Horticulture help, tips and advice in Central Portugal

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Peaceful Portugal bring you some helpful tips and facts for maintaing your garden, land and small holding in Central Portugal

Cork trees are the only protected tree in the Iberian peninsula. National and regional laws in Spain and Portugal forbid the cutting or digging out of cork trees. Authorization to do so is rarely given, except when trees are dead or diseased.

The government has brought in harvesting regulations. Bark stripping is allowed every 9 years, the required height of a tree before it can be stripped is 1.2 metres, with a width of 70 centimetres.

No more than 50% of the bark is removed. The tree should then be marked with the last number of the year it was harvested so it will not be touched again for nine years.

Cork trees have a life span of 300-400 years

Source of information - National Wildlife Federation www.nwf.org

Between June and September forest fires are often seen in central Portugal.

To help reduce risk to your home its advised that you keep clear a 50 metre perimeter around your property.

Take care when visiting or driving through woodland

never discard an unextinguished cigarette
do not light barbecues
do not leave rubbish or empty bottles behind

If you see the on-set of a forest fire, please call the Emergency services on 112 or Forest Fire services on 117

Proteja a sua casa - Protect your home

Portugal sem fogos depende de todos - Portugal without fires depends on us all

Maintain a paved area of 1 to 2 meters around your house
Reduce tree height to 4 meters and clear 4 meters between each tree
Remove trees and shrubs that are less than 5 metres from your house
Regularly strim and clear a 50 meter perimiter around your house
Regularly strim and clear a 50 meter perimiter around all outbuildings
Store unused gas bottles and other flamable substances in an isolated store 50 meters from your house
Store unused firewood 50 meters from your house

The facts about ´grey water´ and how to use it safely in your garden

Click here for the grey water fact sheet provided by HTA in association with RHS

Asparagus & Tomatoes

Flies, Mosquitoes, attracts bees

Squash, Strawberry & Tomato

Tomato worm, attracts bees

Flea beetle, attracts bees

Apple trees, Carrot & Rose

Fruit trees, raspberry & Rose

Aphid, blight, Japanese beetle, tree borer

Ants, aphids, cabbage maggot, attracts bees

Tomato worm and most insects

Beet, cabbage, onion, sunflower

Beet, celery, cucumber, lettuce, onion, potato, tomato

Pole bean, strawberry

Bean, lettuce, leek, onion, pea, radish, tomato

Bean, cabbage, coliflower, leek, tomato

Beet, bean, early potato, pea

Bean, cabbage, corn, lettuce, pea, radish, sunflower

Beet, bean, carrot,celery, onion

Carrot, radish, cabbage, cucumber, onion, spinach, strawberry

Beet, cabbage, carrot, lettuce, leek, strawberry, tomato

Bean, carrot, corn, cucumber, potato, eggplant, radish, spinach, strawberry, pepper

Bean, cabbage, corn, eggplant, pea

Cucumber, pumpkin, raspberry, squash, sunflower

Beet, bean, carrot, lettuce, parsnip, pea, spinach

Lettuce, pea, radish, strawberry

Asparagus, cabbage, celery, onion

Apricot trees, potato

Composting is natures way of recycling and helps reduce waste that you would normally put in the rubbish bin. Composting kitchen and garden waste can improve your soil quality.

Compost Bin Placement

Site your compost bin in a full or partial sunny area, on level and well drained ground, which allows excess water to run off and give easy access for insects to get in and work their magic.

Just like any good recipe, you need the right ingredients make it work. Greens are quick to rot and they provide important nitrogen and moisture.

Vegetable peelings
fruit waste
teabags
plant prunings
grass cuttings

Browns are slower to rot, providing carbon, fibre and air pockets.

Cardboard egg boxes
Scrunched up paper
Leaves

Crushed egg shells will also provide useful minerals.

Some products should never be placed in your compost bin, otherwise they will attract unwanted pests.

Cooked vegetables
Meat and dairy products
Diseased plants
Dog poo or cat litter
Perennial weeds

The key to good compost is getting the mix right. Greens and Browns need to be balanced. If your compost is too wet add more Browns, if your compost is too dry add more Greens. Make sure there is enough air in the mix, add more egg boxes or scrunched up paper. Air can also be added by mixing and turning.

After approximately 6-9 months your compost will be ready.

Source of information - Recyclenow

Medium sized garden centre, good stock of plants, pots, garden furniture and BBQ's, good prices

Location: Avelar just off the IC8

Medium sized garden centre, large stocks of fruit trees

Location: Castelo near Sertã just off the IC8

Large well stocked garden centre, near Pombal, abit expensive but lots of choice

Location: near Pombal on the IC2 heading towards Leiria

Small independent garden centre, good stock of indoor and outdoor plants, excellent prices

Location: just off the IC8 at Sertã junction

Medium sized well stocked garden centre, plants, pots, furniture and BBQ's

Location: just off the Lousã bypass near Lidl

How to Identify and Manage Pine Wilt Disease

Pine wilt is a disease of the pine tree and caused by the pinewood nematode.

The pinewood nematode is carried to the pine trees by the Saywer Beetle when the beetles feed on the bark (primary transmission)and when the female beetle lays her eggs (secondary transmission).

Nematodes introduced during primary transmission can reproduce rapidly in the sapwood and a susceptible host can wilt and die within weeks of being infested.

Pine wilt disease was first described in 1905 in Japan, but the pinewood nematode was not identified as the cause until 1971. Pine wilt disease was first found in Portugal in 1999 and spread through the Setúbal region near Lisbon. The disease has a high mortality rate for pine species in Europe

The nematode is a microscopic worm that rapidly reporoduces inside the tree blocking its sap route and essentially starving it to death. There are no cures for pine wilt disease so mangement is limited to prevention. All pine trees showing symptons should be felled immediately and the bark removed.

Removing the bark from felled trees prevents the female Saywer Beetle from laying her eggs and transporting the nematode to nearby trees.

Source of information and image: United States Department of Agriculture

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Basil	Manjericão	Marjoram	Manjerona
Bay Leaves	Louro	Mint	Hortelã
Caraway	Erva Doce	Nutmeg	Noz-Moscada
Cayenne	Pimenta-de-caiena	Paprika	Pimentão-Doce
Chile	Prir piri	Parsley	Salsa
Chives	Cebolinha	Rosemary	Alecrim
Cinnamon	Canela	Saffrom	Açafrão
Cloves	Cravo	Sage	Salva
Coriander	Coentro	Tarragon	Estragão
Cumin	Cuminho	Thyme	Tomilho
Curry	Caril	Turmeric	Açafrão-da-India
Dill	Endro	Vanilla	Baunilha
Fennel	Funcho
Garlic	Alho

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Apple	Maça	Melon	Melão
Apricot	Damasco	Orange	Laranja
Avocado	Abacate	Peach	Pessego
Blackberry	Amora Preta	Pear	Pêra
Cherries	Cereijas	Pineapple	Abacaxi / Ananas
Coconut	Coco	Plum	Ameixa
Figs	Figos	Pumpkin	Abobora
Grapefruit	Toranja	Raspberry	Framboesa
Grapes	Uvus	Strawberry	Morango
Lemon	Limão	Tangerine	Tangerina
Watermelon	Melancia

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Aubergine	Berinjela	Mushrooms	Cogumelos
Beetroot	Beterraba	Onions	Cebola
Cabbage	Courve	Peas	Ervilhas
Carrots	Cenoura	Peppers	Pimenta
Cucumber	Pepino	Potatoes	Batatas
Garlic	Alho	Spinach	Espinafre
Leak	Alho de Frances	Sweetcorn	Milho-doce
Lettuce	Alface

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			Composting is natures way of recycling and helps reduce waste that you would normally put in the rubbish bin. Composting kitchen and garden waste can improve your soil quality.


			Compost Bin Placement Site your compost bin in a full or partial sunny area, on level and well drained ground, which allows excess water to run off and give easy access for insects to get in and work their magic.



			What to Compost Just like any good recipe, you need the right ingredients make it work. Greens are quick to rot and they provide important nitrogen and moisture. Vegetable peelings fruit waste teabags plant prunings grass cuttings Browns are slower to rot, providing carbon, fibre and air pockets. Cardboard egg boxes Scrunched up paper Leaves Crushed egg shells will also provide useful minerals.













			What not to Compost Some products should never be placed in your compost bin, otherwise they will attract unwanted pests. Cooked vegetables Meat and dairy products Diseased plants Dog poo or cat litter Perennial weeds







			Making Good Compost The key to good compost is getting the mix right. Greens and Browns need to be balanced. If your compost is too wet add more Browns, if your compost is too dry add more Greens. Make sure there is enough air in the mix, add more egg boxes or scrunched up paper. Air can also be added by mixing and turning. After approximately 6-9 months your compost will be ready.






			Source of information - Recyclenow

			> top of page




			Pascoal	Medium sized garden centre, good stock of plants, pots, garden furniture and BBQ's, good prices

				Location: Avelar just off the IC8

			Castelo	Medium sized garden centre, large stocks of fruit trees
				Medium sized garden centre, large stocks of fruit trees
				Location: Castelo near Sertã just off the IC8

			Pombal	Large well stocked garden centre, near Pombal, abit expensive but lots of choice

				Location: near Pombal on the IC2 heading towards Leiria

			Sertã	Small independent garden centre, good stock of indoor and outdoor plants, excellent prices

				Location: just off the IC8 at Sertã junction

			Plurijardim	Medium sized well stocked garden centre, plants, pots, furniture and BBQ's

				Location: just off the Lousã bypass near Lidl

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				How to Identify and Manage Pine Wilt Disease Pine wilt is a disease of the pine tree and caused by the pinewood nematode. The pinewood nematode is carried to the pine trees by the Saywer Beetle when the beetles feed on the bark (primary transmission)and when the female beetle lays her eggs (secondary transmission). Nematodes introduced during primary transmission can reproduce rapidly in the sapwood and a susceptible host can wilt and die within weeks of being infested.

			Pine wilt disease was first described in 1905 in Japan, but the pinewood nematode was not identified as the cause until 1971. Pine wilt disease was first found in Portugal in 1999 and spread through the Setúbal region near Lisbon. The disease has a high mortality rate for pine species in Europe The nematode is a microscopic worm that rapidly reporoduces inside the tree blocking its sap route and essentially starving it to death. There are no cures for pine wilt disease so mangement is limited to prevention. All pine trees showing symptons should be felled immediately and the bark removed. Removing the bark from felled trees prevents the female Saywer Beetle from laying her eggs and transporting the nematode to nearby trees. Source of information and image: United States Department of Agriculture

			> top of page