Help MBE grow his dinner 2012

Pre-war_babe_33

I`m all excited! I`ve got a flower on my last remaining pepper plant - and eight buds as well. Yes, you are a very understanding lot and will know how I am feeling right now. I have nursed that poor little plant through thick and thin when its siblings all perished from the onslaught of snails, so to see that flower this afternoon has really made my day.

Goodness knows what I was like when I found I was expecting my first child if I can get this excited about the prospect of a pepper, but unfortunately that was far too long ago to remember now.

Heading off back into the garden now to check it wasn`t just a dream.

mrbadexample

annie123 wrote: »

Goes AWOL, behaves like a kid and wanders back in expected to be forgiven! I don't know, can't get good quality of 'virtual friends' these days hope your hangovers gone and you didn't get sun burned

Sorry about the AWOL bit - I even forgot to ask you to water the thread.

And like a kid? You're joking, right? You don't know the half of it... :whistle:

I think my hangover is finally gone. No sun burn. My back is killing me though - three nights on a single airbed has just about done for me.

MY squash is coming along nicely. How do I know when it's ready? Please put me on the list for one (maybe two) of those courgette seeds if you have any spare?

mrbadexample

Pre-war_babe_33 wrote: »

I`m all excited! I`ve got a flower on my last remaining pepper plant - and eight buds as well.

Fingers crossed there's enough time for it to bear fruit! When was it sown?

aliasojo

Was watching the weather forecast last night. He mentioned the 'f' word for Monday! (Frost!)

My toms have no chance of growing/ripening now.

Pre-war_babe_33

FROST!!! Really! you must be joking, it`s August - I think! Hope you don`t live anywhere near me then.

aliasojo

Just been looking at online forecasts, none mention frost.

Hope the tv forecast chap's 'possibility of frost' is just that, a possibility.

annie123

mrbadexample wrote: »

MY squash is coming along nicely. How do I know when it's ready? Please put me on the list for one (maybe two) of those courgette seeds if you have any spare?

It'll look like the ones in the supermarket, tough skin and no green left.
Someone on the local allotments who grows them said some autumns if they've been late growing/ripening he's gathered all the runners up and put them close together and puts a fleece over them if cold nights are due to make sure the plant stays alive long enough to allow the fruits to fully ripen, he gets 4-6 per plant. I've yet to get one!

Think I can find you a few spare seeds;)

annie123

aliasojo wrote: »

Was watching the weather forecast last night. He mentioned the 'f' word for Monday! (Frost!)

My toms have no chance of growing/ripening now.

Hopefully he was talking about Siberia

Pre-war_babe_33

MBE you were asking whether you can freeze beetroot - no you can`t, but there are other alternatives. You can either pickle them or store them in sand.

My grandmother used to boil a large panful for about two hours and then pickle them in vinegar. Not quite sure how this was done so hopefully an expert will come along later and tell you.

Another way is to store them in dry sand or peat. Find a strong box and put about an inch of sand/peat in the bottom then twist the tops off the beetroots (don`t cut them off or they will bleed) and lay the beetroots on the sand taking care not to let them touch each other. Cover with another layer of sand/peat followed by another layer of beetroots until the box is full. Then cover with a thicker layer of sand or piece of old carpet - anything to give protection from frost, and store in a cool dry place such as a shed, garage or outbuilding. If they are stored correctly they should keep you supplied right up to the time the next crop is ready.

I live on my own so only need to harvest one or two beetroot at a time so don`t bother to grow enough to store. A beetroot only takes a few minutes to cook in the microwave and can be eaten either hot or cold.

Another bonus is you can eat the leaves, and yes they can be frozen, just like spinach.

annie123

Well the only thing I got done in the garden today was pick more runner beans, which seem to be trying to make up for being late by producing more than usual. Only got that done in time before it chucked down, complete with some thunder later.
Tomorrow is dry, pleasantly warm and I will be spending on the motorway driving to see mum. So if it could be dry for at least part of Monday I'll be grateful as the evenings are getting dark earlier now and pruning by torchlight isn't a good idea.