October is the month when our attention is mostly focused on picking olives and processing them into oil: we gradually pick olives for eating in the first half of the month, and the olives that we pick at the end of the month are processed into oil. In the vineyard we proceed with autumn treatment and fertilization, which is the main and most important work after the grape harvest. We also make preparation for the autumn planting of new fruit trees, and we also protect young trees from rodents. We plant new fruit trees and do the fertilization in the orchard, and we treat the vegetable garden for the vegetables that will be seeded and planted in this month. We disseminate stable manure or compost on the soil, and we store and conserve mature vegetables for the long-lasting winter. We start with sowing broad bean and we continue with carrot, parsley and spinach. The scions that we plant are garlic, onion, lettuce, chicory, artichoke, white onion and kale.

In September we review the grapes and we determine its level of sugar and health condition, and then we determine the harvest day. Before the harvest we arrange the vineyard, so the harvest would be as easy and as marry as possible, and the grape processing faster. In case of need for fertilizing with manure, we deliver it for autumn fertilization. Grape harvesting and processing is the result of the yearlong effort, and therefore this should be done so that the young wine is both a reward and a pleasure. If necessary, we protect the vegetables from pests. We dig the soil for planting the new vegetables and we seed carrot, parsley, lettuce and lamb’s lettuce. We also plant garlic, lettuce, chicory, endive, artichoke, leek, white onion, shallot and Egyptian onion.

During August, the vineyard is especially protected from oidium and gray mould. At the end of the month we trim the grape scions, we remove the leaves from early and table varieties and we put nets, which protect them from birds and insects. We tie scions if necessary, we remove weeds and maintain general tidiness of the vineyard. In August, pest attacks on vegetables are increased, so it is necessary to do regular protection, but also to water more because the soil gets drier. After we harvest the vegetables, we dig the soil and seed chard, carrot, parsley, string bean, lettuce, chicory, endive, spinach, leek, white onion, lamb’s lettuce and Chinese cabbage. The scions that we plant are cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussels sprout, lettuce, chicory, endive, collard greens, kohlrabi, leek and Egyptian onion. In the olive grove we do the summer pruning (to protect olives against drought), and in the orchard we pick fruit that matures in summer. We dry the carob pods, figs and almonds.

With the constant protection from Grape downey mildew (Plasmopara viticola) and according to the anti-plasmopara authorities, we tie the scions in the vineyard, and at the end of the month we do the green pruning. We dig the soil shallowly, in order to prevent evaporation and preserve moisture. We cherish planted grafts and we especially watch on removing surface roots. In July we also prepare the soil for seeding and planting vegetables, which we protect depending on the condition and pest attacks. Once certain vegetables are picked, we dig the soil, remove the weeds and fertilize other vegetables, and this is regularly done after watering or rain. In order to re-grow scions, we sow beetroot, carrot, parsley, cabbage, kale, string bean, cauliflower, lettuce, chicory, endive, leek, rapeseed, radish and kohlrabi. We also plant grown scions of kale, cabbage, brussels sprout, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, kohlrabi, chicory and leek. We remove the outgrowths from the olive trees and protect the olives from the olive fly.

In June we pick mature fruits and vegetables, and all the guests who stay at Bra?ka Perla at that time are invited to participate in the harvest. You can also participate in everyday weeding and watering the orchard and vegetable garden, in digging the garden after the harvest and in planting new scions.

In May we protect the vegetables against all pests, especially against Peronospora destructor (attacks onion) and Phytophthora infestans (attacks tomato). We dig the soil around vegetables, we fertilize the vegetables, and we remove the weeds and prepare the soil for seeding and planting new vegetables. From the seed obtained from scions that we planted in April, we seed beetroot, string bean, carrot, parsley, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprout, cauliflower, rapeseed, radish, black salsify, cucumber, courgette, kohlrabi, leek and lettuce. Also, we plant grown scions again: tomato, aubergine, broccoli, celery, lettuce and leek. In case the weather is dry, we water the vegetables more – after sowing, after planting and in the morning – and we dig the soil around existing plants. In the vineyard we remove the weed and spray the grapevine, whereat we mind which scions we should leave for the following year, no matter if they’re fertile or not. In the orchard the fruit trees blossom and beneath them we dig the soil and do the supplemental feeding on the trees. In the olive grove we protect the olives trees from the olive moth before blooming.

Spring is the time when we cultivate the orchard soil and fertilize it, if necessary, and we also do the preparation for spring spray. In the vegetable garden, we cultivate vegetables sown and planted in the previous period and we fertilize them. We also prepare soil for the new planting season. In April we plant previously grown scions: beetroot, muskmelon, watermelon, tomato, carrot, pepper, broccoli, courgette, string bean, cucumber, parsley, aubergine, rapeseed, radish, spinach, cabbage, kale, leek, black salsify, kohlrabi, asparagus, potato, cauliflower, lettuce and horseradish. In the vineyard we plant grafts in already prepared pits, and in olive grove we manually remove the weed.