Garden Diary: Growing Vegetables – November

This is an overview of our vegetable garden as October moved into November. The local markets are selling plenty of winter vegetable plugs, so now is the time to get planting!

The daytime temperature hovers just above 20C and at night (except for a cold snap) between 14C and 18C. It feels like summer—probably an English summer. I am relieved to report that we have enjoyed several heavy showers, so all the plants that survived (just) on water rations throughout the summer have perked up, and the garden is once again green and thriving. However, the warm, humid weather means the mosquitoes are out in force.

On the last Sunday of October, we went to Rogil Market to buy our winter vegetable plugs.

Rogil Monthly Market is the Perfect Place to Buy Vegetable Plugs!

… and it took me most of the following week of dodging showers to plant and pot up all the vegetables and herbs in their winter beds.

Strawberry Plants

After the disastrous start to the summer last year, when we planted all the plants in our newly created vertical strawberry planter, I was delighted to see some bare-rooted strawberry plants to replenish our supply.

One bundle gave us 17 plants. At €5 per bundle, it is far cheaper than buying individual plants. The lady at the market advised us to trim the roots to about 1.5 inches. Once potted up, I moved them to a sheltered area of the garden until established.

Strawberries in November

After the disastrous start to the strawberry season last year, when the earth in the blue strawberry tower became infected with hundreds of fruit flies, I never expected to enjoy strawberries from the plants I rescued. (the secret – feed with liquid manure)

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Planting Carrot Plugs

A couple of years ago, I was advised that to avoid deformed carrots when using plugs, the hole should be deep enough to accommodate the roots with plenty of space so you don’t damage the carrot’s growing tip. Then, water in the surrounding earth with the top of the plug just below the surface.

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I will also try growing some carrots from seed in one of the deep plant pots. I will plant these in January.

Planting Onions

Every year, I vow I won’t grow onions because they take so long to develop, and standard onions are so cheap to buy they are not worth the space. However, due to the escalating cost of red onions, I once succumbed, probably because we were still enjoying last year’s crop sliced up in salads.

Herbs

I am trying a new herb, Erva Cideira. While it’s okay to ask questions in Portuguese, it’s not so great if you don’t understand the answer. Mr. Piglet and I deduced it is to make tea … we think. I also bought hortelã, which I deduced from the smell of mint.

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Although the rosemary bush is huge and unruly, I am loath to hack it back into shape because the bees love it.

I also have some marjoram and thyme growing somewhere ….

Tomato Plant

This tomato self-seeded. It will grow or not. Apart from staking it, I’m leaving it to fend for itself. Hopefully, we will have tomatoes by Christmas. I have heard that self-seeded stock is stronger. We will see.

Kale

The bane of my life is still disauding all the cabbage munchers from attacking the kale. I’ve already lost two plants. Since I started writing this post, make it three!

Foodie Friday – What are the Health Benefits of Kale?

Purple Kale

We also bought some purple kale plugs at Rogil market and planted them in the huge black flowerpot. Yes, they are overcrowded, but I am working on the principle that not all of them will survive

Spinach

Another plug purchase. Fingers crossed, they survive the snails. I also planted spinach seeds a few weeks ago but so far no show.

Lettuce

Another plug purchase.

Lettuce planted last month. We only pick the young leaves and not the whole lettuce.

Aubergines

Aubergines are the star of our garden. They are easy to grow, especially in pots. It’s just a shame that apart from using them in Ratouille and Moussaka, I have no idea what to do with them. I really must research some recipes.

Physalis

These are all self-seeded and already producing flowers.

Zucchini – Courgette

What can I say? I planted these from seed, and ever the optimist, I hoped we would enjoy courgettes into the winter months. Wrong. The baby courgette withered and died. I removed the plant growing in the pot but have left the one in the raised bed. Maybe it will surprise me.

Fruit Trees

Lime Tree: I watered it monthly with homemade liquid horse manure, and it seems to have paid off. There are several small limes and flowers. However, the yellow mottled leaves indicate it is still lacking something.

Orange Tree

We have lots of oranges, but unfortunately, this year they are tart. I notice some of the leaves also have yellow patches.

Nespera Tree

The Nespera or Medlar tree, as it is also called, continues to do well and the fruit feeds all the birds in the neighbourhood.

Yellow Peppers

It is almost time to say goodbye to the yellow peppers.

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That’s it for this month’s veggie update.

Related Post: October 2022

SoS: What’s Happening in Piglet’s Plot?