We got a Stockli dehydrator to dry toms a number of years ago and it works very well indeed. (No referral link below)

https://www.ukjuicers.com/stockli?gclid=CjwKCAjwrranBhAEEiwAzbhNtTZNTqKr44pI5DTfRJj_UJ_mhTfUKaX9kcEdQ3F74qMDe7aQo7HenRoCjlcQAvD_BwE 

 

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

Interesting Brian. I've been looking at fish smokers for some time now. I have a hot smoker but cold smoking caught my attention.
https://proqsmokers.co.uk/products/proq-cold-smoking-cabinet?variant=31101397205066¤cy=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=CjwKCAjwrranBhAEEiwAzbhNtWWoSXNMnr3d6XwNJlMBV0J4ed6F28hl0aL3tTlFYa_7zxSSazQCMBoCTfsQAvD_BwE 

Of course I suspect Roger will have a pig up his chimney at this time of year or does something like this? Or did in the Pacific.
https://sulgrave.org/2017/03/when-every-cottage-had-a-pig/#:~:text=Pig%20killing%20was%20always%20a,weeks%20for%20the%20thicker%20hams 
 

Originally Posted by: NMA 

We only grew 3 toms this year but they've done well. 2 x beefsteak (big fruits, rich and flavoursome, but not as big as Brian's) and one heavy cropping cherry, but these have black spot. We have a vast amount of basil in the garden so I baked the spotty cherries and blended them with basil and a touch of paprika. The resultant soup was enjoyed by the whole fam.

Originally Posted by: Bertwhistle 

The geraniums in the middle of the border have suffered badly from ‘the very hungry caterpillars’ feasting on them, although not a total waste as Eden loves seeing them.  But the Bizzy Lizzies at the front have gone mad and have filled in the geranium gaps.  The black grapes are colouring nicely and we have several good sized bunches. 

Originally Posted by: Caz 

Reminds me of reading aloud this lit gem. 
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: A Pull-Out Pop-Up: Eric Carle.

This morning the garden was full of spider webs covered in dew. Everywhere. 
 

Originally Posted by: NMA 

We only grew 3 toms this year but they've done well. 2 x beefsteak (big fruits, rich and flavoursome, but not as big as Brian's) and one heavy cropping cherry, but these have black spot. We have a vast amount of basil in the garden so I baked the spotty cherries and blended them with basil and a touch of paprika. The resultant soup was enjoyed by the whole fam.

Originally Posted by: Bertwhistle 

My garden is still pretty lively, considering it's October. That said, we do have a lot of late season flowers here.

The cyclamen and asters are in full bloom at the moment, and interestingly, the marigolds have had another flurry, as well as the clematis. The Rudbeckia, also known as the black-eyed susan still looks good as well.

Originally Posted by: Bolty 

My garden is still pretty lively, considering it's October. That said, we do have a lot of late season flowers here.

The cyclamen and asters are in full bloom at the moment, and interestingly, the marigolds have had another flurry, as well as the clematis. The Rudbeckia, also known as the black-eyed susan still looks good as well.

Originally Posted by: Bolty 

Tried to gather colourful leaves for our annual October porch- but barely any of the trees are prepared to give them up yet and they are all still green, with tiny exceptions.

Originally Posted by: Bertwhistle 

That made me smile!  My garden’s lively too!  With caterpillars!!  They’ve now completely demolished the geraniums in the border and have moved up to those in the troughs hooked over a six foot fence. I’ve never seen so many caterpillars for so long.  I can’t wait to rip the whole lot up and plant spring bulbs but the bizzy lizzies still look a picture and I can’t bring myself to pull them up yet. 

Originally Posted by: Caz 

Tried to gather colourful leaves for our annual October porch- but barely any of the trees are prepared to give them up yet and they are all still green, with tiny exceptions.
Gourds and sweet potatoes are still setting and being harvested and the black spots on the tomatoes seem to have gone. 
First year I've managed to grow balling Savoy cabbages and the spinach is going doolally.

Huge numbers of nasturtium seeds- 50/50; half for the garden, half for the kitchen (capers).

Originally Posted by: Bertwhistle 

That’s the problem isn’t it, especially now that September is often warm - and now early October as well.  So many plants are still flowering; the dahlias still look pristine. The other challenge is remembering where you have already planted other spring bulbs….  

Originally Posted by: Gandalf The White 

One of the plants I haven't grown for many years is a Fig. So I'm looking for not a Brown Türkiye, Brian's (politically correct spellcheck did this) which I grew in another place and one that flourished but another variety. Rouge de Bordeaux or Osborne’s Prolific come to mind.  
My little courtyard garden did well this year with its raised pools, fish and sub tropical plants. I once though banana plants would suit it but my brother suggested sticking to cannas which I've done. Banana foliage gets shredded by winds unless you're in a really sheltered microclimate. In any case I've grown them ad infinitum overseas edible and ornamental. 

I planted some outdoor containers with mini blue flowered winter pansies, something I've never really tried in the past. They look great in this mild climate this year. Bulbs I planted more of include Snakes-head Fritillary by a pond, snowdrops and for indoors I splashed out on an Amaryllis which is growing fast.  Some hyacinths for the office which have buds on and will soon fill the place with their scent. I had a problem too with delivery (Parkers) but an email sorted that out and they went out the next day.
 

Originally Posted by: NMA