Preparing for Winter V

smeeth

Glad I'm not alone in already longing for the next half of the year, which seems silly when we haven't had summer yet but autumn/winter are definitely my preferred seasons.
Lots to do both inside and out before then though so need to make the most of the months ahead..

southantrim3

Roll on winter - I'm missing my wood burner!

shoei

I'm starting to get that hibernating itch!!!!

Laura_Elsewhere

Well, I made my first preparation for winter this morning - planted out three runner bean plants! We only really eat them in winter, with roast dinners, so we decided to grow some and then freeze them this summer for using in the winter...

vintageteainmywardrobe

Hello all,

Can I pop in and join? This seems exactly what I am wanting to do at the moment, I don't quite think what I am doing is prepping but I am hoping that I can start canning and stashing items to make winter easier

Ok so I was just thinking about this and thought I would do a little list to start off with and then progress once I've done my list, if that makes sense.

• Suitable store cupboard to make easy slow cooker meals
  - This is so that I can just go to the freezer get a bag out and put it in the slow cooker in the morning to help assist when I go out running.
• Jams for winter porridge
  - self explanatory really :rotfl:
• Pickled beetroot for Cottage Pies ect
  - We had cottage pie last night with picked beetroot and I forgot how much I love it so want to grow and cook some this year. I still think I have time
• Sort out a "winter" box and declutter winter essentials and make a list of items missing
  - I don't know where anything is :rotfl: and want to keep it all in one place, plus this should help me realise if I need to make anything new for the coming season.
• save enough for a winter emergency fund (just encase)
  - I wasn't thinking much maybe £500 but just encase we see a good offer on wood or coal we can buy it and not worry. Our house is only heated by the back boiler so any extra fuel is helpful.

That's it for now, I'll focus on these mainly. If I think of anything while I'm reading back in this thread I will add them to the list! :T

Primrose

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

Well, I made my first preparation for winter this morning - planted out three runner bean plants! We only really eat them in winter, with roast dinners, so we decided to grow some and then freeze them this summer for using in the winter...

I,m not sure how many beans three plants will yield but if we have a poor runner bean year your veggie accompaniments to roast dinners may be rather limited! J, I'd be tempted to pop in one or two more beans nearby as a top up if you have space. My experience with runner beans, not being self fertile like climbing French beans, is that if we have very hot weather the flowers drop without being pollinated so you get no beans as a result.

Laura_Elsewhere

Primrose wrote: »

I,m not sure how many beans three plants will yield but if we have a poor runner bean year your veggie accompaniments to roast dinners may be rather limited! J, I'd be tempted to pop in one or two more beans nearby as a top up if you have space. My experience with runner beans, not being self fertile like climbing French beans, is that if we have very hot weather the flowers drop without being pollinated so you get no beans as a result.

I'm not sure either! My parents grow half a dozen plants each year and get a couple of stone of beans - in fact the reason I rarely eat runner beans is too many years of having them all bloomin' summer!

But these are 'Firestorm' which are self-fertile and allegedly bred for Uk weather so will set in very hot weather or in poor cold/wet weather... although mixed reviews online, some saying the beans are not as nice as older varieties...

I think the ground is too shallow and poor as well, so I'm not expecting many! But we only eat half a dozen beans between us for a roast dinner veg, so if we get a couple of dozen it'll still be worth it

Pooky

I put 6 runner plants in my allotment last year and we are still eating the darn things. That's as well as giving handfuls away to friends, family and neighbours ....oh and making runner bean chutney. I had a whole freezer drawer of them by the end of the season. I've put 8 in this year (different variety) so hope they do as well.

shoei

It's looking rather miserable on the farm today guys.... it's making me think about my winter prep.

I think I want a long, thick coat this year, you know the ones like a sleeping bag! I'm hoping to find one online in the sales

PipneyJane

shoei wrote: »

It's looking rather miserable on the farm today guys.... it's making me think about my winter prep.

I think I want a long, thick coat this year, you know the ones like a sleeping bag! I'm hoping to find one online in the sales

Have a look at Uniqlo. My winter coat - aka "The Sleeping Bag" - cost me less than £100 two years ago AND they still have an offer of £10 off your first order, if you sign up to their newsletter.

HTH

- Pip