CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Mid Summer’s day, temperature in the mid ‘Thirties’ (been up to 40 plus in the last few days), terrible and very tragic forest fires in the ‘Beiras’. Certainly a time for contemplation and giving thanks for the glories of the garden.

Most plants find excessive heat and prolonged exposure to blistering sunshine a little difficult to deal with. Generally our garden plants come from temperate regions (usually moist and cool) or jungles (mostly very hot and very moist), the other bits are either covered in snow and very cold or devoid of vegetation and blisteringly hot in the day time and cold at night. So our cultivars are designed ( yes, most plants have been designed or ‘naturalised’ over the centuries to acceptable taste, smell or appearance ) to maximise our growing pleasure. It is only when extremes of climate occur that the true hereditary traits in plants revert to their wild origins.

Masses of sun and no water is the formula for defeat in the garden unless these possibilities are planned for and taken into consideration when planting. Shade is a very good friend to those plants that dislike strong sunshine so always consider planting a screen of broad leafed trees in front of any sunny vegetable patches. The elixir of crop maximisation then becomes that much sought after ‘dappled shade’. Not only does this minimise leaf burn from direct rays but also reduces substantially the use of water due to the lack of evaporation. Whilst another mantra of the horticultural world is ‘free draining soil’ this condition is of little merit when there is a water shortage. The lining of growing beds with a non porous membrane allows the ‘New Gardener’ to ensure that water resources in future will be used to their best. It may mean that more careful cultivation, feeding and watering will be required to maximise the crop return on effort. So in future don’t plan for the next year  - plan five years or more into the future, give the shading trees time to grow, be more realistic in the flowers and crops you want to grow, as the cost of garden water becomes prohibitive and ever more scarce ensure that yours is the garden that nature intended.

So have put away the ‘Soap Box’ and returned to the pleasures currently on offer.

The Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Aubergines and courgettes being grown in tubs on the Belvedere terrace are in fine form and all just starting to crop with lots of flower and future growth to come. Feeding every week with the ‘Blue Balls’ and daily with measured water (five litres for a 90 litre pot with four tomato or pepper plants, little more for the Aubergines)

Big flavoursome somatoes

Gorgeous plum tomatoes

First aubergine (eggplant)

Peppers in abundance

another variety of pepper

Cherry tomatoes ripening

Roses are revving up for a further summer bloom .

This rose never stops flowering and smells divine

This is a miniature variety of rose

 The Brugmansias (Angels' Trumpets) are sensational, (lots of cuttings taken in February in full flower),

Pink Trumpets - this year's cuttings

Head Gardener's favourite

The whole plant, from a cutting given two years agon

 Buddleia are stately – much maligned by many just now (vagaries of fashion again). They always give a splendid show and the Butterflies are the added bonus (twelve varieties seen feeding in the last week).

Buddleia with Cardinal butterfly

Spot the butterfies on this buddleia!

 Dahlias, Fuchsias and Geraniums really paying their way this year (just keep feeding and watering till October).

Bedding Dahlia Bishop's Children

Pot of Fuchsia and geraniums

 Fruit trees as predicted in March are full of ripening fruit, the recalcitrant Damascus Apricot, devoid of fruit for nine years, has gone overboard this summer with branches laden with golden fruit. Apples and Plums are ripening and there may even be a few Olives this Autumn.

 The  Impatiens in the hanging baskets are floriferous, even in direct sun (filled half the basket with high water retention ceramic ‘balls’ which seem to be working their magic). The tubs of African and French Marigolds have cheered up the roadside no end.

French Marigolds enjoying the afternoon sunshine

Hanging Impatiens (Busy Lizzies) and more Marigolds

And just a few of the other plants flowering for us now.

Heavenly blue Agapanthus

Clematis Hagley Hybrid still flowering

A nice shady spot for hydrangea (Hortensia)

Bright cheerful flowers of the pomegranate tree

Must finish the watering before heat exhaustion sets in. 

There goes the HG bell for large quantities of well iced water today (hopefully), 

must dash,

See you soon

Stuart.

FIRE AND WATER

19^th AUGUST 2016 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

With the glorious relief of rain, well not really rain just a very fine drizzle, and the temperature down to 25 degrees, following three weeks of excessively high temperatures well into the 40’s on a number of occasions, 24 hours of relief is most welcome. (The word ‘relief’ is used advisedly as the forecast is to return to the heat-wave next Sunday with temperatures back to 39 degrees being predicted). The heat was not the main problem. The worst forest fires in twenty years have engulfed the ‘Beiras’(and much of the rest of Portugal) in the past fourteen days. Approximately 60,000 hectares of standing timber have been destroyed and this has only been contained by the amazing bravery and extreme effort of the truly noble ‘Bombeiros Voluntarios’ (the Portuguese Voluntary Fire Brigades stationed in every Portuguese Town). These Men and Women (yes a large proportion are young women) without fear for their own lives (six deaths in action during the last two weeks) stoically fight these tremendous ‘Blazes’, pausing only when exhaustion drives them to their knees. Without them the crisis would have become a disaster. To them all we give are most sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude.

Portuguese firemen fighting a forest blaze

Smoke from forest fire seen from the house

So, gardening has taken very much a minor role in the last days. The main priority has been watering as even the best placed plants cannot survive such blistering heat that has been experienced, without a constant supply of water. As is usual in a drought, constant sunshine and inflated temperatures the Well runs dry and water has to be drawn from the piped supply. (The choice of what to water and allow to survive or to just abandon becomes critical when the cost of Piped water is entered into the equation).

Efforts have concentrated on those plants grown in tubs (so was not a bad horticultural decision in February to concentrate this year’s efforts on the Belvedere terrace in Wine Tubs). Tomatoes are cropping very heavily – Coeur de Bue, Money Maker, Cherries (Black, Red and Yellow), Cristal and Cucha Plum have all been rampant. Cucumbers are so prolific that cold Cucumber Soup has become a staple to use up the excess (cucumbers do not freeze well). 

Just some of the cherry tomatoes

Coeur de Bue (Ox heart) tomatoes

Yet more cucumbers

Aubergines just love the sun, heat and water ( so it’s lots of  Ratatouille as it does freeze well). Sweet Green Peppers (California Wonders) are splendid in the Wine tubs and will also be destined for the Cold Repose. Courgettes are past their best, but still supplying daily. 

Aubergines cropping well

Leeks planted in March are all eaten and their growing tubs have been re-planted with seedling plants for December picking. (Those eaten were excellent and totally superior to their shop bought cousins). Have still enjoyed a few good ‘Cobs from the Sweet Corn, but generally it has been  a very low yield. The Lettuce, as usual, is performing in the spot light of Sunshine  and constant watering.

 A few strawberries are being picked daily but getting very small and Raspberries are Write Off this season as are all the Fruit Trees and Olives – but then the Gardener has always a burden of  Failure which will be hopefully overcome next year (without this Positive attitude the garden would not exist).

The flower garden has prospered without the usual spoiling tactics cast upon it by rain. Watering , dead heading and frequent feeding have ensured continued and profuse flowering from the Roses, Geraniums, Fuchsias, Dahlias, Cosmos, Zinnias, Tagetees, Solanum, Brugmansia  and, a new addition, the regal purple flowers of the Tibouchina ( another spectacular Lidl purchase).

Just some of the Geraniums grown from seed this year

Roses happily climbing up the Diosperos (Sharon Fruit) tree

Such a colourful Zinnia

And yet more Zinnias

White double Cosmos finally made it into flower

Tibouchina against yellow dahlias

Erythrina against a clear blue sky

So now is the perfect time to consider the cuttings that will beover wintered’. Taking now will allow new roots to be formed for a good healthy plant to grow – for every twenty cuttings taken (however badly) at least half will survive and bloom next year – beats €2.50 per pot at the market.

The Chilli plants kept from last year and cut back in February are now resplendent with ripe red Chillis - at least a month ahead of the new seedlings. The Piri Piri bushes (yes Bushes) are over a metre high, covered in white flowers or small green or black Piri Piri’s and should be good for few more years. (A Tabasco plant is now in its fourth year and is full of fruit). This success with Chillis is not greatly appreciated by the Head Gardener who is not overwhelmed by HOT food, but has been persuaded that the use of ‘Chilli Oil’ is most beneficial to many recipes. (2litre plastic bottle fill to one third with Chilli of choice – usual preference Piri Piri or Cayenne – fill with good Olive Oil, replace cap and leave for three to six months prior to use) and is much more controllable in the Heat stakes.

Here come the chillis again!

Last year’s effort must have been appreciated as there goes the coffee bell –

must dash –

see you soon,

Stuart.

HEAT + WATER, EQUALS START OF CROPPING

27^th JULY – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

The thermometer remains well above 38 degrees most days (topped 41 degrees last weekend) and the forecast is for a continuation of similar conditions well into September. The garden is slowly becoming brown with patches of well watered green.   At least the use of containers has reduced the water consumption (by some 75% over ground planting) and allowed controlled feeding.

Tomatoes are looking very good in their large wine tubs.  Cherry ‘Toms’ (Yellow, Red and Black) are just starting to ripen and taken on specific colours. ‘Cucha’ Plum variety are ripe and being consumed. ‘Crystal F1’ and ‘Money Maker’ have large trusses of pale green tomatoes which will start to ripen in the next week (at least one benefit of ‘Wall to Wall’ sunshine from dawn to dusk), ‘Coeur de Bu’ are  still very green but getting larger by the day. The rate of ripening does not seem to affected by the way in which the plants have been trained.  ‘Fan’ and ‘Spandral’ (similar to ‘Fan’ trained but plants are allowed to grow freely on a vertical surface without training on supports) are ripening just as quickly as those plants grown in traditional ‘Pyramids’. Maybe the weather conditions are re-writing the ‘Gardener’s Manual’ in this sector as well as with most other ‘Inherited’ garden folk law.

Cucha plum tomato

Yellow Cherry

Cuor di Bue (Ox Heart tomato)

Red and Yellow Cherry - spandral trained tomato

Cristal

Fan trained black cherry tomato

Sweet Pepper ‘California Wonder’ and a mixture of Chillis (Piri Piri, Ring of Fire, Jalepeno, Tabasco and Cayennes) are well forward this year - still all green but very large. Sweet Peppers should be ready to start cropping in the next fortnight (and hopefully until late November).

California Wonder Sweet Peppers

Cayenne Peppers

First Aubergine eaten yesterday and the plants (four to a tub) are all full of lush purple fruits or vibrant violet flowers, expecting a long productive season with lots of ‘Moussaka’ and ‘Ratatouille’. Both freeze well which is not the case with the uncooked fruits.

Looking forward to many shiny Aubergines

Cucumbers - still finding full size green ‘prizes’ hidden in the leaves. Just planted another forty lettuce  plants yesterday in various colours,  to keep regular supply of  leaves going until late September. Planting this amount every six weeks throughout the year ensures continuity of supply all the way through the winter months . They are fully operational and ‘lapping up’ the halcyon growing conditions.

Newly planted lettuce

Zinnias are stately in their myriad of wonderful colours ranging from pale cream through terracotta and vibrant reds to regal purples and exotic mauves. Geraniums are prolific in colour and flower (seed sown in April now in full flower, ten seeds planted ten plants flowering – great fertility or was it just luck this spring). Still waiting to be overwhelmed by the profusion of Cosmos plants which currently,  although some 2metres high and verdant, are refusing to flower. (Not just the cheap local seed but some very expensive Thompson & Morgan seed bought in UK seems to be completely ‘blind’).

Head Gardener's favourite Zinnia

Head Gardener's second favourite Zinnia

Such a range of colours

A gathering of mixed Zinnias

The perfect weather conditions, the willingness to water and feed, make these ‘Summer Times’ just wonderful for the Gardener. Flowers everywhere, climbers climbing, Roses blooming, broad leafed trees giving favourable shade (Fig and Catalpa  have the biggest leaves;  even have a Tomentilho and Avocado looking sensational – wonder when they will finally ‘fruit’ possibly 2020).

Lovely red climbing rose.  Like most in our garden it has no name

Indestructable Passion Flower

Yellow Campsis - scrambling everywhere

Plumbago climbing - its blue competing against the blue blue sky!

More roses

First figs

Avocado tree - grown from a stone planted by a friend

The clarion tone of the Head Gardener’s bell - fluids at last to the rescue of a rather limp ‘First Assistant Gardener and Carrier of Water’

 must dash slowly –

see you soon

Stuart.