THE PLEASURES OF FORCED ISOLATION

24th MARCH 2020, NORTH YORKSHIRE

The peace and tranquility of the garden this morning is in complete contrast to the world two metres from its boundaries. TWO METRES is considered the safe clear distance to avoid the rampaging COVID-19 Virus currently changing our world. Being well over ‘70’ years old, the Head Gardener and her ‘Helper’ (Me) are considered in the most ‘Vulnerable’ category and must Self Isolate for the next three months (like many others). What an opportunity for the avid Gardener – three months' uninterrupted gardening pleasure. So with an early morning frost fast disappearing in the brilliant sunshine and a magnificent clear blue sky. let the new ‘Self Exile’ begin. (HG assures me coffee will continue to be supplied with the wonderful assistance of our village friends and neighbours who are able to act on our behalf, and will assist with supplies, for which we are most grateful)’.

There is little to say about January and February as weather was very wet, very windy and cold (but little frost until the last few days), and little time spent doing anything of a Horticultural nature apart from playing in the Green House and Conservatory.

 The Amaryllis have been in full bloom since early January and are now coming to the end of their splendid symphony of colour and form. Their place in the conservatory will soon be taken by Jasmine and Freesia. The tubs on the walls by the driveway are full of tulips ready to bloom and daffodils already in flower. The winter pansies are about to re-flower and the vibrant primulas in bright yellows, reds and blues make the place look furnished and cared for, even on the darkest of winter days.

The well fed rose bushes are well ahead this spring due to the lack of frost which usually burns off the early shoots. The tea roses and climbing roses are all full of leaf, and some are even showing their first buds of the year. The bush tea roses were all pruned in December, but decided to leave all the climbers till early March to encourage more height on their trellis. As they were all so verdant, decided to just tie In the long whips (clipping the last 300mm away, which encourages the upward growth of the flowering shoots) – will see if this process has worked in the next few weeks.

Hellebores have had a good season and are still in full flower ( keep an eye on the area under the leaf spread when tidying in June as there will be lots of newly seeded small plants available to pot on).

The last few days of sunshine have greatly encouraged the first growth of the year and hostas, lupins, aquilegia, delphiniums, euphorbias, buddleias, cordylines et al. are all on their way. Clematis already rampant, and the first sign of the multitude of lily bulbs breaking the surface in their containers or ground where they were left to multiply during the winter months.

It really is a magical time of year when Nature awakes from her Winter rest, so forget the outside world and simply concentrate on the ‘Positives’ in your garden and look forward to the rewards of your labours during the next few months.

My favourite seed supplier ‘ALDI’ (Yes ALDI) had available prior to the lock down, their annual sale of collection packets, each of eight varieties, of vegetables, herbs and flowers. So, during our last visit before the embargo purchased four packets, encompassing thirtytwo different varieties for £3.96 being 99p per packet, which must terrify the now very expensive Seed Merchants (had terrific results last year with their tomatoes, chillis, peppers, salad leaves, nasturtiums, alyssum, geraniums, petunias, bedding dahlias plus many more). The sowing of this bounty is already showing the first shoots from the basil (both purple and green), oriental poppies, corn flowers and exotic Far Eastern salad greens (which includes pak choi,  and Chinese leaves among many others) – all soon to be followed in the seed propogator by at least another sixteen varieties of seed. Will keep you posted of the outcome of the sowings.

Last year’s geraniums were cut back and bundled into large pots for their winter frost free storage. The mild winter has encouraged early growth, so replanted the best looking cuttings three weeks ago and now look to have around thirty plumptious plants already beginning to bud up on the greenhouse bench (the strongest growing plants can be used for cuttings to multiply the stock for this year if required).

The Fuchsias, given similar treatment to the geraniums last autumn, are now full of growth. The old mother plants, cut back for new cuttings, are in full leaf and the new cuttings are not far behind – the winter hardy plants left in the ground to over winter are just showing their first shoots, so now is the time to feed for best results (remember to pinch out the top two leaves from  stem to encourage bushy plants. Those cuttings with very straight strong stems can be encouraged to become standard by supporting early with a stick and removing all but the top four leaves – pinch out middle when desired height achieved).

So, with bright sunshine and sneaky easterly wind drying up the waterlogged fields (our Farmer was out yesterday ploughing the Hundred Acre field at the back of the garden), gilet, hat and gloves on, its once more into the restricted kingdom during at least the next three months (but likely Six). Plants and weeds be very aware - you are being inspected more closely than ever before!

No bell from the Head Gardener as we are being exceptionally pleasant to each other to avoid altercations while closely confined(?).

 Keep Gardening – you know you want to - just enjoy and stay healthy – 

see you soon

Stuart.

COLD, FROSTY AND SUNNY START TO THE NEW YEAR

7TH JANUARY 2017 - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Happy new Gardening Year to all those worldwide followers of ‘Stuart’s Garden’. Last year just over 25,000 of you lusted after the Head gardener's Coffee; your interest has been overwhelming. The thought that a small plot of slightly infertile ground in the ‘Beiras’ of  Portugal could be of interest to those as far away as North America, China, Australia, Argentina South Africa and many in between, has been both encouraging and shocking to the system.

The first week of 2017 has been very cold for here. 0 degrees most nights and heavy frost every morning has seen off most of the tender foliage plants.

Ice on the path

Frost in the valley

 Nasturtiums, impatiens, dahlias, some geraniums, all the chillies and sweet peppers, brugmansia, tamarillos and the frost intolerant fuchsia are all drooping soggy masses. Roses are looking interested in a little action and most of the solanums, with the warmth of their support walls, are still flowering happily. Primulas and Winter Pansies  are giving colour after Christmas and the first tulips are peeping through on the Belvedere. Cacti, under the protection of Garden Floss, are in jovial spirits, or should it be prickly, and still seem to be growing taller.

One hardy fuchsia tolerating the cold weather

Winter pansies enjoying the sunshine

Primulas giving a hint of Springtime

Citrus fruit are all coming into their own (hope the frost does not get below 0 degrees for much longer as the fruit can freeze on the tree). Tangerines were perfect for Christmas Stocking Fillers, as predicted. The early Oranges are being picked for eating. New Year Gin & Tonics enjoyed freshly picked Lemons and Limes. Breakfast is being embellished with new season Grapefruit and the Mandarins should be ready in the next fortnight. The enthusiasm for all things Citrus does tend to fade a little by the end of March, by which time every possible recipe involving Oranges and Lemons Etc. has been exhausted and the trees can be pruned before their glorious perfumed blossoms appear.

Oranges and Tangerines at full ripeness

The clear blue sky and wall to wall sunshine during the day (when the temperature can get to 20 degrees) is encouraging the bud formation of all of the fruit trees in the orchard. Let’s hope these early January days of frost will purge the meteorological world's need for frost before the first blossoms appear (usually on the Damascus Apricot, hence the usual lack of any fruit –flower buds die in the cold and if they make it to flowering there are no insects about to pollinate), so maybe a mild damp February will create a bumper crop this year.

An unusual cross?

Apart from daily inspections, and bit of ‘tutting’ there is not much to do just now. This then is a splendid time to collect all the plant pots and tubs for an in-depth wash and sterilisation ( best results for clean sterile pots are achieved by using ‘Babies Bottle’ sterilisation tablets – very cheap and very effective). Most garden tools could also do with cleaning and oiling before the new season kicks off, and it’s a good time to get Strimmers serviced (before the rush in March when all your neighbours realise its Spring). Sitting by the Potting Shed fire on cold winter days is also the perfect time to sharpen all the garden cutting aids, secateurs, hedge shears, loppers and pruning saws all appreciate a little attention prior to another season of mistreatment.

The sun is streaming through the shed window, so it must be very close to coffee time. Have get the HG back to priorities after the Festive break. Is that the tintinnabulation of ‘Angel Chimes’ or is it the ‘Bell’. Yes it was the ‘Bell’. Enjoying fresh coffee and a warm log fire while bathing in the sunshine – so gardening does have many good points even on winter’s day.  

The dawn of another  sunny winter's day in Central Portugal

Must dash,

see you soon,

Stuart.  

FESTIVE THOUGHTS

8^TH DECEMBER 2016 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL  

  

Sharp morning on the Belvedere, not quite freezing but feels cold in the light easterly wind, sky azure blue and the atmosphere ‘Gin’ clear with just a touch of dampness. These sparkling December mornings are one of the many bonuses of living in the Beiras of Portugal. The weeks prior to and during Christmas are usually bright, clear and dry, significantly different from the grey, wet, foggy and cold days frequently experienced in the North of England as a precursor of the miserable  weather that settles on the whole of northern Europe in January and February.

Thoughts of the Festive Season invariably preclude the enthusiasm for manual labour in the garden. It has always been a good time to hang up the strimmer and give the tools a well earned rest. A gentle brushing of leaves and the application of the power washer is sufficient to spruce up the  terraces, patio and paths for post Christmas Lunch preamble (nothing worse than slipping on wet leaves and ending up with a sprained ankle for the  evening’s entertainment). The Autumnal chill has almost removed most of the wonderfully coloured and vibrant leaves, the Diosperos trees are resplendent with large orange and translucent fruit, their gaunt branches etched onto the sparkling clear sky (pity their fruit never tastes as good as it looks).

  

Autumn colour of the wisteria against the 'gin clear sky'!

The Diosperos (Kaki, Persimon) redeems itlself every autumn with its wonderful colour

Removed all the broken, dead and diseased branches and whips from the orchard fruit trees (not pruning just tidying up as with little or no fruit last year do not wish to discourage any fecund attitude now dormant in the new buds). Most roses, if not in bud and flower, are now cut down by two thirds until the full prune in late February (when the first feed is due). Geraniums and fuchsias  cleared of ‘sticky out’ bits and the rampant flowering vines, Wisteria, Solanum, Rambling Roses, Orange Brazilian Campsis, have all been cut back for their winter rest and recuperation.

Fuchsia and geranium flowering bravely on

Even in Winter the garden still gives of its best, amazing quantities of sweet peppers (California Wonders) and chilli (Jalapeno, Cayenne, Ring of Fire and Piri-Piri) are being picked daily. Now enjoying young tender leeks (planted in September) and a vast selection of green, red and brown leaved lettuce (still planting twenty plugs plants from market every two weeks so they may take over by April).

Sweet peppers ripeining in the December sunshine

Still "hot" food to look forward to from these Cayenne Peppers!

Still lots of colour from the Primulas, Pansies, late Geraniums, Cyclamen and the Tulips have decided to show their ‘tips’ (so continuity guaranteed) and lots of cuttings growing away with ‘gay’ abandon.

Mini Cyclamen just coming into its own

Little pansies/violas gradually filling up the window box

Primulas will keep going until the spring

Other plants surprisinginly also still giving us flowers in December:-

Angel's Trumpets (Brugmansia) Ringing in the Festive Season

Nasturtiums self-seeding everywhere

Clematis Jackmanii giving us it's swansong for 2016

And, of course, there will be oranges for months to come!

Potting Shed stove is performing well today, well stoked and the log basket full, two chairs available so no bell required, coffee served by HG and new seed catalogues being perused in depth (HG has some very good ideas for next year’s planting) will keep a positive attitude to this spectacular thoughts to  ensure liberal coffee supply during next year.

 Happy Christmas and a wonderful horticultural New Year –

 must dash into January,

Stuart

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.