EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN IS WONDERFUL

6^TH JUNE 2017 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Light rain overnight and brilliant morning sunshine have made the garden sparkle like a casket of precious jewels – but then what is more precious than the splendour of nature’s bounty in your very own plot.

The weather has been fickle for late May and early June  - very hot sunny days interlaced by bright but cold north westerly and easterly winds. The Iberian High Pressure has yet to establish prominence this summer. Still a shortage of rain and there would seem to be little prospect of any substantial amount until October, so the decision to mainly ‘Tub Plant’ this year seems to have been the correct way to go (one litre of water a day will keep a 95litre tub full of plants in good order).

The Tomatoes, tub planted in April, are now full of green fruit and up to the fourth truss. (As they have restricted growth, they will be stopped off at the fifth fruiting truss). Regular feeding twice a week with the daily watering regime should get the best and heaviest crop. Removing two thirds of the leaves which promotes and allows the movement of air around the plant, nipping out the side shoots, which ensures all the plant energy goes into the promotion of maximum sized fruit, and a fortnightly spray with your favourite Anti-Blight potion, which ensures there is no catastrophic attack of  Black Mould, must become the rule for the next weeks until the crop is harvested.

Tomatoes developing nicely

Lovely truss of cherry tomatoes

The ever reliable California Wonder Sweet Peppers are producing their first fruit from a plethora of white flowers, and the violet flowers the Aubergine are starting to show signs of small claret coloured globes. The new Piri Piri plants introduced this year are full of flower, but seem to have an aversion to direct hot sunlight.

One small aubergine (eggplant) and accompanying flower

Flowers are all super. The long sunny days during the last two months and the lack of heavy rain have ensured that the blooms are lasting at their best for a longer time than is usual.  However, the clement weather has seen off the first flush of this year’s Roses - feeding now to promote the next bloom is essential. Remember to prune back the flowered whips (stalks) to the second to last outfacing bud. Fed and watered, these buds will be in flower within three weeks. Climbing, and most rambling Roses usually only flower once, so when the flowers have dropped ,remove the exhausted wood to promote new growth for possibly a second flowering or for next year. (Yes, planning ahead for next year this early in this season ensures garden continuity).

Geraniums and Fuchsia never fail to please, and this year is no exception. Keep Geraniums on the dry side and don’t feed (unless you prefer leaves to flower). Fuchsias are greedy feeders, need plenty water. Keep in dappled shade (lift up the pots of the trailing varieties to ensure the blooms are free of the ground – this gives the best show and prevents ‘rust’).

A selection of geraniums

A bevy of Fuchsias!

Petunias  always add that explosion of rich colour. The ‘Surfinia’ strain is now available in more vibrant and interesting colours and certainly has a propensity to produce masses of flower blooms for the whole summer – ensure they are fed at least once per week and are watered daily. Left to dry out will ensure their demise.

And another bevy - petunias this time

Marigolds, both French and African are now burgeoning forth. These often forgotten and much maligned genre will brighten up the most morose corner or the most exposed (to sunshine and wind) of the garden, ranging in height from 75mm to 1metre, they certainly give value for very little money.

A Parade of Marigolds

Another favourite making its way back into the fashionable garden is the Dahlia. Both tuberous and bedding will add splendid colour and lots of character to even the driest of situations.

Lovely large tuberous Dahlia

A pot of bedding Dahlias - variety Bishop's Childre n

It looks as if the early promise of loads of summer fruit from the Orchard will be fulfilled. Peaches, Apples, Plums, Pomegranates are over laden with growing fruits and the lazy Damascus Apricot tree (which has produce three fruits in nine years) is covered in ripe or near ripe plumptious Apricots (see, miracles do happen in the garden). There may even be an Olive or two in late October.

So hot, sticky (been dead heading Petunias) and a bit ‘Chuffed’ with results so far, the Coffee Bell and the HG will be most welcome.

Peaches - not long now

Damascus Apricot - lots of fruit at last!

These plums are going to be quite large

Young Apples

 Now there goes the tintinabulation of the HG gentle summoning for refreshment. The trumpets of the Brugmansia seem to be joining in 

Stunning, as usual,  the first Angels' Trumpets

must dash,

See you soon 

Stuart

RAMBLINGS ON A HOT SUNDAY AFTERNOON

19^TH JULY 2015 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Still hot and no rain, enjoying a life spent watering! This is the time of year that the thought of the horrendous water bill (no bore hole) against the local market cost of fruit and vegetables always seems to rear its head? However the pleasure of planting and watching the crops grow, not to mention the specific enjoyment of eating home grown produce, soon banishes any financial stigma.

Picked the white peaches (15kg) and the red peaches(12kg) yesterday, just in time as they had started to fall. They were quickly stoned and blanched for immediate freezing (minus a few ‘star’ examples which were rapidly consumed) Peaches go rotten so quickly when picked when just ripe. The flavour of most fruit, with the exception of Medlars and Portuguese ‘Iron’ Pears, when tree or bush ripened is always superior to the bought examples (maybe it’s the salt from the sweat expended during cultivation and picking that gives them that extra ‘Je ne sais quoi’).  Quick freezing can often retain a modicum of their celebrity status.  Of course, the Head Gardener also made spicy peach chutney and friends make lovely peach jam.

Just a small part of the peach crop

Tomato season now in full swing - Cristal F1 are being picked and eaten; first trusses already consumed with many more to go.  They are just as good as it said on the Seed Packet (and no disease – amazing). Expect to get around 8kg each from the eight original plants. Sweet Baby also being picked; flavour is exceptional and the quantity of fruit per truss is spectacular (20 – 30 at least). However, the description ‘Baby’ is correct as they are the size of ‘Maltesers’ (UK produced round chocolate and cinder toffee sweet) and almost as sweet. Reckon around 2kg per plant. Good old ‘Money Maker’ (been growing for it about for years and quietly does the ‘business’ without too much fuss).  Still green but very heavy with ripening fruit (hope to start picking following the main ‘Cristal F1’ crop), should give a late crop for ‘freezing’. The fancy multi coloured cherry tomatoes are all growing well with well formed fruiting trusses, but at least a month away from picking.

Sweet Baby

Crystal

All colours, shapes and sizes of courgettes are giving of their bounty (new recipes now exhausted so freezing in spectacular quantities). Aubergines are so plentiful may consider export to India to supply the Lady chef who does wonderful things in her kitchen with a ‘Small Aubergine’. It always seems such a shame that something that looks so spectacular in its colour and shape should taste so bland.  (The Head Gardener finds slicing, griddling with application of garlic and chilli oil then covering in  cheese sauce improves the culinary experience).

One day's picking of Tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, courgettes, patty pans, and a few beans

The salad front has been trying hard for the last few weeks.  Over production of cucumbers has calmed down (only around three per day now). Lettuce, in all its many hues from flame red through autumn brown to vibrant green, is still in full production.  The re-growth, after initial cutting, to the next full size lettuce takes around three weeks with plenty of water in the current heat and the supply of Italian and Thai Basil complements every meal.

The Okra plants are in flower (think they should be grown for the flower rather than the fruit as ‘Ladies Fingers’ can be a bit ‘slimy’ if not cooked correctly, but that’s just me). Growing in a tub this year so water supply (copious) can be easily regulated.  

Okra has such pretty flowers

Flowers are profuse - the pictures speak for themselves. First cuttings being taken from Geraniums as there are signs of Rust (small brown patches on leaves) It’s one of the penalties of scorching hot days and warm nights. Dahlias are being sprayed to minimise Mildew (as are the vines in the local vineyards where their leaves are taking on the familiar purple coating of  home made Portuguese Bordeaux Mixture). 

Lovely perfumed lilies

Lilies and Cosmos - nice combination

Stunning archway of plumbago at the entrance to the patio

Yellow Plums picked, Purple Plums should be ready next week and Green Plums still working hard. Apple and Pear trees are ‘groaning’ with weight of potential crop (at least another six weeks to initial picking). Nectarines are as usual very poor (maybe trees out this winter when the apricots are also erased). 

Just one branch on the purple plum tree

One of the six apple trees - good crop this year

Pear Tree also full of fruit

The view from the ‘recovery’ bench (just completed in the orchard after seven years of consideration) placed under the afternoon shade of the oldest olive tree, is tranquil.  Even the insects have given up in the 38 degree plus heat.

And finally - a new recovery seat for tired workers!

At last - there goes the Head Gardeners resuscitation bell. Now must face the ‘39 Steps’ to the coffee terrace

Must dash (slowly),

See you soon.

Stuart. 

HOPES BOTH BLIGHTED AND ACHIEVED!

8^thJULY - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

A perverse week of rain, wind and dark clouds has finally been replaced by brilliant sunshine, blue sky and temperatures getting back to normal. It is amazing the havoc one week of cold wet weather can cause, especially when it is completely out of season. The ‘Tomato Blight’ that was presumed conquered at the end of June has returned with a vengeance, even three spray applications of the ‘Magic Potion’ have had no effect on one bank of ‘tub grown’ tomato plants (the speed with which the leaves turn brown, the stems turn black and the fruit rots is astounding and ‘very annoying’). The emergency tomato seed plantings when the ‘Blight’ first appeared on the 16^th June have now become the ‘great future hope’ for a tomato crop this year. Nature maybe ‘Wonderful’ but it certainly knows how to keep Gardeners on their toes!

The poor weather has not affected the Chilli and Pepper plants. They seem to gain height by the day and are now covered in flowers - fingers crossed for pollination in the current sunshine and heat (the ‘over wintered’ chilli plants are now heavy with ripening fruit, so it does seem to work). Aubergines having wallowed in deep depression for the last three months have had a change of heart and are now coming into purple flower and are growing 6cm per day. Haricot Beans and Climbing Beans are cropping freely, cool days have kept the ‘Black Fly’ at bay, and there are plenty of bright red and deep purple flowers coming into bloom on the now 2m high vines.(See picture below).

Cucumbers are ‘rubbish’, Courgettes are in full production and the ‘Winter Squashes’ are now 4m long with a selection of green, yellow and beige globes growing larger every day. Great year for lettuce and radish. The ‘Sweet Corn’ has another 24 days to produce ‘table ready’ cobs (according to the story on the most expensive seed packet?).

WINTER SQUASH COMING ALONG NICELY

Peaches are splendid this year, have started picking whilst a  little ‘hard’ to ensure well ripened fruit rather than over ripened fruit on the tree. The three varieties of plums in the orchard are starting to ripen well - the ‘Golden Yellow’ first, the plump ‘Reds’ next (large, sweet and juicy) followed by the ‘Dark Purple’ in around ten days

.

PEACHES,  PLUMS, BEANS AND COURGETTES IN ABUNDANCE

Fuchsia are still in full bloom, Roses getting a little tired(must feed and water well for a late August show), Dahlias big and ‘blousie’ as always, Petunias coming again after the ‘big chop’ ten days ago,Erythrina (Brazilian ‘Tears of Christ) and Campsis (8m high and a mass of yellow flowers rather than the more common orange) are paying their way this year.

 

ONE OF THE PRETTY SMALLER FLOWERED FUCHSIAS

 

BUDS OF THE ERYTHRINA HAVE NOW OPENED - VERY EXOTIC

 

DAHLIA, COLOURFUL AS USUAL

 

FLOWERS OF THE CAMPSIS LESS COMMON YELLOW VARIETY

Well if the new found weather decides to stay the ‘Blight’ may disappear as quickly as it came. Might get some respite from the Head Gardener (can’t hide in the shed much longer!) See you soon

Stuart.