SOS: Piglet’s Plot -January 2023 – Fruit and Vegetables

Weather in January

We have had a mixed bag of weather this January. Everything from Southerly winds, Atlantic storms, heavy rain, night temperatures just above freezing to temperatures around 20C and brilliant sunshine. We have our own micro-climate by the sea. A few miles inland in the valley is much colder so what grows well here will not necessarily apply there because of frost. So as I say, it is very much trial and error.

Which Fruit and Vegetables Grow in January in the Western Algarve?

On the plant stalls at our local market, various types of cabbage are in vogue. I tend to steer clear of these because of the cabbage white butterfly and the caterpillars. One day, your plants are fine, and the next, lace curtains. I did plant some kale at the end of November, and so far, the caterpillars have left some for me.

Growing in the vegetable bed below:

• Red onions
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Salsa
• Kale
• Carrots
• Radish (Rabinito Laro Rojo Murciano)
• Physalis (self-seeded) growing in the gravel
• Strawberries
• Aubergine (I removed those as an insect had burrowed itself into the centre.)

Nespera or Medlar Tree

I am waiting for the fruits to ripen so I can make chutneys and Jam, but so far, the birds have eaten all the ripe fruit.

Nêspera (Loquat) Jam

Strawberries in January

Unfortunately, my strawberry bed is in the shade during most of the winter months and only enjoys the late afternoon sun, and although we’ve had lots of strawberries, they failed to ripen. Next winter, I will create a winter bed in the full sun, which I will also cover with clear plastic to create a mini greenhouse for extra warmth.

Tip: The cheapest way to buy strawberry plants is to buy in bundles –bare roots, divide and then plant on into pots.

I bought these end of November 20 plants for around €3.50. I went to the market this week, and I noted plants like this were 75 cents a pot.

As you can see, the quality of strawberries is not that great due to not enough sun.

Growing Lettuce in Containers -January

These are the latest lettuce plugs I bought from our local monthly market. Both the pink crate and the blue box are upcycled from our local bins.

I planted these end of November.

Flowers for the Bees!

A must in any garden (IMHO). I grow: Rosemary, Lavender, Rocket flowers ( I let my rocket plants run to seed. The bees love the flowers and the little birds the seed pods). I have many more plants that the bees like but these are the ones I grow in and around my vegetable patch.

This rosemary bush is always full of bees.

I also grow several native lavender bushes.

Experiment: Growing a Mango Tree from the Stone

My son-in-law started this last October. He wrapped the stone in a wet tissue, placed in a sealed plastic bag and then placed it on the kitchen windowsill. I kept the tissue moist, and it started to sprout!

Mid-January, I carefully repotted in compost.

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to return to Six on Saturday hosted by Jim. So … here’s my first post of 2024. Yep, life got in the way of my good intentions, and I’m already late to the party.

Six on Saturday – 3/2/2024

Related Posts: https://pigletinportugal.com/category/gardening/growing-fruit-veg-and-herbs/