My gardening diary, ( amongst other things)

Piquant_2

recoverydust wrote: »

Now is a good time to make cuttings from fushia, geranium and most bushes and climbers. There are fancy ways, but I generally pull off a stem like bit from a main type bit, so I get what my nana called a heel and put it in water till roots appear, then plant it on in the new year and stick it on a windowsill.

Xxx

Thanks for this, I think! Last night saw me rooting around in the compost bin by torch light, retrieving some of the trimmings from the cut back geraniums..... I now have about 20 potential new plants in jam jars on the window sill.

I didn't venture into the garden today, too wet and too cold.

ani_26

Pre-war_babe_33 wrote: »

What country do you live in Ani? Is that English money you are talking? I am confused. It is many years since I saw pineapples, milk and bacon for 10p. Never heard of a 10p shop either but there was a Poundland near where I used to live - and yes I do live in England. I think if a 10p shop opened near me there would be queues halfway down the road and beyond!

I did shop in Poundland a few times before I moved house but it was quite a squash to get in and then you had to queue for about half an hour or more to pay for your purchases before you could get out again. No Poundland or similar where I am now and the small local shops seem to charge what they like - about twice the price of Mr M where a friend takes me to stock up about once a month.

Yes, that is 10p i'm talking about, and i'm very fortunate to have " that " shop, without which, i wouldn't have survived this year, and apparently people DO travel to visit it, although there is never a queue outside the door. As such, i don't menu plan, as i never know what i am going to get for 10p. It's very ad hoc.


For now, it's almost bacon butty time, and time for THE tomato.

ani_26

Piquant wrote: »

I didn't venture into the garden today, too wet and too cold.

It's a bit like that, isn't it, and i am missing my therapy.

Igamogam

ani_26 wrote: »

Yes, that is 10p i'm talking about, and i'm very fortunate to have " that " shop, without which, i wouldn't have survived this year, and apparently people DO travel to visit it, although there is never a queue outside the door. As such, i don't menu plan, as i never know what i am going to get for 10p. It's very ad hoc.


For now, it's almost bacon butty time, and time for THE tomato.

How as THE tomato?

*Robin*

Igamogam wrote: »

How as THE tomato?

..Well as Ani was planning a breakfast butty at half past eight this morning, it could well be an EX-tomato now! :rotfl:

ani_26

The bacon butty didn't happen because i forgot i had an appointment.

THE tomato, is no more






I have just had THE tomato ceremoniously as suggested. It was the decent thing to do. On a plate, dissected with a knife and fork, and every pip savoured.

The overwhelming thought was the smell. It smelt and tasted like those tomatoes you used to eat, years ago. Nothing has been sprayed on THE tomato, not even insect spray. Mind you, i prefer not to think about what paths have crossed THE tomato.


You know the sort of tomatoes i mean. The ones you had when your parents parked up on the seafront, ( because they were too lazy to walk?) got out the wicker picnic basket, ( why was it always chicken sandwiches?) and a tomato with an amazing taste. I can still taste them, now. Tomato dipped in salt and salt on the chicken. And a banana dipped in sugar. Why did we always have salt on everything and sugar on bananas and fruit? Must have been a war thing. We had a wooden cruet set. A male and female bird with cooks hats, i think they were, and they squeaked when you shook them up and down. Then you had theses trays which clipped onto the dashboard, ( they wouldn't do that nowadays,) which kept falling off.

6 months for one blimmin tomato? At this rate, it is hardly going to keep the wolf from the door. On the positive side, at least i managed to grow a tomato against all the odds, when i've heard other people say they failed miserably, this year.

Ah well, another week on vacation and second friend, mr tomato number 2 will be ready for the same fate?

ani_26

In fact, i can still smell THE tomato in the room, now. I think this is going to haunt me, for some time.

Igamogam

ani_26 wrote: »

The bacon butty didn't happen because i forgot i had an appointment.

THE tomato, is no more






I have just had THE tomato ceremoniously as suggested. It was the decent thing to do. On a plate, dissected with a knife and fork, and every pip savoured.

The overwhelming thought was the smell. It smelt and tasted like those tomatoes you used to eat, years ago. Nothing has been sprayed on THE tomato, not even insect spray. Mind you, i prefer not to think about what paths have crossed THE tomato.


You know the sort of tomatoes i mean. The ones you had when your parents parked up on the seafront, ( because they were too lazy to walk?) got out the wicker picnic basket, ( why was it always chicken sandwiches?) and a tomato with an amazing taste. I can still taste them, now. Tomato dipped in salt and salt on the chicken. And a banana dipped in sugar. Why did we always have salt on everything and sugar on bananas and fruit? Must have been a war thing. We had a wooden cruet set. A male and female bird with cooks hats, i think they were, and they squeaked when you shook them up and down. Then you had theses trays which clipped onto the dashboard, ( they wouldn't do that nowadays,) which kept falling off.

6 months for one blimmin tomato? At this rate, it is hardly going to keep the wolf from the door. On the positive side, at least i managed to grow a tomato against all the odds, when i've heard other people say they failed miserably, this year.

Ah well, another week on vacation and second friend, mr tomato number 2 will be ready for the same fate?

Trips to the beach - we always had cream of chicken soup in a flask with Hovis ( the old type Hovis) bread and butter and boiled eggs with salt:). Then whilst we waited for bus home ( lived by the sea ) we would have a 99 ice cream. Simple pleasures.....Now its a small trailer of stuff that goes to the beach with us :rotfl::rotfl:( still live by the sea - although a different coastline):rotfl:

Pre-war_babe_33

Glad you enjoyed your tomato Ani. What sort was it? I am guessing it was not a cherry but maybe a beefsteak if you were able to make a meal of it.

I grew ten cherry tomato plants this year (Maskotka) and got loads off them and have still got several small tubs of pureed tomato in the freezer ready to be added to homemade spaghetti bolognese, mince or soup or whatever takes my fancy. I had to freeze them because I had so many I couldn`t eat them fast enough before they would have gone off otherwise.

Oh I certainly agree with you - home grown tomatoes smell absolutely gorgeous - you never get that smell from a supermarket one.

Piquant_2

ani_26 wrote: »

The bacon butty didn't happen because i forgot i had an appointment.

THE tomato, is no more






I have just had THE tomato ceremoniously as suggested. It was the decent thing to do. On a plate, dissected with a knife and fork, and every pip savoured.

The overwhelming thought was the smell. It smelt and tasted like those tomatoes you used to eat, years ago. Nothing has been sprayed on THE tomato, not even insect spray. Mind you, i prefer not to think about what paths have crossed THE tomato.


You know the sort of tomatoes i mean. The ones you had when your parents parked up on the seafront, ( because they were too lazy to walk?) got out the wicker picnic basket, ( why was it always chicken sandwiches?) and a tomato with an amazing taste. I can still taste them, now. Tomato dipped in salt and salt on the chicken. And a banana dipped in sugar. Why did we always have salt on everything and sugar on bananas and fruit? Must have been a war thing. We had a wooden cruet set. A male and female bird with cooks hats, i think they were, and they squeaked when you shook them up and down. Then you had theses trays which clipped onto the dashboard, ( they wouldn't do that nowadays,) which kept falling off.

Yes, I remember how tomatoes used to taste and smell. You didn't mention the sand in the sandwiches, maybe it was something just our family added :rotfl:We always had ham or cheese and tomato sandwiches I don't think I realised you could have alternative fillings until I was well into my teens.

Do you remember when radishes had a bite to them, rather than the crunchy water that they are from the supermarket?