ROSES, ROSES AND MORE

9^TH MAY 2017 CENTRAL PORTUGAL

When roses have a good year they are truly spectacular and this is a good year for roses. The first blooms appeared during the first week of April and it has just got better ever since. To keep the show on the road for the next months (Yes-Months) now is a good time to feed weekly and water every couple of days. Removing the dead heads, and trimming back the stems of the spent flowers to the second bud, will encourage even more floral display.

JUST A LOT OF ROSES!

The colour in the garden is not solely from the ‘Queen of the Garden’(no not the HG – the ROSE). Currently geraniums, fuchsias, clematis, solanum, petunias (both F1 Hybrids and Surfinias) are all adding to the glorious rainbow of colours and perfumes. The various lavenders have suddenly started to flower and the large and small varieties of marigolds, mainly planted to keep the ‘bugs’ at bay such as greenfly, blackfly and whitefly all seem allergic to the aroma of the French and African ‘Sports’- perfect for all you non chemical Gardeners.

French Marigolds keeping the pests at bay

Scarlet, our preferred colour of Geranium

A single Bishop's Child! Seed to flower, 12 weeks!

A new colour of surfinia petunia - will it catch on?

More surfinia petunias

Clematis Hagley Hybrid - always reliable

Think these two are holding each other up!  Such a lovely combination

Just one of the beautiful fuchsias

As the Head Gardener and her Labourer are proposing to move this summer,  there is a limited amount of edible crops being persued,  and this Garden will need a new HG. The Belvedere terrace is the main source for consumption; tomatoes (four varieties), aubergines, sweet Peppers (California Wonder again  – tried, tested and found bountiful previously), lots of various coloured lettuce, courgettes (mistake, thought they were Cucumbers, but growing well and full of flowers), Piri Piri in pots (still have the ‘Chilli Bed’ on the ‘veg’ terrace – now the plants are in their fourth year and still bountiful). Leeks and onions ground planted last winter are still growing – the first leeks were delicious, and the Genoese and Lemon Basil just keep getting bigger.

Tomatoes are now well in flower

As the weather has suited the flower garden, so has it worked its magic on the orchard. After nine years, the Damascus Apricot is finally covered in near ripe fruit. The White and Red Peaches are already having growing fruit removed as the quantity, if left to mature, will snap the branches ( better 75% of perfection than lots of poor quality fruit). The plum trees have ripening fruit but not as heavy as last year. The Olive trees are covered in flower which, if translated into mature olives, will give an exceptional result – but it looked good for the last three years and then has not delivered in November. Cherries are a bit strange; one tree was covered in blossom but no cherries, the other had much less blossom but is now covered in ripening cherries. Nectarines, like the Peaches, are profuse. The flat Paraguayans are also trying hard to please in their fourth year since planting.

First strawberries

The weather must also suit Cacti. Never seen so many flowers on a number of different varieties – they don’t last long, but they add an exotic air to the terrace. The myth that Cacti don’t like water is the usual reason they refuse to bloom. From mid March until late October they enjoy being saturated in water three times a week and should be fed every week with a general fertilizer- no need to spend vast sums on special Cacti Feed or specialist compost.

What a shame the flowers only last for one day

The orange/tangerine blossom has, gone leaving the trees with a plethora of embryonic fruit. Same situation on the grapefruit and lime trees, with the perpetual lemon really going for it this year – problem is the trees are still full of last year’s crop and they make an awful mess on the patio terrace – not appreciated by the HG, so lots of picking up, brushing down, mopping and hosing to ensure a constant supply of coffee.

Embryonic grapefruit hiding in the middle of the tree

A finale of roses with coffee!

There goes the HG’s bell for coffee and water (in this heat the sweat needs replacing frequently)

 must dash, would hate to miss out

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

SEASONS END AND ALSO BEGIN

11^TH OCTOBER – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Cooling down a little bit after the long hot summer, heavy rain expected in the next few days, so can only conclude that Autumn is here. The days are still warm when the sun shines, but the nights are now cool, with temperatures falling to around 8 degrees ( just enough to inhibit growth on the summer flowering plants). The still air is encouraging the spread of powdery mildew on the dahlias, which is disappointing as they have at last started to flower profusely.  The  problem in Portugal with ‘Border’ dahlias is their dislike of very strong sunshine but requirement for abundant light (so not good if kept in the shade as they ‘Bolt’ towards the light and become tall, thin and non-flowering).  Only solution is to move then around a great deal so always plant in pots, unless there is a north facing flower bed with good soil and water available.

This one dahlia still looks pretty

Roses and Geraniums, on the other hand, are having a wonderful time. Masses of new bloom on the Geraniums and splendid display in progress from the Roses.  Fuchsias are soldiering on, with a colourful display which may last through the winter months if they continue to get a little sunshine on a regular basis. (Prolonged periods of rain always ‘spoil’ the flower display).

Geraniums as bright as ever

Roses reviving now the weather is cooler

Fuchsia will hopefully carry on for many more weeks

Aubergines, Sweet peppers and Chillies still flowering and producing a good crop.  Cucumbers finally finished after an epic season and being replaced in their tubs by Leeks ( which should mature throughout the winter if planted progressively).

Sweet peppers and aubergines not quite as impressive as earlier in the season!

Lettuces and leeks growing companionably together

Hot chillies still doing so well

Poor year for Raspberries . The canes are now devoid of any growth and are dry and brittle with little sign of life. However, the Logan Berries did better and are still ‘green’ and producing new shoots (so lots of cuttings and a major production effort next year – could be the end of the Raspberries).

Lots of cuttings being taken before the cooler weather sets in. Taken now, most will put down roots to sustain life throughout the winter. Brugmansia are just about to have their last splash of colour so am expecting to take around twenty cuttings for planting and ‘swaps’ next year. This plant produces the most exotic ‘Trumpet’ flowers in the most glorious combination of colours from deep gold, through creams with pink, yellow and red frills to a wonderful pure white with a touch of green. Flowers profusely from May until October and has a beguiling scent on the evening zephyrs – so highly recommended if not already in your garden.

The lovely white Brugmansia showing the promise of yet more flowers to come

Trying a few ‘Tree’ cuttings again this year, the usual Fig and Catalpa with the addition of Holly, Tamarillo and Cordyline Australis (well nearly a tree as there are two on the spring terrace that are 4metres and 5 metre tall) – same process with these as plant cuttings - two thirds of the ‘Whip’ in the compost (50% spent compost, 25% estrume and 25% garden soil) around the edge of the tub, lots of water and see what happens ( around half will grow so lots of ‘free’ trees next year).

Tulips have been planted for three weeks already. Orchids look ready to bring in. Cyclamen are sprouting and some in flower. Oranges are very green, large and profuse, Limes prolific, Tangerines just on the turn.

Limes preparing for the G & Ts

oranges promising fresh fruit for December

 Diosperos still fruiting despite being cut back and ignored (shame they don’t taste better – Israelies definitely have it with their ‘Sharon’ fruit variety). Lettuces are magnificent. So all’s right with the garden, which is very encouraging when the rest of the world is viewed. 

That must be the HG’s bell,

must dash – 

see you soon,

Stuart. 

27^TH SEPTEMBER – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Second Spring has arrived in Portugal. This is a strange phenomenon which occurs on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula around the last week in September and can last six weeks. Following the long hot summer (early May to mid September, no rain and daily temperatures in the 30s) the first real rain (around 125mm on day one followed by 85mm on day two) fell ten days ago. Seven days later the juices can be seen to rise in the dehydrated horticultural landscape.

Flowers which were struggling to survive the drought, suddenly bud and burst into bloom. The August sowing of speculative seeding literally burst from the ground in unabashed enthusiasm .  (They have to rush if they want to fruit early in November when the cold nights start to bite). Courgettes planted on the 7^th August have their first fruiting.  Sweet corn planted on the 18^th August is 1500mm high and already has flowers. (Expect to pick and eat around the 15^th October – if the information on the seed packet is correct - sixty days from planting to cooking).

New young yellow courgette

The Sweet Peppers are still going forward with gusto, flowers still forming, fertilizing and fruiting. California Wonder (big and green then red if left unpicked for a further three week) are exceptional this year; the Long Red Italians are almost red enough to pick and the Yellow Peppers are pale yellow and preparing to turn that glorious golden shade which indicates perfection.

California Wonder

Long red Italian Pepper

Chillis know no bounds in their profundity. Piri Piri plants are covered in masses of small brilliant red cones and the pre-ripened fruit, which is black on this year’s  grown variety, is covering the top of the plants just waiting for its moment of ruby glory. The Hotscotch chillis are turning from green through lustrous peach to vermillion (which gives natures ample warning of the excessive ‘HEAT’ of the chilli – Scoville around 1million). Cayenne has done well and another plant (name unknown, but from own seed from last year so possibly a new cross breed- see picture) is producing very ‘red’ fruit which in early trials – bite off small amount from base of fruit and wait – tends to numb the lips and tongue, plus cheeks if allowed further oral access, for up to twenty minutes (still thinking of a name – possibly ‘The Head Gardner’ for obvious reasons  - perfectly formed and red hot).

Piri Piri

Hotscotch

New chilli - no name

Brugmansia (Angels' Trumpets) is back in profuse flower for the fourth time since May. So many trumpets are in bloom that it resembles an inverted pipe organ (but smells exotic in the evening air). 

Wonderful trumpets

Trumpets viewed from underneath - amazing perfume in the evening

Roses still doing well, with lots of new buds for the new Spring. Miniature Cyclamen are flowering in the shaded areas and Geraniums got their second wind before the annual taking of cuttings.

Tomatoes have had a terrific year but are just about over now (thank goodness as freezer is overflowing with Italian winter treats). Lettuce well settled for autumn salads (plant ten plants every two weeks until end of November for winter salads). Leeks planted two weeks ago and Beetroot – planted week earlier- are progressing well.

The end of the tomato crop

New beetroot and leek plants

Have been exuding litres of perspiration on the clearing of the wood shed – job avoided for many years but most satisfying on completion (amazing the things you can find in a thirty cubic metre pile of assorted detritus. Ten metres of logs cut, carried and stacked, to the great satisfaction of the HG (so pleased - coffee guaranteed until Christmas).

Emptied old woodshed

New wood store

The ‘Mists’ of  October mornings are nearly here so take cuttings, plant bulbs and start reading the new seed catalogues, enjoy a little ‘Rest and Recuperation’ before Autumn weeding starts.

There goes the bell

must dash, see you soon,

Stuart

STOP PRESS: H.G. picked over 40 limes today - G and T anyone?