Record-breaking rainfall and flash floods have hit Spain this year, and it is expected that thousands of hectares of citrus, vegetables, vines and other crops will have been lost. Spain is one of the largest fruit and vegetable exporters in Europe, according to ‘The Grocer’. They are said to be the world’s top exporter of oranges, supplying around 25% of Britain’s fruit imports and 8% of its vegetable imports, including produce such as lettuce, broccoli and tomatoes. Perhaps this is the time for Portugal to step up and fill the void.

Moist soil can help or hinder

Although we can be thankful that most of us here haven’t had as much rain as in Spain, this is the time for us to think about planting veggies. Weeds might have started to rear their ugly heads again, and despite being small so far, they are much easier to pick out of damp soil, so this might be a good time to start getting them up before they grow up into bigger - and harder to remove – weeds.

Garden pests

Many garden pests hibernate, migrate or have breathed their last, so there are less of them to cope with - but is it my imagination that flies are on the increase this year? No doubt the warm damp weather has created ideal breeding grounds for them, and stagnant water, moist soil, and decaying plant matter all support fly larvae development.


Time to plant

I know it might sound odd, but you can really use these cooler wetter months in Portugal to actually plant vegetables, but all tender new plants need shelter from the cold and fierce rain – and obviously frost. If you have the room, poly-tunnels might be worth the investment, or get creative and use old planks or pallets with some strong plastic sheeting or lightweight ‘garden fabric’ (normally used as a barrier to keep weeds at bay) to protect plants from the harshest weather) stapled or nailed over the sides and top, but the latter won't be as strong as plastic for protection from torrential rains.

But with any of these shelters, there must be ventilation, or you are risking mould or mildew ruining your crops, so make sure some fresh air can get in, either by ventilation holes or leaving space somewhere for fresh air to get in.

Humidity creates moisture

All shelters placed over your plant will create a mini-climate. The moisture that the plant releases will stay within the shelter, creating condensation that is then reabsorbed by the plant. This keeps the humidity high around fussy plants and cuts down on using up our precious water.

Vegetables

If you decide on planting veggies, avoid summer crops such as tomatoes or peppers, as they need more warmth than you can provide during the winter. Root vegetables can be planted now, and although potatoes and sweet potatoes are normally planted in the spring, they can tolerate less exposed Mediterranean climate areas this side of Christmas. The tops might be killed by frost, but the tubers will be fine. When planting seed potatoes, be careful of old spud shoots you might have harvested from your shopping bag, as some are sprayed with hormones to keep them from sprouting.

Keep an eye on the thermometer

Pay attention to weather forecasts, as global warming is just as likely to create an unexpected heatwave as it is to create frost. You can try planting seeds outside your shelter too, and many will do well if they have good well drained soil, which should be loose and preferably include some organic manure, which will help by supplying vital nutrients for healthy growth. Try south facing areas so plants get a good start with enough sunlight day. Just bear in mind that strong wind can do a lot of damage to tender new plants, so a sheltered spot would be ideal. Other seeds that will probably be ok if planted outside in winter are broad beans, lettuces, Chinese cabbage, onions, and even peas.

But don’t be shy about harvesting some of your veggies when they are small, they will be tender and tasty, and thinning will leave room for the others to grow bigger.

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan