Since discovering I can buy cheap pregrown vegetable and herb plugs, I rarely grow them from seed. Why would I? When I grew veg from seed, they either failed, or I had enough seedlings to supply half the population. PLUS, I had to wait weeks for them to germinate and then came the fiddly process of pricking out the seedlings. Now I just go to the market in Rogil, Silves, or São Teotónio to buy the plants I need (I only have a very small vegetable area) plus a couple of extra to feed my pet snails. Job done!
We visited Rogil Market last Sunday to see which winter vegetables were available. Rule of thumb: if they are selling it on the market and the old Portuguese locals are buying, it is a good indication that it is time to get planting. We were not disappointed. The plant guy had a great selection of winter greens, salad crops, herbs, carrots, onions, beetroot, leeks—the list goes on—and even some bare-root strawberry plants.
Apart from the vegetable plugs, there is usually a good variety of stalls, including hardware, linen, clothes, basketware, fruit, and vegetables. Compared to São Teotónio and Silves, Rogil is only a small market.
I bought 7 x purple kale, 12 mixed lettuce, 50 carrots, 50 red onions, 2 herbs to make tea and a bundle of bare-root strawberry plants (18). I resisted the temptation to buy some brussels sprout plants. The last time I tried to grow them, they took months to mature, and I only harvested about ten sprouts!
Rogil Monthly Market (4th Sunday in the month)
Location: R. das Escolas, 8670-440 (Once you pass the cemetery on the right-hand side, the turning to the back entrance to the market follows shortly, but it is signposted. There is a dirt car park. Don’t panic if you miss the turning. Continue into the village of Rogil. Park as you enter the village and access the market on foot.
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jiPgZF6UQWiorzYCA
São Teotónio Monthly Market (1st Monday in the month)
Location: Recinto da FACECO, S. Teotónio
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/24a636Rs9kAFzjw19
A Visit to São Teotónio Market
Silves Monthly Market (3rd Monday in the month)
Location: Silves, near the cemetery
Directions: http://www.algarve-portal.com/event.php?p=23&id=55
Piglet in Portugal 
What a fantastic choice you have! Looks great.
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Great idea to buy seedling plugs. Can’t wait to see your winter garden.
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Looks like a fantastic place to buy seedlings. Everything looks so green and healthy.
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I haven’t yet visited any nurseries or markets here. The weather has been incredibly hot and not conducive to starting young plants. Hopefully soon.
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You buy from the same seller I do, I recognise the signs, but I buy mine on the market i Milfontes 🙂 I am glad they have the toscana kale now, I brought mine up from seed since they did not have them last year. Seeds is really a very time consuming work and definetely a gamble every time. Have a great Thursday!
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I like the smaller markets and always have a look at the plant stalls, but I don’t grow veg.
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