18th NOVEMBER, CENTRAL
PORTUGAL
Two weeks of rain has
brought with it the cold nights of autumn (temperatures down to 5 degrees so the
very large horrible hornets have gone from the old kitchen chimney). Sunny with
blue sky today but thermometer struggling to get above 10 degrees at noon, most
of the summer flowering plants now going into ‘Winter Mode’, except the ‘Tea’ roses;
they are putting on a spectacular show (the ‘Ramblers’ and ‘Climbers’ having
given up and gone to sleep weeks ago).
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| Roses still blooming on the terrace |
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| More roses, picked today |
Pruning time is here
again. The annual pruning and shaping of all fruit and flowering trees promotes
the best results next year, giving more compact growth even though a few
flowering and fruiting ‘Whips’ may be lost.
The crop on the remaining structure always benefits by giving larger sized fruit, if
less bounty. This is also the thoughtful time of year regarding the ‘None
Performers’ last season. The Damascus apricots have never really done much in their last seven years. They blossom early (late February- possibly
their down fall as still cold with few bees about) and produce a very few miserable fruits, so this would
seem the last chance saloon. Perhaps give them a major cut back and one more
season? Important to keep a good shape on all apple trees; cut away everything
over 2.5 metres (impossible to pick otherwise) and remove the centre of the
tree leaving a ‘Tulip’ shape, feed, mulch and hope. Similar work on the plum trees;
never let them get above three metres as they will suddenly be eight metres
high and totally out of control and very difficult to harvest. Last year was exceptional for most plums so
expect a poor crop this year. They tend to have a two or three year cropping
cycle.
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| Orchard pruning well under way |
Peach trees can be
problem if not kept in good order and shape.
The new varieties are very heavy croppers on the most insubstantial of branches which, if not carefully monitored, results
in the branch breaking off when very full of nearly ripe luscious fruit –
extremely frustrating always. Keep the trees ‘tight’, two metres radius and three
metres high, removing the weak branches now for the best results next June.
Tangerines are going to
be ‘good’ for Christmas. The trees are full
of large ripening fruit, so full ‘Stockings’ on the festive eve. Oranges and
Lemon trees are in full blossom with good ripening fruit from last year ready
to start picking in January with Mandarins following February.
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| Tangerines getting ready for the Festive Season |
Strange phenomenon this year - some of the orange trees are in bloom as well as having ripening fruit. Think it must be something to do with the very dry summer. The bees are happy and the air is full of wonderful scent. The perpetual
lemon tree is as always amazing - never
stops flowering and fruiting throughout the ‘Gin and Tonic’ season (which, of
course, lasts for all twelve months –
which pleases the Head Gardner).
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| Orange blossom and new fruit on the same tree - strange |
The ‘Spider’ Orchids
have flowers forming and the ‘Cymbidiums’ should have flowering spikes by the
middle of December. There are slight signs of life on the ‘Phaleanopsis’ which were cut
back to the third bud on the flowering stem last summer before their holiday on
the sunny terrace.
Amarylis are awakening
from their enforced hibernation in September and October and the first signs of
life are appearing. The bulbs have fattened up well this summer so looking for
a magnificent display of multi-coloured ‘spires’ in the near future.
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| Spider orchid well in bud, with the first of the Amarylis (Hippeastrum) starting to shoot |
Having trouble lighting
off the bonfire of prunings as they are all still very green. Local practice in Portugal is to burn
everything as soon as possible as the rain in the first three months of the new
year and the bonfire ban after the 1st April can leave a massive
pile of kindling until the following November – much frowned upon by the HG. (Looks
as if another can of petrol will be required).
Ah! there goes the Bell, Coffee Time is here
again,
must dash.
See you soon.
