Help MBE grow his dinner 2013.

annie123

diluvsdiscounts wrote: »

Could I just ask if anyone has frozen rosemary? I have frozen chives, basil and parsley but never rosemary. I am presuming it will die off in the winter is that right?

Yes you can freeze it, chop some into an ice cube tray, top with water, freeze. The just pop a cube or 2 in when cooking, or thaw out first, air dry on plate and sprinkle on roast spuds. Saves picking fresh when it's cold, wet, windy or snowing.

It doesn't usually die off but I lost my large one in a pot last winter, too cold for too long I suspect. Had it for years so can't grumble.
As I've got a new smaller one I'll put it in a sheltered spot, put the pot in the soil to stop the roots freezing and might add a fleece if we get a nasty winter again.

Little_Vics

I have a weird thing going on with my aubergine. One of them has gone from shiny purple to a dull green - does this mean it's rotten?

annie123

Little_Vics wrote: »

I have a weird thing going on with my aubergine. One of them has gone from shiny purple to a dull green - does this mean it's rotten?

I have no idea, on the odd occasion I've grown them I've picked them as soon as purple. But it doesn't sound good LV.


Strimmer question.......... the spool has lots of thread left on it but it's not sticking out of the hole any more. Help!!!!!!!!!

annie123

:bdaycake: Happy Birthday MBE for yesterday I think? :bdaycake:

Hope you had a nice time and don't have a hang over, especially as it's mid week

zafiro1984

Ok so I haven't actually grown anything this year due to health probs but I've just done a stock take of what is around on this place and what I have managed to collect/harvest - it's been quite an eyeopener:-

blackcurrents I've collected pounds and pounds for either wine or jam, loads in the freezer,
Rosehips, carrier bags full, all deseeded and in freezer - to make rosehip marmalade/jelly.
I collected elderflowers earlier in year and made elderflower sorbet.
White currents and redcurrents - not as many as hoped as the birds got there first.
Potatoes:- some rogue ones from the previous year that sprouted, coming to the end of them but they have lasted us just over a month.
Strawberries:- got there before the birds had made too much of an inroad into them, made jam but only managed 5 jars.
Blackberries - a really good crop, found along some of the fencing, now frozen
Apples:- The bramley tree has given it's best crop yet - loads frozen and I made apple and mint jelly - 6 jars.

Crops to come:-
The crab apples are just starting to drop, again a terrific crop, will collect what I can reach, crab apple and clove jelly to be made. also loads for the wildlife.
Saw some field mushrooms yesterday down the bottom. I'm a bit careful over collecting fungi but I do know this one is ok.
Elderberries - checked them yesterday, just starting to turn colour, need to wait another week and then will collect, possibly wine?
Sweet Chestnuts - nowhere ready, probably another month before they start to drop and then it's a race to get there before the squirrels. The little tree rats have already got to the hazel nuts this year.
Last of all:- apples from the cider apple tree, usually not ready until November, I can't imagne what I'll use those for!!!

I'm amazed at just what can be put to good use just foraging about so all in all I'm well pleased.
I'm already planning next year in my head as I will be able to get back to growing veg again. The veg plot is a total disgrace, so much so that I've just glyphosated all the paths and areas that aren't the actual beds. I may have to resort to weed killing some of the beds as docks and mares tail have taken hold. The greenhouse has been used for storage, and has loads of glass missing but I have the remainder of this year to try and knock it back into shape. Slowly slowly, don't try to do too much at once I think has to be my motto but it's so frustrating.

Annie I made that apple picker you posted pictures of, it works a treat, many thanks

mrbadexample

Little_Vics wrote: »

I have a weird thing going on with my aubergine. One of them has gone from shiny purple to a dull green - does this mean it's rotten?

I hope not. My aubergines have been brilliant provided they haven't actually been cared for by me. I gave one to my dad, and one to my mate in Norfolk and they've both had loads. Mine are write-offs because they got off to a poor start & got a bit neglected after that.

mrbadexample

annie123 wrote: »

:bdaycake: Happy Birthday MBE for yesterday I think? :bdaycake:

Hope you had a nice time and don't have a hang over, especially as it's mid week

Thank you. I had the day off for gardening. It needed a good bit of work because the big Marina Di Chioggia squash had spread all over the place & I couldn't mow large parts of the lawn. I've ripped it out now - harvested two nice big squash that are supposed to keep well for ages so there's no pressure to use them up all at once. Looking forward to those.

The grass was pretty wet so I could only lop the top off it, but it's tidied it up a bit.

No hang over either, as I had two busy days at work on Thursday & Friday so couldn't party. That is being rectified this evening with mates and curry and beer, so if everyone could keep the noise down until about 1pm tomorrow afternoon then that would be terrific. :beer:

mrbadexample

zafiro1984 wrote: »

Ok so I haven't actually grown anything this year due to health probs but I've just done a stock take of what is around on this place and what I have managed to collect/harvest - it's been quite an eyeopener:-

That's an impressive bit of foraging! :T :money:

Please could you share your recipe for the apple and mint jelly? I've been scrumping in my mate's garden.

annie123

zafiro1984 wrote: »

Annie I made that apple picker you posted pictures of, it works a treat, many thanks

Pleased it worked well for you and well done on the forage.

mrbadexample wrote: »

No hang over either, as I had two busy days at work on Thursday & Friday so couldn't party. That is being rectified this evening with mates and curry and beer, so if everyone could keep the noise down until about 1pm tomorrow afternoon then that would be terrific. :beer:

Hope you had a nice time.

No gardening for me over the last few days, been at MIL putting in an ensuite for her upstairs, as the bathroom is downstairs.
Well, I make tea, fetch tools and pop to diy stores, hubby does the difficult bit

However, a quick look this morning and the grass seed seems to have taken well along the unintentional path made whilst building the shed. Speaking of which it could still do with a tidy up.
Plants on the roof have all taken and local cats seem to have got bored sitting on it now.

Raspberry cane thinning this week, both types gone mad this year.
Wish is was still light in the evenings, would get a lot more done.

Dizzy_Ditzy

The base for the greenhouse in my other garden is done

Weather permitting, it'll be going up this weekend

Shame the soil around it is clay that treble trebles the amount of work I've got to do

I'm torn between digging about 2-3 ft of it out and replacing it with topsoil/compost and digging it over and mixing all sorts in with it to try and break it up *sigh*