Advice on what veggies to grow in May from a Monchique homestead
To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow – Audrey Hepburn
If, like me, you have been thinking about starting a vegetable garden but are worried that, as we are into the warmer months, it is too late, do not be deterred. The temperature may be rising, but we can still plant and grow.
Monique Volkers runs regular gardening courses, drawing on over 30 years of experience from her homestead in the Monchique mountains. She helps people new to the Algarve or new to gardening, who want to gain knowledge and confidence in creating a sustainable year-round system.
Monique says there is a moment every vegetable gardener remembers. “It’s not the first harvest. It’s not even the first seedling breaking through the soil. It’s the moment you look at a patch of ground and think – I’m going to grow food here.” Whether you decide to plant in pots, raised beds or in the ground, with the right conditions and care, you can begin to see results in just a few weeks.
What to plant
Now the juicy part! Tomato plugs (young plants grown from seed) are good for planting in May, and with plenty of tomato varieties to choose from, you can have fun growing a nice mixture. The smaller ones, like the cherry, ripen faster and are better suited to the Algarve climate.
Pumpkin and squash do well at this time of year. You can sow a seed directly into the soil or plant a young plant. Create a mound of soil to plant in, and again leave lots of space as they like to spread. Expect to see the fruits of your labour in the late summer or early autumn.
Bell peppers, chilli peppers and aubergine plugs are good, and a safer bet than planting from seed, but corn fares better when planted from seed, as do runner and bush green beans at this time of year. Make sure there is space for them to fully grow, so avoid overcrowding.
The market at São Teotónio is a good place to buy plugs directly from the growers on the first Monday of every month.
Watering
Most of these plants have high water needs, so consistency is key, but don’t water every day, which is a common mistake when starting out. It makes the roots lazy and needy. Deep watering into the soil and letting it dry out a bit helps the roots seek out water, making it more resilient for the hot summer days to come.
Monique explains, “Once you know your garden and its soil well, you will develop a feel for its rhythm. In our vegetable garden in the Serra de Monchique, we water once a week in late spring and early autumn. In summer, when the heat is at its peak, we water twice a week. This gives you a rough reference, but every garden and every soil type is different.”
It can sometimes be overwhelming when you begin a vegetable garden, but Monique recommends starting small and planning a couple of months ahead, keeping a journal and creating a calendar of when to plant and pick.
Monique loves the work and caring for her plants. She says, “I like to see them happy, and it creates a nice flow to the year – planting, growing, harvesting – and, if you get the timing right, you have something fresh for the plate all year round.”
After 16 years at the homestead, Monique and her family are fully food self-sufficient. After planting this May, you too can look forward to your own fresh ingredients straight from the garden and onto your plate.
For more on Monique’s homestead living and the beginner’s course to vegetable gardening, 23–24 May.
