chickencam Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 My chickens have eaten most of my blackcurrants only leaving the few that are out of reach. That will serve me right for suggesting that we take the net off because I was worried about the chickens getting stuck in it We have got broad beans ready for picking might put some in a potato sald this evening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 My Girls also love blackcurrants. I love the resulting blue poo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezmuzic Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Blackburrant Vodka!!!! Tell me more, I have just harvested pounds of them from my allotment and vodka sounds much more interesting than jam or jelly........ Can I please have the recipe for this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Blackburrant Vodka!!!! Tell me more, I have just harvested pounds of them from my allotment and vodka sounds much more interesting than jam or jelly........ Can I please have the recipe for this I'll pm you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 I have a grand total of 5 blackcurrants this year! That's 5 more than last year though so I'm grateful . We've just been down to the lottie and picked 2 courgettes, a nice handful of borlotti beans which we'll eat as we would runner beans as they're nice and young and we also picked a handful of dwarf french beans (a big thanks to Cinnamon for the seeds - the resulting beans look delicious!). I picked a bowl of blueberries which have ended up pureed in a homemade yogurt shake . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 5 redcurrants and a raspberry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 The last of the strawberries, raspberries and blackcurrants. Just enough to mash together with a good glug of cointreau and have over icecream for tea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Hanging basket tomatoes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 a strawberry (that I shared with Kev ) and yesterday I picked a little green courgette yay cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 26, 2008 Author Share Posted July 26, 2008 a strawberry (that I shared with Kev ) and yesterday I picked a little green courgette yay cathy x ....and tomorrow, you'll find you have enough courgettes to feed the five thousand and two marrows which weren't even courgettes yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 probably cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 and two marrows which weren't even courgettes yesterday We had two of those last time we went down to the lottie!! They were only gherkin sized the previous day . They grow like mad when you're not looking . Picked a nice bowl of blueberries again this afternoon. They're cropping nicely this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Popped down to the lottie this afternoon and came back with runner beans french beans young borlotti beans courgettes peas! Peas podded and some of the runner beans topped and tailed for dinner, french beans and the rest of the runner beans blanched and in the freezer and the borlotti beans are sliced and salting in jars . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 A carrier bag full of broad beans, ate half yesterday rest today and we have more coming. Better late than never Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earthchild Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Runner beans (our first of the season) Cucumber Tomato's Spring onion's We have marrow's ready, but I'm not sure what to do with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 How do the courgettes do it? I picked loads of them the other day, including a marrow (that is in the oven hopefully being turned into a cake) and Mum came over this morning. Would she like some more courgettes? I found two small ones and two enormous marrows yet again. I will try a chocolate courgette cake next! Other than that, they are producing loads of leaves and male flowers! Also picked this morning some peas to eat from the pod - lovely sweetie treaties! Lots of Sungold toms (not making a dent in them yet). Later on some beans to freeze and some for the stir fry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 Sungold toms are so sweet aren't they? We picked two small aubergines today - not really ready but I wanted to try them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 French beans A cabbage Strawberrys Broccoli Courgettes Still no tomatos anywhere near ripe though. Been to see a friend today who gets a feather and goes round her tomato flowers brushing the pollen from one flower to the other to polinate them. Does anyone else go to these lengths?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 French beansA cabbage Strawberrys Broccoli Courgettes Still no tomatos anywhere near ripe though. Been to see a friend today who gets a feather and goes round her tomato flowers brushing the pollen from one flower to the other to polinate them. Does anyone else go to these lengths?? Tomatoes self polinate, you don't need to transfer from flower to flower to pollinate... large scale growers use electric toothbrushes to vibrate the plants to assist in this process... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Misscluck, you could always mist the tomato flowers if you were concerned about pollination, they appreciate the moisture on the leaves too. I don't worry about it too much - the bees do it for me, although I do have to assist the ones that can't find their way out from time to time! Here's my greenhouse, although the toms are really Triffids now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Oooh I LOVE your greenhouse! I wish we had room for one . My tomatoes have to take their luck outside. Today I picked cherry tomatoes blueberries a raspberry - yay!!! rosemary, oregano and thyme to dry for the winter We're off to the lottie later when it's cooler and will hopefully come home with loads of beans and peas again - and courgettes, of course! There's always a courgette or two ready . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Thankies Kate - I keep hitting my head on some Tigerellas as I go in the door now, so I will have to tie them onto something - if I can find a spare strut! We discovered on our allotment that if blight caught the toms early enough in the season and we cut the plant at ground level, new shoots appeared and produced some late toms and they were immune to any more blight. It coincided with being totally fed up with eating them so it was a welcome break, but later had enough to eat and the rest went into green tomato chutney. I think when you first plant the toms, if you bury them deep enough it is possible - I usually cover the first set of leaf nodes. Our toms never seem to do well outside here, but found it depends on the varieties I use. San Marzano always did better outside, but we haven't got them this year - no room! I hope you made that raspberry last! Lesley, my aubergines are only just producing fruit - lots of flowers, but none set. As it is only me that eats them, I hope I will have at least 2! Love the Sungolds, another good sweetie without being bad for you! Apparently one market gardener (The New Organic Grower by Elliot Coleman) that did a test on toms found that they grew much better and stronger if he planted the following years tomatoes in the same plot. Good book and can be adapted to small plots too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 The one raspberry was divine!! I've been watching it ripen from the kitchen window and have been waiting for the perfect moment. There are more to come but that one was my first, big fat juicy razzer and I did enjoy it! Thanks for the tip about the tomatoes. I'll remember that. I'm always looking out for good varieties too so will make a note! Just got back from the allotment with all the onions which are now strung and drying on the wall in the conservatory - 6 nice strings. Should last me a while. Also a trug full of young borlotti beans which will be topped, tailed, chopped and salted in jars before the evening's out, peas, runner beans and a courgette (again ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Kate: The one raspberry was divine!! I've been watching it ripen from the kitchen window and have been waiting for the perfect moment. Gosh, you were lucky a blackbird didn't get there first! The toms ripening in the pic are "Salt Spring Sunrise" which are from the Heritage Seed Library - the surprise extra packet. Turned out to be a huge beefsteak type, has few seeds and DD has done stuffed toms with them but my favourite was to chop them up add some chopped basil and balsamic vinegar and eat with hot new crusty bread. Picked more toms and eaten them - lots of Tigers to be eaten, but the nicer ones go first (not that we don't like the Tigerellas, they are just more ordinary). Picked Glory of Devon and Gladstone peas for next years planting - and gathered more to munch. The runner beans are getting sneaky now too, so I shall have to do something with those tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Turned out to be a huge beefsteak type, has few seeds and DD has done stuffed toms with them but my favourite was to chop them up add some chopped basil and balsamic vinegar and eat with hot new crusty bread. Oh dear, I think my keyboard may short out with all the drool which just went into it . That sounds deeeelicious!! My runners are going mad too! We only picked a load a couple of days ago and came home with lots more!! I love this time of year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
