Help MBE grow his dinner 2013.

djohn2002uk

annie123 wrote: »

Which reminds me, happy anniversary to John, think it's around nowish and hope your wife is back to good health too.

I'm amazed that you remember that from somewhere (Sunday) but anyway Thank you very much and yes my wife is progressing well. She had an ultrasound last week and they told her the damaged part of her heart muscle had repaired itself so that's more progress.

Little_Vics

that's great news John!

Annie - tell me more about your apple picker please!

annie123

djohn2002uk wrote: »

I'm amazed that you remember that from somewhere (Sunday) but anyway Thank you very much and yes my wife is progressing well. She had an ultrasound last week and they told her the damaged part of her heart muscle had repaired itself so that's more progress.

That's great news on her health.
I remember it because when my grandparents reached their 40th wedding anniversary, they asked everyone to stop saying happy birthday as they didn't want to be reminded of their ages and celebrate their wedding anniversary instead on the 10th September. My nan was 17 when she married and granddad was 19 so I had nearly 3 decades of happy anniversary cards instead of birthday cards to both of them and until this year just my nan which is what she wanted.

Little_Vics wrote: »

that's great news John!

Annie - tell me more about your apple picker please!

I've tried many types I've seen on the web over the last few years and this simple one works well. Won't be able to post a picture 'til Monday but basically it's a 2ltr plastic milk carton with an apple hole cut out on the bit opposite the handle and a small V shape nick to catch the stalk at the top of the hole. The apple drops into the bottom of the carton.
String and tape hold it via the handle to an old stick but DS has offered me his lighter weight extendible pole for ceiling painting (his ceilings are 12' tall!!) so that should make it lighter for me and be able to reach higher ones.
Can only pick one at a time but it doesn't take long and beats sitting on hubby's shoulders. That was fine when we were 30 but at 50 ?I'm not so sure, I get scared of heights these days

zafiro1984

Annie - Be interested in a pic of your apple picker, it sounds just the job. I have a few bramleys ready to pick and a huge cider apple tree that is usually ready late Oct/Nov. It has so many apples this year I aim to get there first before the alpacas.

Little_Vics

I have failed to produce a single red tomato. There are some green ones about though - shall I give up, pick them and make chutney?

lemonjelly

djohn2002uk wrote: »

I'm amazed that you remember that from somewhere (Sunday) but anyway Thank you very much and yes my wife is progressing well. She had an ultrasound last week and they told her the damaged part of her heart muscle had repaired itself so that's more progress.

Best news on the thread.

Little_Vics wrote: »

I have failed to produce a single red tomato. There are some green ones about though - shall I give up, pick them and make chutney?

Nah. Mine are all still green really. I'm still waiting. It isn't too cold for them yet.
If it does get cooler, I'll pick them & leave them on the windowsill to ripen.

Harvested the onions today. Best onion crop ever - biggest specimens ever too!
Plucked 3 more cucumbers also. Again, really pleased with these.
I finally think that my tomatoes are starting to change colour a little...

Dizzy_Ditzy

I have a few red tomatoes, but still lots of green ones

I've lost an awful lot of tomatoes, either through blossom end rot or bloody caterpillars getting into them :mad:

I used home compost to plant my dwarf fruit trees, and ended up with 4 cherry tom plants out of them they're all doing really well are bar about 4, still green.

I'm really disappointed with my beefsteak toms. The ones in he greenhouse seem to have become a magnet for caterpillars. The ones outside don't seem to have done too bad yet, but its getting chilly at night now

I've got loads of tomatoes on the windowsills lol

Today I've planted up lots of garlic for next year. Mr Don told me to :rotfl:

I've repotted 5 more aloe pups today, to add to the 8 that are already on the go!

Sadly, I've not had time this weekend to work on my other garden. That's a shame as I like watching it progressing. Hoping to get the base of the greenhouse done next weekend

mrbadexample

Afternoon all!

Sorry for the extended absence - holiday was followed by girlfriend's mother breaking her ankle, and me trying to saw my thumb off. So it's been a bit hectic and I owe you lot an update. Which you will get in due course.

LV, you may give up on your tomatoes on October 15th, not before. I've still got loads of green ones, but they are slowly getting the idea and colouring up. I'm picking small ones daily, but haven't had any big ones ripen yet (although the first one is starting).

John, glad your wife is on the mend.

Annie, thanks for watering the thread.

Lemon, sounds like a much better year than last year.

Anyone know what to do with a million marrows?

Badrick

mrbadexample wrote: »

Anyone know what to do with a million marrows?

A kind fellow MSE'er has saved me some typing.

Marrow Rum

In the past I've washed and cubed the marrows and sprinkled with the sugar in a lidded home brew bucket, then just strained liquid and followed rest of linked recipe. :beer:

Welcome back and sorry to hear of your misfortunes.

Little_Vics

Oct 15th you say? Is that the same day you'll give up on your aubergines?

(glad to have you back)