The Preserver's Year

floss2

Valli wrote: »

am interested in the wild plums as I found a tree with small, yellowish plum type fruit on (bigger than sloes though) picked one and established it was a stone fruit - would that be wild plum?

May be greengages.

Valli

floss2 wrote: »

May be greengages.

I know nothing about greengages other than they are a stone fruit like a plum but would assume they are green. These 'plums' were small but yellow/green and a couple in full sun nearer the top had a definite pinkish/red tinge.

While I'm at it there was another tree with small round 'apples' any clue?

Gigervamp

The apples might be crab apples. About the size of a ping pong ball?

foxgloves

Just put all the ingredients to soak to make Pan Yan Pickle.....can remember it being on sale in the 1970s & thought I'd give it a go. Also made 8 jars of greengage jam this morning from the gg tree in our garden. All this sort of stuff makes nice presents tarted up with ribbon, etc.

foxgloves

P.S Yes, greeengages are really green to start with, then when they ripen they are yellowy green with a pinkish tinge around the stalk. When they are really ripe they are so sweet, a sort of honey-ish flavour, different to plums. They also make good crumble and chutneys.

thriftlady_2

Valli if you google images for 'wild plums' and wild apples' you will find fruits of all different colours and sizes. I'm sure the ones you have found are fine to eat and can be preserved in some way depending on their sweetness.

Foxgloves tell me more about pan yan pickle:), it rings a bell.

Valli

Gigervamp wrote: »

The apples might be crab apples. About the size of a ping pong ball?

I thought that but my fellow walker thought not ... mind you she didn't know the watercress was watercress...

Patchwork_Quilt

Does anyone have a recipe for pickled cauliflower please? A nice crunchy one without sugar. The only one in my books has olive oil in it

thriftlady_2

I'm going to be making crab apple jelly today. I managed to salvage just 4lb of crabs from my tree. There were so many windfalls on the ground but all damaged in some way. I was quite relieved to be honest. You can have too much of a good thing.

I've cooked the apples and they have been dripping in a jelly bag all night. so I shall measure the juice and for each pint add a lb of sugar. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar then boil for a set.

sweetserendipity

I was out picking blackberries yesterday & discovered a wild greengage tree!! :j Never seen one before but I picked one of the fruits & checked t'internet & that's what it is!! I'm soooo excited!!

Anyway, I had a nibble of the fruit but it was very tart/inedible. So, how do I know when they are ready to pick/eat?? I live in the North East of England if that makes a difference?? If I manage to get them before anyone else (someone got there before me with the brambles!!) I'm hoping to make them into a crumble.

TIA for any advice