This morning, I wandered around our garden looking for plants to feature in this week’s Six on Saturday and with so many surprises, good and bad, I struggled to make a selection. I shamefully neglected my garden last week while we entertained family over on a week’s holiday, and now I am playing catchup. It’s surprising how quickly bugs, weeds, and plant problems appear when you take your eye off the plot.
UPs
1. Banana Plant
I originally planted this banana plant directly into the soil. Sadly it struggled to survive and played dead, so after a year, I asked Mr. Piglet to dig it up and we put it a pot. I doubted it would survive … now look at it! It will need repotting at some point, as this pot is too small.
2. Vegetable Success
The yellow pepper plants have produced at least a dozen peppers and there are more on the way.
The Black tomato plants I grew from seeds saved from last year’s crop are now producing tomatoes. So far, so good! The three plants have produced an abundance of flowers, and I’m debating whether to pinch out the top to prevent them from producing further flowers.
I vowed not to grow courgettes this year. However, in a moment of weakness I purchased three courgette (zucchini) plugs at the market. As an experiment, I am growing them in pots. We will see.
Another surprise I spotted a baby butternut squash!
GARDENING DOWNS
3. Plant Challenges
Has my fuchsia got some virus? Or is it a critter causing these marks on the leaves? Either way, the plant is dying so I’ve cut it right down to soil level and moved it into my plant hospital.
Blackfly are attacking my hibiscus flower buds and Diplidonia plants
4. Yellow Leaves on Peppers
I noticed the leaves on the pepper plants were turning yellow. I think it is a nutrient deficiency so I fed them with manure tea.
5. Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei)
Something weird is happening to this Pachypodium Lamerei. A sap-like substance has appeared on its trunk in several places. And the leaves are not their normal lush green. So far, research as to the cause has revealed nada. Any ideas?
6. Cycad Palms
I am wowed by our Cycads
Cycad female flower
Wow! I had no idea Cycads flowered! What a wonderful surprise
That’s it for this week, folks. For more Six on Saturday gardeners, please check out Jim’s blog for a list of participants.
Piglet in Portugal 
Good call on the banana plant transplant.
Your peppers and squash look great. Those purple tomatoes look amazing.
I’m sad to see your having pest issues with your flowers. It’s so disheartening.
I hope you can figure out the trouble with your palm. It’d be a shame to lose it.
That’s a wonderful surprise of your Cycad palm.
Wishing you oodles of success and joy in your gardening.
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Thanks, E.C.
Thank you for the good wishes. For a small garden it is beginning to feel like a full time job.
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Wow! Your garden is amazing.
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Thank you! But a lot of hard work.
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Wow to the Cycad. Monty Don was talking about fuschia mite on Gardeners’ World but the damage didn’t look like yours. There always seems to be some pest or disease waiting to attack plants.
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Yep, it’s a constant battle. I sometimes wonder why I bother with veg. I am holding my breath to see if the courgettes develope to full size. IF they do at least I would have broken even on cost of plant 25c, water (too much) and soil 3.50
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Thank you for the peep into your garden. I love large, exotic plants and yours are impressive!
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Thanks, June. They have taken many years to grow. I aways buy small so they adapt to the environment.
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That’s a useful tip – thanks!
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Superb cycads! with the bougainvillea behind it’s beautiful!
About fuchsia it can be a sunburn on the upper leaves? (if the lower ones which are hidden are safe ) , ….otherwise virus….
Finally, for the banana tree, I also have one in a pot and an adult size but in an 80L pot: water, fertilizer+++ and remove the young plants once a year (unless you want renewal or keep one as I do)
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Hi Fred, I’m rather pleased re the effect of the bourg behind the cycads 🙂 The fuchia I finally decided is a virus. So I threw it away today. I was going to try and revive it but decided against it. Too many chemicals and I don’t have enough hours in a day.
Banana tree, I must fertilize. Which type do you use? (nutrients)
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A good brand : https://amzn.eu/d/3nypjf7
Npk 14-4-6
I also have this fertilizer ( another ratio) for my palms and exotics.
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Are you doing container vegetable planting due to lack of space or the soil isn’t so good? Actually, I don’t recall many vegetable gardens in rural Portugal then I wasn’t peering into everyone’s backyard 😉
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Hi Suzanne. I used to grow the veg directly in the soil but when the hedge grew its roots took all the nutrients and water from the soil. Growing the plants in containers/raised beds means I can plant up to the hedge and fully utilize the sunny area. In rural Portugal they probably have Hortas.
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That makes perfect sense and nothing like fresh vegetables that you’ve grown .
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Hi Suzanne I left a comment on your blog but it disappeared. Probably chewed up into spam.
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All good. I’m pleased to say that your comment wasn’t treated as spam.
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Wow, your Banana Plant looks very happy, and your veggies, too. Yum! I like the fact that you included positive and challenging garden features in your post. It’s a great Six on Saturday item. 🙂
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Thanks, Beth. My garden is my passion. I just wish my health allowed me to do more.
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