ROSES ALL THE WAY

21^st MAY 2016 - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

The sun continues to shine on the ‘Beiras’. Cool morning mist is quickly dispelled by the warming sun golden in a pale blue sky, and so it should be after all this is May in Portugal. Apart from the odd sneaky low pressure area slipping onto the Iberian Coast and disrupting the summer’s halcyon days, the only worry seems to be the possibility of drought by the end of July. Thus it will always be for the avid Gardener - it’s either too ‘Hot’ or too ‘Cold’ or too ‘Wet’ or too ‘Dry’. Then there is the continual threat of ‘Blight’. Some may ask ‘Why do we bother?’ Simply direct these doubters to the sight of multi coloured displays of flowers and the wondrous flavour of freshly picked vegetables and fruit; ample compensation for those strenuous moments on cold wet days in January or the daily watering ‘grind’ of the summer months.

In the ‘compensation stakes’ this week, roses are exceptionally rewarding. The garden is festooned with multi flowering ramblers in yellow, red and golden hues with the start of the pink and white climbers coming on track, the hybrid tea roses have all their towering stems in bloom, or ready to burst forth in the next few days of warmth. Even the cuttings planted after pruning last November are performing and enhancing the nursery beds. Fuchsia plants are full of colour.  It’s a good time to take cuttings from the tallest stems – this makes the plant bushy and increases the number of flowers – just stick around the edge of a 75mm pot of compost, water and a new plant will root in the next three weeks (the wonders of ‘costless’ propagation).

Lots of lovely roses - 

The re-potted Geranium plants are now well in bud and showing signs of flowering, and the seeds planted six weeks ago are now ‘potted-up’ and at the sixth leaf – so flowers in a month and till November. Zinnias, Cosmos, Tagetees and  Lobelia, seeded first week in April are  now all tall, strong and planted out. Iris are still in spectacular bloom , accompanied by the still rampant ‘Easter Lilies’ and Alliums ( the early unseasonal cold months of the year still dominating this year’s natural blooming cycle).

Head Gardener's favourite Iris

This on is a close second

Tomatoes are progressing. Fortunately had facilities for keeping plants under cover until climate improved so not very far behind; most already in flower at the first or second truss, some with fruits fruit forming. Spraying has commenced to mitigate the dreaded ‘Blight’. With a wide selection of Supermarket Tomatoes already down to 80 cents a Kg. the thought briefly forms as to the efficaciousness of the bother of cultivation, but then the memory of the true flavour when freshly picked falls into place. Money Maker, Cristal, Principe de Borghese, Red, Yellow and Black Cherry are the varieties of choice this season.

First trusses on tomatoes

Courgettes are planted in the ground, a limited number this year as the freezer’s still full of the 2013 vintage. ‘Eight Ball’(round and green),’Rugosa Friulana’(Yellow, Bent and Knobbly) and Green, Yellow and White ‘Patti Pans’(round and pork pie shaped) leading this year’s Charge in the Cucurbita Handicap. ‘California Wonder’ Sweet Peppers just in flower and last year’s Chillis coming into leaf. Cucumbers about to flower -  local variety ‘Pepino’ well ahead of the more exotic ‘Delikateb’, ‘Fem Spot’(self fertilising they say?- shall watch with interest) and ‘ Marketmore 76’(think the number represents the length). 

First courgette flower

French Beans all growing (no flowers yet), Climbing Beans in glorious vibrant red flower and Leeks are superb. Lots of Raspberry, Tayberry and Strawberry un-ripened fruit and masses of flower (one benefit of a cold wet spring – so it’s not all bad then).

The Head Gardener likes these beans just for the flowers!

Tayberries on the move!

Not long now for ripe strawberries

As the Orchids are back out on the terrace it must be early summer, just managing to eat breakfast outside each morning, and coffee being served in the sunshine, after the Bell at ‘Eleven’, by the smiling Head Gardener.

Must dash

See you Soon

Stuart

WET AT LAST - BUT LOTS TO DO

12TH OCTOBER 2015 - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

It would seem the long hot summer and drought  are over. For ten of the last fourteen days it has rained, sometimes with great gusto (65 mm in the day) but more often in a desultory mode of light rain or drizzle with very moist morning mist (no floods and nobody drowning - in fact nothing to laugh at at all!).

The sighs of relief can be heard from many of the dry tolerant plants just waiting for rain to once again shine. Brugmansia, both the pink and the cream flowering varieties are having another magnificent display of trumpets  - in the case of the cream, the fifth major incarnation this summer.

   

Very pretty pink Angels' Trumpets

Stunning Creamy yellow Burmansia - from below

The purple Solanum is also looking most regal.

Royal purple Solanum

 Roses are again gracing the garden and miniature cyclamen are blooming profusely.

Roses blooming beside fuchsia Beacon Rosa

Mini cyclamen tucked around the base of an orange tree together with black ophiopogons

Sweet Peppers are still going strong.  As usual, California Wonder is producing a terrific crop which is now turning a vermillion red, whilst still in flower at the top of the bush, so maybe ‘Peppers’ until late November? Chillis are going for a record year. Piri Piri, Hotscotch, Cayenne, Tabasco, Jalapeno, Paper Lantern are  all heavy with ripe or near ripe fruit, and the new home-grown ‘cross’(now named ‘Celia’ as it has a good shape and is very hot) is covered in glorious bright red fruits.

An abundance of Piri piri ripening nicely

Impatiens are still in flower and growing larger by the day. They should manage another few weeks until the night temperature starts to get below 7 degrees C. 

Violently stunning red Impatiens (Busy Lizzies)

The Strawberries in this year's experimental troughs are back in full production, covered in flower and giving around ten large fruit per day ( this is the perfect plant for the Portuguese ‘Second’ spring as it enjoys the rain and reduced temperature, but still needs a bit of sunshine).

Strawberry plants still in action

Tomatoes are now finished and the plants on compost with the early Courgettes The re-seeded Courgettes planted in August are in full flower (mainly male flowers) but there is little chance of further Courgette production. Aubergines still fruiting although now small. However, their determination to continue flowering still seems to be still paramount.

Still taking cuttings for over-wintering (and Beira Grass Roots Plant Swop on 24^th October). Initial Geranium and Fuchsia cuttings taken in late August now fully rooted and in flower, potting on to individual plant pots for dry storage over winter.  Slowly reduce watering now until end of November when watering can cease until next February.  Store over winter in a light, cool, dry, frost and wind free environment for best results. Cuttings also taken from hydrangeas, solanum, roses, oleander, lavender,  blueberries, gooseberries and fig, pomegranate, catalpa, yucca trees.(for every ten cuttings taken usually at least five new plants will appear).

Dahlia tubers and Lily bulbs now drying out and ‘ resting’. Keep dry and frost free until replanting in March. Amaryllis (Hippeastrums) which have been resting over the summer, planted now, should  flower for Christmas. 

Cymbidium Orchids are back inside after their summer vacation on the terrace.

Water and feed gently each week and await the profusion of multi flowered spikes by late December or early January.

Now the temperature is lower the Spring Terrace is about to be remodelled after eight year in service. Lots of pruning and cutting back  are in process, accompanied by copious amounts of perspiration. It’s amazing how little shrubs become vast trees in such a short period.(These are the ‘sage’ words of the Head Gardner).

Sun just dipped below the lip of the valley, chilly wind starting to blow. 

There goes the coffee bell (Thank goodness for the HG).

 Must dash

 see you soon,

Stuart.

FLOWERS, BLOSSOM VEGETABLE PLANTS ALL AROUND

9TH APRIL - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Wisteria dancing in the breeze in all its glorious purple and lilac splendour (Chinese certainly have the most artistic taste when it comes to flowers), the shining gold of the Banksii Rambling Rose accentuates the  perfection of a sunny, warm spring day in Portugal. Petunias and geraniums already in bloom and the first rose buds ready to burst forth. This glory has already deleted the memories of a cold winter with the exuberant colours adding more texture to the spring garden. Tulips still present and the cherry trees are in their full dress mode.

beautiful, highly scented wisteria - main attraction for the bees

Rosa Banksii hoping it will intertwine with wisteria - maybe next year

Best year so far for our cherry tree

 The new bees recently installed by my Talented Neighbour are gorging themselves on the banquet of rich pollen laid out by nature for their benefit. The expectation of copious quantities of honey by the late summer, are somewhat tempered by the control of Diabetes and Weight, but seeing, smelling and dreaming are boycott free in the world of honey. Lots of information quickly acquired on the ‘Bee’ lifestyle, Queen in charge lays 60,000 eggs per day, Drones only mate and then die happy (sounds like a male paradise), ‘Worker Bees’ don’t mate, just work till they drop (life span is six weeks in service), sounds a bit similar to the average gardener’s mate. They also sting - the Portuguese native bee is most aggressive; not a trait followed by the local population.

Cucumbers planted in new raised bed (constructed from redundant wood pallets) are growing well.  Runner beans are about to sprint up their poles, Haricots Verts, whilst having their foliage ravished by snails, are progressing. The first Sweet Peppers and Aubergines are planted and the Okra seedlings are fighting a battle with reclusive slugs in the cold frame and are already on third planting but have scattered  Slug Pellets very freely this time.

 

young cucumber plants in their new bed

Strawberries are very fecund in the new raised Strawberry Garden, full of flower in all four varieties (early, main and late fruiters for crop insurance). They all understand that the weak producers will be eliminated at the end of the season (bit like the X-Factor).Raspberries in full flower and luxuriating in the new bed.

Flower seedlings are popping up daily, Cosmos, Marigolds (all varieties from French to African), Calendulas, Corn Flowers (pink, white and blue) etc. etc., where to plant them out will be the main problem but there can never be enough colour in a summer garden.

Pansies are  at their peak just now - fantastic colours and multiple shapes always fascinate.  They always deserve their front row status and never cease to give pleasure. 

cute pansy "faces"

Nasturtiums, some already in flower, are having the new seedlings freely distributed on all terraces. There is nothing more impressive than a two metre waterfall of bright colour flowing over the terrace walls in May and June (remember NOT to feed or they will simply produce leaves not flowers).

Have just arrived in the orchard for the Fruit Setting  inspection.  Damascus Apricot has fruit the size of ‘Pigeons Eggs’, all the Peaches are full of small fruit as are the variously coloured Plum varieties. All the Apple trees in blossom at the same time this year so  maybe a ‘bumper’ crop in September. Pears are heavy with young fruit and Nectarines trying hard, as expected. 

 

Not apple blossom, but our small quince tree with very pretty flowers

There goes the Head Gardeners bell - only 65 steps to climb for coffee!.

Must dash, see you soon,

Stuart.