It is the season for root vegetables in Malta. Winters here are mild. Days are low 60s and nights only go down to the mid 50s. Freezes are not seen. Days are most often partly sunny with rain one or two times throughout the day. It is light jacket weather. A little warm for growing root vegetables. In spite of this Malteze root vegetables are of significant size. Cabbage, turnips, cauliflower and radishes grow the size of baseballs and basketballs.
Farmers’ Markets also display large juicy strawberries and fresh ripe tomatoes. These are grown in greenhouses all over the island. Unlike many islanders who must import their produce, the Malteze are growers meeting their own needs. Fruit and vegetable prices reflect this self-sufficiency.
The farmers in the Ta’ Qali Market we visited, kibitz like farmers in markets everywhere. In this market a heavy dice game was in progress with a little tippling on the side.
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