What I have learned gardening in Portugal for 5 years - Starting seeds

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Sharing some tips, tricks and encouragement for getting started with gardening in Portugal.
Seed companies mentioned:
Sementes vivas: www.sementesvivas.bio/pt/
Vreeken's zaaden: www.vreeken.nl/
Buy our olive oil here: www.hortavelha.com/
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Music: Epidemic Sound
New here? My name is Lea and I live with my partner Maarten, our daughter Puck and toddler Bo on our land in Central Portugal. We left the rat race in the Netherlands in 2018 and moved south in our old campervan. Two years ago we bought land in Portugal that had been abandoned for several decades. After lots of hard work we now live in a beautiful yurt and keep ourselves busy growing our own vegetables as well as producing olive oil, wine and honey on a small scale. This channel documents all the different jobs we have to do, and sometimes some nice footage of this beautiful country we now call home.
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Email: [e-mail]
Instagram: / ourportuguesehomestead
Facebook: / ourportuguesehomestead
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
3:40 Seeds
5:00 When to plant
7:30 What I am planting now (end of winter)
8:30 My favorite type of tray for a family garden
9:50 Seed starting compost
11:00 Buying starts
13:40 Sponsor: NordVPN
14:55 Tomato and pepper varieties
20:00 Eggplant/aubergine varieties
20:55 Flowers I'm planting now
23:00 Q&A
23:27 How much of our food do we grow?
27:00 Favorite vegetable, fruits and herbs
29:00 What survives over the summer?
31:30 What happened with the sorghum?
33:10 Best way to start a farm?
33:40 Which supplies are available
36:00 Final thoughts

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Get exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/ourportuguese. It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee !

[@didisalyers4460]

I found this video very educational. Loved hearing your ideas. I used to grow about 60 percent of our food and preserve it. It’s a big job. Hats off to you!

[@gailbenjamin5137]

Bo is getting so big, I'm sure this year he will start helping in the garden. Sweet boy.

[@anaeccles7951]

Lovely to see you, Green spring onions

[@user-zq5vw2uj5p]

So much practical advice here Lea. You are keeping it real for those who are starting out. I hope that the artichokes do okay for you this year. Bo has grown so much 😳 Thanks for the insights.

[@daffs0]

Love how honest you are It a good idea to buy local plug plants as then you no that it’s nearly the right season to plant also your helping out the local people My greenhouse is the same 😂 Thank you for this wonderful and educational video really enjoyed it 😁

[@skaraborgcraft]

Still under snow, but glad to see someone getting dirt under the fingernails. Wish you a good harvest.

[@BreakingBarriers2DIY]

“So many opinions from chickens”. Lol and in one sentence we have the perfect t-shirt slogan.

[@deborahbasel184]

Great gardening advice. People just need to do whats right for them and their families.

[@candynewton4945]

Love the new drone and camera equipment, it improves your channel greatly. Thank you for sharing your home with us. 🇺🇲

[@hannekevangog7752]

Fijn dat je weer terug bent ik heb je gemist heel veel succes met je tuin je mooie gezinnetje liefs uit Turkije

[@lidijafichtner7080]

Well done 👍

[@spiritfree5050]

The Happy Chaos in the background is very entertaining

[@faithrada]

I'm here in New England currently watching the snow fall ... the only thing I can do right now IS PLAN. 😅 Last year I had some success starting my own plants... you are right that It is SO easy to start too many. 😃 Your BEST advice is to pace oneself. I am in the habit of taking on too much and turning Fun into Frantic. I'm loving your measured approach..thank you for that reminder. 🙏

[@dell565758]

Good to see you.

[@SonyaTainton]

Fun fact for the kids - snapdragons - gently squeeze the base of flower and the dragon mouth will open & close when released😁

[@rosaarias7128]

Great to see you again! Thank you for sharing. ❤

[@JulianVaughan-Jackson-os2bq]

Do you have a chipper/shredder ? If you avoid burning anything except for indoor winter heat,you can create mulch or compost .Your red clay soil should become the best kind of soil when you get worms,fungi with the rotting wood chips. Some drought resistance will be achieved. Good luck!

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

We made some woodchip that will go into the other garden :)

[@margaretpeary1240]

I'm so very glad I found your channel again!!! I love your videos of your children, husband, gardening, cooking, etc.! Looking forward to catching up with your past/future videos:)

[@user-iw2ep1iv5g]

Linda from Australia - Love your videos always

[@Sillie69]

Dank je wel Lea voor de wijze lessen :-) Ik steek er altijd veel van op. Mocht je van de zomer nog its nodig hebben uit Nederland laat het maar weten. Dan nemen we het voor jullie mee. Groetjes!

[@JLHelik]

If I may suggest you could start basillic as companion plant with tomatoes ...also you could or should start directly in the garden as soon as it is over 40 ° Farhenheit radish, carrots, spinach, there is another green leafy plant that is easy to grow and goes good in salads but it's name evades me now, beets, lettuce most of the variety, snow peas, cabbage, brocoli all of these just mention they can tolerate a bit of frost and they thrive in cool temperature ... They are perfect for the spring time i.e. 50, 60 and 70 ° Farhenheit ...😊

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

I'll start the basil in a few more weeks when I also start the flowers, it grows so quickly. I've also started sowing outside again, that will be in the next video 😊

[@rosbeaton637]

A very interesting and informative chat about gardening and how necessary it is to learn to know your own land position, soil type, and weather conditions. I wish you a happy and successful gardening season ❤

[@NoneOfyourbusiness-ob2yz]

Vreekens is a great shop, they have so many varieties. They are flat out around now so it really is a matter of ordering early.

[@Stormy-14-]

Great to see you again, so nice to see a new video, thank you for sharing 👍👍❤️❤️

[@lionscircle4700]

It took 3 years but I finally found a local bulk organic compost connection. 3 huge loads later and it still isn't enough. Can't say the compost was a game changer for the garden yet but there is allot more worm action underneath the compost layer within the clay now. Hope you can gets some nice fruit trees going that can tolerant the summer time and mild winters(limited chill hours). I think your garden looks fairly productive. Maybe your clay soil is higher quality since its been used in agriculture for along time.

[@nettp7773]

You have given good advice. I live in the SW USA and if you find something that works then you should stick with it. I bought some plants at a place that was zone 9 about 90 miles away. Our zone is 8. They all froze in the winter. The directions on the seed packets aren't always good for our area. Enjoy your videos as always. I know it takes a lot of work. You make it look easy.

[@SiviVolk2]

Nice to see a new drone, new video gear and I am very excited to see more videos on other topics (especially the earth bag house). Keep up the good work :)

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Same! We’ve been doing some other things around the land, but still mostly working on the digger

[@INDAmedia]

Very helpful. Thanks and happy growing!

[@afrlala3593]

Great to see the progress I followed you from the beginning. Beautiful family and doing things on your own terms. Growing healthy food and sustainable lifestyle. Blessings to you 💐🌷

[@pig_wrestler]

thanks for this video. my (portuguese) wife & i are moving to central-eastern portugal from the UK later this year to combine working from home with hobby farming, so it's great to be able to benefit from your experience & hopefully start a few paces ahead of what we would have.

[@alanhalford9707]

Love the freedom of bow,you seem to be in a good frame of mind ❤️

[@LindaSchreiber]

Fun video. Thank you! In the first few minutues, I grinned.... Pulling the landing pad for the slide - LOL!! Love all your gardening advice here. Hope it helps some of the new people, starting out with more enthusiasm than experience. You need to learn your area and your soil and weather patterns, and be pragmatic, and experiment. That can be a hard thing to learn in the early years.... Garlic chives are excellent! They can be invasive in richer and wetter climes, but from self-seeding, not runners. In your area, yeah, some, but then you just pull them and eat them. Problem solved ;) They are great anywhere where you would use onion or garlic, fresh or in cooking. Snapdragons may be a problem. They are thirsty.... But they are lovely, and worth the experiment! It is so nice to see you again. Beau is so big! Pook must be near to 'young lady' status. Hope Maarten is also doing well.

[@fertiledirt7708]

Happy gardening

[@strawberries1411]

Just love all the varieties.. plant as many as you can, more chances plants will take. I hope you have a fantastic growing season this year.. wondering how your fruittrees are coming.. the ones you planted in the very beginning.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Trees are growing slowly, but I put some manure around them to help

[@strawberries1411]

@@ourportuguesehomestead I hope with some help they will grow fast and produce fruits abundantly very soon... maybe some swales around the trees might be beneficial for them? I hope you will vlog about them next time.

[@rachelfrees1268]

Gardening time.🎉 Beau is a sweetie.

[@suepittel426]

It's always lovely to see you.

[@robynclarke5274]

The seeds you have with the artichokes are garlic chives. Many gardners use Bio Char, also make it themselves. Do you have much olive branches to burn?

[@AnneHeyns]

Glad to see you again! Thanks for this very informative video - being a beginner myself i often learn good tips from you.

[@sherry2836]

Good info. I love seeing what other gardeners are growing. Also loved the photo bombs by cat, dog, chicken and little boy! Looking forward to seeing your garden progress this season! Add on: Do you ever use shade cloth over your tomatoes in summer?

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Just over the greenhouse

[@teresasilva706]

Lovely and useful video , thankyou💐

[@jackie4286]

Thanks for nice video. You look very happy in the greenhouse.

[@sandrawray542]

it was very informative , loved it...

[@fionaworrell4535]

You can indeed have a load of goat or horse and sometime chicken manure delivered in your area, just ask on the local groups.

[@SonyaTainton]

Always so great to see you, your family and animals. I have been procrastinating for too long now and this video has actually been so informative I actually think I'm going to give it a go. The prices of basic veg (and fruit) here (S.A) has just become so ridiculously high that it is now a 'must' to start planting. We also have a similar climate, but a more sandy soil, so I guess it will also be a bit of hit & miss for me with a few. I have actually saved this episode so I can refer back to your useful tried and trusted knowledge. Thank you so much for sharing 🍅🫑🥀🌻🍆 🤗

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Good luck!

[@user-rt6kz2en5i]

Lovely. The light in the yurt was superb btw. Must run and check on my tomato pots😘👌🤞

[@lieuwina]

It was a very informative video Leah thank you. Have a nice day.

[@user-qh3qv2mi2r]

Nice 😊...i like the hema bag in the background😉..always a dutch girl😊

[@marlenefilicevelasco5333]

Great video! I learned allot listening to you...thank you...

[@oakolive]

👀 *nervously looks at pile of unstarted seeds*

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

More coming your way!

[@jeanelliott7491]

So glad you are back. I enjoyed this video and can't wait to see your garden start growing. I especially love seeing Bo. He is so darn cute.

[@joketendam5806]

Good tips

[@denisekoger904]

hey girl!

[@eartecathy7378]

I wondered about your use of zucchini or courgette. I have seen you cook with them in the past, perhaps they go in the ground later. I heard that when mature you can slice zucchini thin, dry it and grind it to make a flour that can be used for cookies, pan cakes, quick breads and to thicken gravy. As far as the background is concerned, even though busy it was good because the lighting was very good. When you moved the background was less busy but the lighting was not as good, so I liked where you were at first best. You are getting better at this.😊

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Thanks Cathy. Yes zucchini go in later, because they grow pretty quickly but don't like frost. So I have to time it right so they don't have it too cold, but also long enough before it gets too hot.

[@fionaworrell4535]

Also where do you buy your trays to go under your seed cells, for bottom watering?

[@robertlee6479]

Why do a lot of new people to Portugal go to Castelo Branco as is far to hot and dry. I have just pricked of my tomatoes and even that is late. I 'm in the next county up from you, is still hot but a touch more water. Sounds like you came in 20 same s me as this is my 5th summer and getting to know the weather better. I use Klasman 1 from Germany, is very good. I find you can sow greens in Sep for planting out late autumn and harvest in winter Yes I use a lot of Kings seeds as I have a friend who brings them when he comes, so I normally get enough seed for 3-4 years at one go. Keep your seeds in the bottom of the fridge and they will keep for years am a pro grower from U.K. and I planted most things once I cleared the land,but you are correct anyone who says they grow all and successfully is a big liar as I have been at it for more decades than I wish to recall and you always get a failure. Onions has taken me 3 years here before getting a good crop. Carrots I had to throw away this year as I grew too many and that is one thing that is never missing in my dinner, also too many spuds as 22 I lost 1/2 in the heatwave and this last time crop was 4 times so too many. Sweet corn I can grow reasonably well and grows very early. I find about 6-8 weeks ahead of U.K. which is about the same time frame for growing as Holland. No dig I have never done, but am trying a small area to see how it goes.

[@NextStopThailand]

Land is affordable in castelo Branco

[@robertlee6479]

For a good reason, it is more difficult to grow things. Most of Portugal land is very affordable. I looked all over Castelo Branco and found a couple of spots near Fundao that had more water than near Castelo and just as cheap, but finished in Guarda county as my wife wanted to be a village for a while as she is a city girl for many years, but is much easier to grow things here, but still can get on the warm side occasionally.@@NextStopThailand

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Because it’s cheap yeah 😅. But cheap for a reason like you said. We just like it here, but for water Fundao is definitely better

[@robertlee6479]

You say you have problems with carrots. Ok 2 suggestions, so Jam in raised beds to avoid carrot fly or sow first week in Sep, for xmas harvest and beyond. I am pulling what I sowed in Sep, and they are clean and very tasty.@@ourportuguesehomestead

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

@@robertlee6479 Thanks! I did sow some last fall, but they're didn't really amount to anything.

[@srenloe43]

You would improve your seed germinating experience by adding vermiculite which would help you retain moisture better as the compost looks very dry. Seed can last for years if kept cool and dry. Agree is more labor intensive but yields are always greater. Micro environments occur everywhere often within miles of each other, wind, solar and soil variables are Mother Nature challenges

[@fionaworrell4535]

Ive found its almost always a disaster to try to direct sew most things here..the ants take everything within hours..do you have any hints on this?

[@punjabseth260]

👌👍👌

[@coby6417]

🌟👏👍🍀💐🫶🏻

[@ram1brn]

organic seeds means absolutly nothing my dear a seed is a seed. All a seed carries is the plants genetics it came from .

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

I means they’re not grown with conventional pesticides. I buy all sorts of seeds anyway, but I do get the question a lot.