My name is Ladyhawk, and I have a problem

ERICS_MUM

I love that really strong smell that can't be described, from home-grown tomatoes. You just don't smell it on shop-bought toms. Also home-grown ripen to a really dark red colour without going squashy, unlike the stuff in the shops which can go from unripe to rotten in a couple of days - goodness knows how they are grown.


Linda xx

EmptyPockets

xMonsoonx wrote: »

as the tomatoes ripen I pick them and crush them and cook them up with fresh basil and chives and a splash of cider vinegar and put it in old clean jam jars while warm (they seal themselves shut as they cool) and then all through winter you have a lush sauce to use for pasta or mince

.

And I could really keep those jars of sauce for that long..? Do you store them in the fridge? I can't believe I've never tried this before. We eat SO much homemade pasta/bologneise sauce, always made with tinned tomatoes... but if I can use all the toms from our own plants to do this we'll be laughing I had thought of doing it, but, thought I'd have to freeze it all to keep it...

spider125

Ok I think I have the answer "we are all mad!!!!" I love my plants and looking forward to my tea tonight at work having my own grown lettuce!!!!!!( DD said they dont look like lettuce you buy in shops????) my comment if I wrap them up in cellopane they will, and charge you £1 ??? keep this thread going it makes my day!!!! watching the promos for Chelsea flower show my hubbie said " but all the plants are forced" I wasnt really listening but my reply was mine arent forced I have asked them to grow, I dint force them they did it of there own free will!!!!( no I am not blonde just daft!!!)

ERICS_MUM

In my defence, gardening has been my lifeline for the past few years while I've had to struggle with very debilitating bouts of depression. Pruning, weeding and trimming lawn edges help me relax for a couple of hours, and even at night I spend hours looking at gardening websites !!

I bet lots of gardeners have similar stories.


Linda xxx

midnightraven3

we are still eating last years tomato sauce, and chutney
we had a glut of green ones last year so that was made into relish/chutney type stuff
and has only improved with age

ripe red ones i make lots of things with
fresh pizza sauce, i use Jamie olivers recipe, its very nice
last year i made quite a lot into "sun dried" & stored in oil, but i dried them in the oven, and did some with peppers as well
and i made a huge batch of slow roasted tomato sauce from an old Italian recipe, topped it with olive oil to seal, and it was fine, it was a faff to make and wouldnt do it again, nice though it was, it wasnt THAT special

when making the sauce to keep i do varying ones, with basil, with onion, with garlic etc just whatever you have and will use

xMonsoonx

EmptyPockets wrote: »

And I could really keep those jars of sauce for that long..? Do you store them in the fridge? I can't believe I've never tried this before. We eat SO much homemade pasta/bologneise sauce, always made with tinned tomatoes... but if I can use all the toms from our own plants to do this we'll be laughing I had thought of doing it, but, thought I'd have to freeze it all to keep it...

I have 1 of 20 jars left , I just keep them in a cool dark place and use as and when.

katholicos

This thread is great, Ladyhawk!

My name is (not really) Katholicos and i have a confession to make...i am completely obsessed with growing vegetables and fruit.

For me, because i have an 'all or nothing' personality, I throw myself wholeheartedly into projects and hobbies....they last a while, maybe even a couple of years, and then some new interest comes along...but what i think will happen with gardening fruit and veggies, is that because of the cycle of sowing and growing and harvesting....because it is continual and seasonal...i am hoping that the interest will remain indefinately, for as long as i am physically capable of doing it.

If I don't follow the cycle of sowing and growing, then i won't have anything to harvest and I don't want to go back to buying fruit and veg, if i can help it, once i really get going.

One thing i have really noticed is that when i am in the garden i 'lose' myself....and it's not because i have a large garden, i don't....it's just that I become so engrossed in being in the garden and looking at the things growing and nature going on all around me, and it helps me to forget any problems i have, even if only until i come back in from the garden.

My neighbours must be shocked silly that after 10 years of my living here, my back garden is starting to look cared for and enjoyed. I wouldn't be surprised if i've set some tongues wagging, but mostly, I hope, because people are pleased about the changes.

Because of my health problems, despite difficulties, i am trying to get a lot done now while i can as i fear that healthwise my situation may deteriate still further...that is why i am trying to get all the hard work done now...the raised beds and plant pots and stuff. Hopefully i will remain consistant in health, or maybe even improve, but just in case, i am doing what i can now, and though it is challenging, i am certainly enjoying seeing the fruits of my labour.

Gosh, where did all that blurb come from?

LOL!

GarnetLady

My name is GarnetLady and I'm a plantaholic.

At the start of getting our garden I was a little overwhelmed at the thought of it all, sowing, germination, not killing everything, that I started quite small. Now though, the more I do the more I want to do. And I seem to be addicted to plants in a rather major way.

I'm also determined that the front garden esp will always look nice, tidy and well cared for.

This is the first time since I left college that I haven't been working at least part time. In fact, the last couple of years have been difficult one way or another and I find my gardening really theraputic. (Even if DH thinks I've lost it lol.) It's been a nice way to fill my time. (My sewing has fallen by the wayside a bit, I'll find a balance eventually )

Optimisticpair

I don't have a problem with plants I just have a problem with the lack of space!
:rotfl:

dorisday

just popped home from work to check my plants are going to be ok. Its gone all dark and chilly here in newcastle, so perhaps we are for a little rain!
As I travel around some with my work, I get to talk to many gardeners and have picked up quite a few tips ongrowing veg etc., and as this is the first time ive grown tomatoes, I wasnt too sure I was doing it right 9having to pinch out the bits between the stalks) I have read loads but there is nothing as good as someone actually showing you how to do it, I know now Im doing it right.:j
Ive got one apricot on my tree and on cherry tree there are about 7 cherries not ripe yet but soon I hope.
Anyone know what I should do about my dwarf apricot? do I prune it yet? or what>