A Homemade Life
Welcome to Homemade Life.

To take full advantage of everything offered by our forum, please log in if you are already a member or join our community if not ....

Chilli-head
A Homemade Life
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
Who is online?
In total there are 3 users online :: 0 Registered, 0 Hidden and 3 Guests

None

Most users ever online was 112 on 8th October 2020, 7:09 am
Latest topics
» Hungry Birds
by Dirick55 7th December 2023, 6:04 am

» PRESENTATION
by Chilli-head 23rd November 2023, 2:55 pm

» New Kiva loan
by Chilli-head 21st July 2023, 12:35 pm

» A peat-free compost is top in UK Which? magazine trial
by Dandelion 25th April 2023, 9:42 pm

» New gardening year 2023
by Chilli-head 5th March 2023, 10:15 pm

» What have I done in the workshop today?
by Dandelion 2nd December 2022, 1:12 pm

» What are you harvesting today?
by Dandelion 2nd December 2022, 1:12 pm

» Wartime marrow casserole
by Dandelion 18th October 2022, 4:42 pm

» Late sowings in August ... beans ?
by Ploshkin 11th August 2022, 9:29 am

» Come August, come night in the garden
by Chilli-head 4th August 2022, 3:29 pm

» Welcome guest
by Ploshkin 31st July 2022, 9:16 am

» The Jolly July Garden
by Ploshkin 19th July 2022, 11:38 am

» More mead ...
by Chilli-head 13th July 2022, 12:52 pm

» The June garden thread
by Dandelion 25th June 2022, 9:55 pm

» Plastic bags
by Dandelion 5th June 2022, 7:28 pm

» The merry May garden
by Dandelion 31st May 2022, 10:04 pm

» Fooling around in the April garden
by freebird 1st May 2022, 8:33 am

» March into the garden
by Dandelion 1st April 2022, 7:26 pm

» Mow Suggestions
by freebird 29th March 2022, 5:48 pm

» Some thoughts on resilience
by Ploshkin 12th March 2022, 2:23 pm

Statistics
We have 269 registered users
The newest registered user is Omerko123

Our users have posted a total of 48045 messages in 2416 subjects
Pages we like:

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Hca_button


What are you harvesting today?

+3
Chilli-head
freebird
FloBear
7 posters

Page 9 of 30 Previous  1 ... 6 ... 8, 9, 10 ... 19 ... 30  Next

Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Chilli-head 28th June 2019, 12:23 pm

I was expecting a bumper crop of strawberries. In truth, I should have got around to picking them earlier, but with work, C-H Jnr on holiday after GCSEs, etc etc I have not had time. Last night I went to pick them, many of the biggest were mush. Some had turned to mush without reaching properly ripe red. I think my lotty is a challenging spot - heavy clay that can stay sodden for ages, but can also dry like concrete. They are in quite an exposed spot sun-wise, which also might be part of the problem. I'm half inclined to grub them up.

One of my blackcurrant bushes has been hit by aphids so hard it has no leaves left, just 5 currants on it. I wonder if that will survive. The problem of not having a proper winter.

Chilli-head
Admin and Boss man

Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Ploshkin 28th June 2019, 1:07 pm

I seem to have a bumper crop of gooseberries. Back in May, with the dry weather, they looked pathetic and I stopped taking any notice of them. The weeds have taken over my soft fruit area (they're as tall as me) but I suddenly noticed huge gooseberries hanging like bunches of grapes - the wet June weather was obviously good for them.
Ploshkin
Ploshkin

Posts : 1779
Join date : 2013-07-18
Location : Mid Wales

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Chilli-head 28th June 2019, 2:07 pm

I have chillies. Some quite red. My family have bunked off to the beach for the weekend, so I think tonight might be chilli night for me. Maybe with cold beer.
Chilli-head
Chilli-head
Admin and Boss man

Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23
Location : Bedfordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Dandelion 28th June 2019, 9:59 pm

Thanks for the info about strawberries. I'm amazed that I never knew they didn't ripen further after picking - I must have grown them on and off for about 20 years!! I think I've always picked them off the plant and eaten them straight away. The jam idea is appealing - I might find a compote recipe and make a small amount to be eaten immediately!
Dandelion
Dandelion
Admin

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by freebird 29th June 2019, 10:35 am

My first blueberries of the season. There won't be many as last autumn I cut the plants back hard so they wouldn't be too huge to transport when we move.

Also some whopping strawberries, with lots more to come, good picking of loganberries and gooseberries. All for eating straight away as I am trying to empty the freezer.
freebird
freebird

Posts : 2244
Join date : 2011-10-19
Age : 67
Location : Powys

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Dandelion 3rd July 2019, 9:29 pm

Peas!! The first ones of the year, eaten in a risotto with a bit of lemon and parmesan.
Dandelion
Dandelion
Admin

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Ploshkin 3rd July 2019, 10:30 pm

Loads of gooseberries from my very neglected bush. I've left so.e to go red but the blackbirds will probably get there first. Had a good first pick of raspberries today too.
Ploshkin
Ploshkin

Posts : 1779
Join date : 2013-07-18
Location : Mid Wales

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Chilli-head 3rd July 2019, 10:31 pm

We had sugar snap peas lusaka yesterday, nice and not at all stringy. Few tomatoes tonight, with some lettuce and rocket.
Chilli-head
Chilli-head
Admin and Boss man

Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23
Location : Bedfordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by freebird 5th July 2019, 10:08 am

I really liked Lusaka too. Did you get them from the seed swap? Can't remember if I put some in.

Another big bowl of strawberries, and brought in my garlic which I dug up last week and left drying in the sun.
freebird
freebird

Posts : 2244
Join date : 2011-10-19
Age : 67
Location : Powys

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Chilli-head 5th July 2019, 11:45 am

I bought the seed I have, but I can't remember where. I did buy some stuff from T&M, who I usually avoid because of excess mailbombing and small packet sizes, so it could be from there.

I've also sown a lot of peas that are by now quite an assortment of inter-bred petit pois types - I leave the plants when I'm done harvesting, and pull them up when dry saving any seed. These are a few generations on from buying their ancestors, and seem to germinate and grow better than the fresh seed I've bought. What's not to like ?Very Happy
Chilli-head
Chilli-head
Admin and Boss man

Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23
Location : Bedfordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Dandelion 5th July 2019, 4:18 pm

It sounds as if you've got some pea descendents who like the conditions in your garden/allotment!
Dandelion
Dandelion
Admin

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by FloBear 5th July 2019, 5:22 pm

I've been a bit lackadaisical about watering so am not getting as much produce as I probably ought but I've picked a tubful of broad beans for our evening meal and a few sugar snap peas to share with the parrot.
FloBear
FloBear

Posts : 868
Join date : 2015-02-10
Location : Forest of Dean

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Dandelion 6th July 2019, 5:32 pm

More peas picked today - and it's been so much easier to see them on a cloudy dull day without the sun glinting in my eyes!!
Dandelion
Dandelion
Admin

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Chilli-head 7th July 2019, 4:47 pm

Tonight's dinner plan is piri piri chicken, on a bed of lettuce, with grilled padron peppers and potato salad. Chilli, garlic, oregano, thyme, lettuce, padrons and potatoes all from the garden. A very smug trug Laughing
Chilli-head
Chilli-head
Admin and Boss man

Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23
Location : Bedfordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Ploshkin 14th July 2019, 1:07 pm

A great crop of raspberries and well pollinated - my bees have earned their keep this year.
.... and FIGS
I've been despairing because they've been continually going soft and dropping off and they're like cotton wool inside. Finally I've had a few that are properly ripe and sweet - delicious.
Ploshkin
Ploshkin

Posts : 1779
Join date : 2013-07-18
Location : Mid Wales

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by freebird 14th July 2019, 2:55 pm

Perhaps the dropping off is normal - like June drop for apples.
freebird
freebird

Posts : 2244
Join date : 2011-10-19
Age : 67
Location : Powys

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Dandelion 14th July 2019, 4:30 pm

The last of the strawberries, and a good handful of blueberries. Fortunately a friend who came for tea in June reminded me that the birds like blueberries too, so I netted the two plants, and we have a reasonable crop.
Dandelion
Dandelion
Admin

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by FloBear 14th July 2019, 7:50 pm

Lots of blueberries this year, best ever crop.
The mollycoddled raspberries, Joan J, have plenty of fruit starting, the sadly neglected Autumn Bliss have managed to produce a small crop but have run out of energy now.
That reminds me, I'd better go out and do some watering now the tennis has finished.
FloBear
FloBear

Posts : 868
Join date : 2015-02-10
Location : Forest of Dean

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Chilli-head 14th July 2019, 9:15 pm

Padron peppers, they are being very well behaved producing a dozen peppers per week from three plants.

We had lettuce, tomatoes and spring onions to go with our wraps for lunch earlier, then garlic, onions and tomatoes for the pork tinga for dinner after the padron starter.

On Friday I picked some broccoli, not sure why it was ready now, but it went with some more of the sugar snap peas, new potatoes, garlic, onion and chilli into a kari sayur.
Chilli-head
Chilli-head
Admin and Boss man

Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23
Location : Bedfordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Chilli-head 23rd July 2019, 11:40 am

Kari sayur night again. Broccoli, peas, potatoes, first dwarf French beans, chillies, onions, garlic. And some new courgettes - this one is from Seeds of Italy and is kind of fluted, so makes very pretty slices.

I had a whole row of pak choi germinated at the lotty before I want away for a few days, now no sign left at all. Pigeons, flea beetle, desiccation ??
Chilli-head
Chilli-head
Admin and Boss man

Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23
Location : Bedfordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Dandelion 25th July 2019, 11:27 am

I picked and cooked the first of this year's 'Courgettes which time forgot' today - more than enough for two of us, stuffed with various things. Must pick the rest before they get stupidly big!!
Dandelion
Dandelion
Admin

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Ploshkin 29th July 2019, 4:17 pm

My figs have been very disappointing.  The trouble is I don't really know what I should be doing with them in the polytunnel.
There was a brilliant fig specialist, Reads Nursery, that I asked for advice on the best variety for my situation.  They recommended a green fig, Excel.  Unfortunately the nursery disappeared about a year after I bought my plant from them.  Last year it had 5 fruits and I managed to pick the last one when it was sweet.
This year it's had 53 fruits.  Back in June some started going very soft and then brown so I took them off or they dropped off.  I cut down the watering - it's in a 14" pot and I had been watering it every day.  The fruit seemed to stay firmer with less water and I was hopeful.  They turn quite yellow when they ripen but I don't know how yellow they should be.  When ripe they droop.  I picked them off at various stages before they got squishy but they were just dry and woolly.  A fresh fig should be reasonably firm with a bit of give I think.  They didn't seem to be juicy until they were very squashy and wrinkly and then they were just tasteless.  We've had a lot of sun this year so I would have expected them to be sweet at some stage.
I'm fishing in the dark really, haven't got a clue.
Ploshkin
Ploshkin

Posts : 1779
Join date : 2013-07-18
Location : Mid Wales

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Dandelion 1st August 2019, 10:58 am

I know very little about figs - my aunt had a very healthy and productive fig tree in the garden at her home near to Cardiff, but my aunt is nearly 100 and I'm not sure she would remember any cultivating tips. I noticed last time we visited her that the tree had gone. Are you a member of the RHS? I joined for a while, and found their advice service very helpful. I'm sure they would know about figs.
Dandelion
Dandelion
Admin

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Dandelion 1st August 2019, 10:59 am

At the moment I'm harvesting courgettes by the armful, and French beans which seemed to all ripen while we were away for a few days. I've tried making bean vinaigrette with some of them, which was tasty.
Dandelion
Dandelion
Admin

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Dandelion 1st August 2019, 5:56 pm

Funnily enough I have just spoken to my fig-growing aunt on the phone - it's my mother's 95th birthday today, and my aunt was ringing to say she had forgotten to buy her a birthday card! I asked her about the fig - she said that she carried it around with her in a smallish pot until the family moved into the house she lives in now (which she must have been in for about 58 years.) It was a self-sown seedling, and she described it as 'tough as old boots'. She didn't recall having problems with the fruit, but it was planted in the garden, so it must have been easier to regulate watering. The tree was finally blown clean out of the soil during a gale a few years ago, which is why I didn't see it when I visited.
Dandelion
Dandelion
Admin

Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by FloBear 1st August 2019, 9:26 pm

My little fig tree has succumbed to the heat and not-enough-watering Crying or Very sad

I have picked a large jugful of small red gooseberries, green gooseberries, blueberries and raspberries. The raspberries are being bored into by wasps so I have to be careful when I pick!
Made summer pudding with last lot of mixed fruit, including blackcurrants.
FloBear
FloBear

Posts : 868
Join date : 2015-02-10
Location : Forest of Dean

Back to top Go down

What are you harvesting today? - Page 9 Empty Re: What are you harvesting today?

Post by Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Page 9 of 30 Previous  1 ... 6 ... 8, 9, 10 ... 19 ... 30  Next

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum