Aronia berries

Farway

Davesnave said:

 Generations of expert gardeners have already worked out what grows well in the UK, so it's probably best if those with small plots keep the experimentation limited to one or two things a year and focus most of their efforts on tried & tested fruit and veg, which is expensive or harder to find in shops.

I agree with this, there's a reason why some things are commonly grown and equally valid reason why some things are not

Just lately I've been tending a car park border where I volunteer, and it has fat hen growing very easily and readily

Googling shows it is a wonder food, you can even grind the seeds for flour

Common sense tells me it has downsides or it would be on everyone's plate

Anyone here tried eating it?

MoneySeeker1

Yep.....it turns up as a weed sometimes in my garden. At that point I carefully make sure it's planted/re-planted in a good position, let it grow on and then eat it. That's part of my whole basic way of looking at life - of "I'll make up my own mind on that one then.....just because 95% of people don't think so doesn't make it wrong". So I'm the same with food - and I'll try a lot of things at least once to see what I make of them myself. I'm a questioner by temperament LOL. It's got some advantages being a questioner - I'm already prepared in case I'm not allowed into shops for a while to buy my food (ie if they make the guidelines re masks into law - and that law was also there in Wales) then I'm already geared up to abandon shops totally for the duration until we're back to Normal again (courtesy of my garden and online food shopping).

Thankfully I know what quite a wide range of food is like and what I think of it.

I also do the same with smooth sowthistle - and I've currently got several plants transplanted into a raised bed and they'll be part of dinner at some point. One of them has already had half the leaves picked off it by me - and that was another "spinach a-like" for dinner.

MoneySeeker1

Further thoughts on the "If it's food why isn't it in the supermarkets?" line re fat hen - it's not in the supermarkets for the same reason the vast majority of fruits and vegetables aren't available in supermarkets - ie it doesn't last and at least look fresh long enough for the supermarkets to stock it. They only do things with long shelf lives.

Something like fat hen or anything else I might use for "spinach" substitute lasts about two seconds flat. I have to eat it virtually the second I've picked it - or it's all floppy and lank etc. Just think of the leaves on a bunch of beetroot and they are edible and I eat them - but only if it's just been picked that day. I just get annoyed at seeing the lank, floppy leaves on a bunch of beetroot someone is trying to sell at a few days old - and buy something else instead (hence why they usually remove the leaves - so we can't see our beetroot isn't fresh).

-taff

MoneySeeker1 said:

That's part of my whole basic way of looking at life - of "I'll make up my own mind on that one then.....just because 95% of people don't think so doesn't make it wrong". So I'm the same with food - and I'll try a lot of things at least once to see what I make of them myself.

I wouldn't advise that re mushrooms..

MoneySeeker1

LOL re the mushrooms.

I've got about 3 that I personally am quite quite sure I can identify correctly - but I'm not planning on trying any random others I come across.

Mushrooms are on the agenda - for growing myself. I've had a couple of unsuccessful attempts to date at growing them - but shall have another go (when I can manage to get hold of the darn firm I've decided to get some spore from - because they've finally started working Normally again and are answering their darn phone/emails).

Farway

MoneySeeker1 said:

LOL re the mushrooms.

I've got about 3 that I personally am quite quite sure I can identify correctly - but I'm not planning on trying any random others I come across.

Mushrooms are on the agenda - for growing myself. I've had a couple of unsuccessful attempts to date at growing them - but shall have another go (when I can manage to get hold of the darn firm I've decided to get some spore from - because they've finally started working Normally again and are answering their darn phone/emails).

OT from thread topic, but have you looked on Youtube, growing mushrooms in coffee grounds [and other stuff]?

Seems you can use supermarket mushrooms of your choice, keeping the "root" bit as the starter plant

If time & space I suppose it could be very useful, but not for me as I'm short on both

MoneySeeker1

Farway said:

MoneySeeker1 said:

LOL re the mushrooms.

I've got about 3 that I personally am quite quite sure I can identify correctly - but I'm not planning on trying any random others I come across.

Mushrooms are on the agenda - for growing myself. I've had a couple of unsuccessful attempts to date at growing them - but shall have another go (when I can manage to get hold of the darn firm I've decided to get some spore from - because they've finally started working Normally again and are answering their darn phone/emails).

OT from thread topic, but have you looked on Youtube, growing mushrooms in coffee grounds [and other stuff]?

Seems you can use supermarket mushrooms of your choice, keeping the "root" bit as the starter plant

If time & space I suppose it could be very useful, but not for me as I'm short on both

I shall certainly have a go at that as well - all a bit "trial and error". I'm majoring on green vegetables at the moment - but when I feel I've got that fully "under my belt" then I'll have a little experiment. The ones I find most useful are called "king oyster" I think?? so must have a go at them.

Am basically now "finding the space" by planting in containers - as I've still got a fair bit of groundspace I can put containers on. So I can't find the space so to say for "basics" (ie that potatoes/carrots/cabbage) - but for more "specialist" stuff I can iyswim. Could do with the space for a polytunnel or nice big greenhouse though....so currently wondering whether maximum size restrictions would apply to a conservatory (at least in this part of the country - ie Wales) or whether I could go ahead with the biggest I can find the money for.

Davesnave

MoneySeeker1 said:

Farway said:

MoneySeeker1 said:

LOL re the mushrooms.

I've got about 3 that I personally am quite quite sure I can identify correctly - but I'm not planning on trying any random others I come across.

Mushrooms are on the agenda - for growing myself. I've had a couple of unsuccessful attempts to date at growing them - but shall have another go (when I can manage to get hold of the darn firm I've decided to get some spore from - because they've finally started working Normally again and are answering their darn phone/emails).

OT from thread topic, but have you looked on Youtube, growing mushrooms in coffee grounds [and other stuff]?

Seems you can use supermarket mushrooms of your choice, keeping the "root" bit as the starter plant

If time & space I suppose it could be very useful, but not for me as I'm short on both

  Could do with the space for a polytunnel or nice big greenhouse though....so currently wondering whether maximum size restrictions would apply to a conservatory (at least in this part of the country - ie Wales) or whether I could go ahead with the biggest I can find the money for.

. What maximum size restrictions? Planning in England & Wales is pretty similar, but to keep them quiet, the Welsh have their version of the Planning Portal:

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/wales_en/info/2/do_you_need_permission

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/wales_en/info/3/common_projects/7/conservatories

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/wales_en/info/3/common_projects/34/outbuildings

A conservatory doesn't need to conform to building regs, which is why many are too hot/cold and frequently subside.It's a 'temporary structure.' I think there is a maximum size but nobody measures. Our building inspector didn't so much as glance at ours.

For polytunnels, over 14' wide seems to be regarded as commercial, so I got planning for mine as it's 21' wide. However, someone down the road put up a similar one, which the river sometimes floods   and he didn't seek planning. According to local lore, his wife told him to do it, and as no one argues with her, it was OK.

Remember, no polytunnels or greenhouses forward of the building line and you should be fine.