Single hen

[Charlottechicken]

Help!

 

Picked over 2 pounds of plums today, they are so ripe they are dropping off, and there are many more still on the tree. Chickens were in plum heaven as the tree is in their new run.

 

I can't eat them all now, so can I freeze them at all, or would I need to stew first or something?

[Cinnamon]

We have just had a wonderful plum crumble for supper

 

Not sure about the freezing thing,although I would probably be tempted to stew them first as that is how I generally prepare them anyway.

 

How about making some Plum Gin or something?

[The Dogmother]

I picked some off our tree at the weekend and made a summer fruit sponge with some blackberries and pears, just plonked them in the bottom of the dish and covered with sponge mixture - YUM!

[Lesley]

You can halve them and freeze - but you have to cook them from frozen

 

I was told this at the fruit farm a few years ago.

[Charlottechicken]

Got another 5 lb today, looks like every meal from now on will have to involve plums in one form or another and it's only a little tree!

[Mrs Frugal]

Ours are nearly ready too and there are loads. I'm going to try bottling them this year. Never done it before but we're totally overloaded with jam now so there's no point in making more!! I'm buying some preserving jars tomorrow - rather a lot of them!!

[The Dogmother]

My tree had so many last year that I had to lop a couple of the branches off as they'd collapsed over the fence. I gave it a massive prune (pun ) last september and it's only had two plums so far this year.

[Charlottechicken]

Hopefully Claret, you will get a good crop next year, looks like I will have to prune heavily too

 

Found this info on BBC food :

 

Fruits and some vegetables - purée (cooking to a pulp)

Stew fruits such as apples, pears or plums, mash lightly, then leave to cool completely. Freeze in plastic tubs or heavy-duty bags. These fruits can then be used for sauces, puddings and jams. This method is also good for cooking orchard fruits such as quinces. Once defrosted they can be dripped through a muslin bag and the juice used for making jelly.

 

This has helped me, and thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions