My diary continues…
Despite earlier problems with white cabbage mold Piglet’s plot continues to yield a modest crop of lettuce, carrots, leeks, cabbage, spinach and radish. The brocoli and cauliflower have now finished, and it was rather a challenge to eat them all before they ran to seed! I like them but not THAT much! I would grow them again, but stagger the planting because unlike cabbage and lettuce, once they are ready to be harvested they need to be picked, and they do not freeze well.
Red cabbage, leeks and lettuce
Carrot, green cabbage and spinach
I only use the outer leaves of the green cabbage and this appears to have extended the harvest season.
I use the outer leaves first
My “red” thumb seems to have come into it’s own and my red cabbage are now ready for harvesting. I am looking forward to making red hot chilli slaw (I will post the recipe) and Courve Roxa Com Cominhos – Red Cabbage with Cumin
The red cabbages are now ready to pick
Organic Feed
Last month I bought some Sintex Foliar which is an organic product. Now this is a typical example of “Lost in Translation” because it’s a liquid feed I watered the plants and trees so the roots absorbed the nutrients. However, when I spoke to the Portuguese guy in the shop who could speak English, a few weeks later, I discovered that I should be spraying the leaves. You live and learn!
I also discovered I then needed another products BrioSint which you spray on the leaves once the plant/tree is in flower. But do not use on olives trees. Do you feed olive trees?
Trees
Olive trees: all have tiny buds so fingers crossed we will have some olives this year and I can make tapenade and also preserve some olives in vinegar or should that be salted water, or even oil?
Anyone know the best way to store olives?
Growing fruit and vegetables in containers
I’m have great success with this project, so I will make a separate post.
To do
Go to the market and buy some broad bean and french bean seedlings.
Related posts:
Portugal: Growing Fruit and Vegetables in March
Portugal: Growing Fruit and Vegetables in February
Portugal: Growing Fruit and Vegetables in January
Portugal: Growing Fruit and Vegetables in December
Nice red cabbage Pip! Carrots are looking good too, I see you are growing them in a block instead of rows.
Hi H I’m rather proud of my red cabbages and yes not growing the carrots in rows is your idea!
I love following the developement of your garden. I’m still surprised there isn’t any kale. It’s the big rage over here. My grandma would be so proud.
Hi chubby I pormise I will try and grow some kale next year. No space at the moment
great to see such lovely produce in your garden and these successes seem to outweigh the problems you have experienced. Well done for KBO.
There are lots of websites with recipes for curing olives. Most suggest salt water with regular changes for 5 days then a final soak in salt water with herbs, garlic and a little oil.
Hi MC it’s only by keeping up a monthly diary that I can truly appreciated how much my veg have grown! Fingers crossed I have an olive harvers
if so it will be a first!
You have no idea how jealous I am! All looks fabulous and can only imagine how an olive fresh off a tree will taste. Will trade you one for a mango?
‘Hi Lindsay, I will trade you for a mango any day…I think olives are really bitter.
What a lovely raised bed. Ours aren’t quite that classy but producing well. OK, mainly radishes at the moment but more interesting veg should be coming online soon!
Mr Piglet built it for me for my xmas present. Was not expecting anything like that! It’s like a giant flower pot.
Your red cabbage looks awesome!
Hi barb, I’m really proud of them
Great veggie garden Pip, you´re almost self-sufficient!
Lindsay do not eat olives straight from the tree, they are very bitter, they need to be cured first, lol.
On my side my greens aren´t too great but the passionfruit vine is full of fruit and I just picked the first two, although they need a little more maturing I think.
Hi sami, I think I’d rather have Lindsay’s mango than my olives. Idid not realsie you could eat passion fruit
Red cabbage is very unique for me. Good luck to your garden.
Hi coc, don’t you have red cabbage?
I don’t have any red cabbage. I would like to try it.
Do give them a try, but don’t do what I did and plant them all at the same time.
I envy your having an olive tree…i will have to read up on this. Maybe we could grow one.
Hi Jeanne, I don’t see why not. They grow Olive tres in France and it’s colder there in the winter than where we are.
Looks like you’re getting the hang of this growing thing
Unfortunately not. The next problem is controlling the bugs
Your garden looks FAB, PiP. Your thumb is getting greener by the moment.
YAy! and I’m pleased to say everything survived while we were away in France
My envy is disgraceful
and looking at the size of that icecream in your gravatar, mine is too
I have really developed a liking for red cabbage lately. I made a casserole last week and used it for colour. Lovely to see it all coming along.
No tips for olives, sorry. I hate them!!
hi Robyn, I love to see the contrast of red cabbage and sweet potato with brocolli. the colours are amazing!
I MISS MY GARDEN!!!
Hi Aisha,
Reading the post about the house and beautiful garden you left when you moved to Canada, I’m not surprised!
The Piglet plot is looking great!
Thanks shell, and I was relieved to see it survived while we were away!
Your seasons must be ahead of ours. Mark’s vegetables aren’t as far along. He just bought tomato and pepper plants this week.
You’re doing great.
Hi Celia, unfortunately I think I may ahve planted the tomatoes a little early as we had a really cold snap while we were away in France and they are not very happy
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