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Bertwhistle
29 August 2023 08:06:19
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.
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
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NMA
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29 August 2023 10:03:24

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 


 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Roger Parsons
29 August 2023 10:34:51

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 

I've not got into smoking foods, but I did once have a shot at curing bacon. It was an interesting experiment but I have not repeated it. They do smoke-dry fish in West Africa - and a large "fermented" sea snail that goes by the name "Yate" [also Yet, Yeet].  That information amused Matty, as you can understand.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/yete-yeet-fermented-snail-senegal 

 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
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29 August 2023 10:46:47
Thanks Roger. That's another one to add to my Shell project. Putting the proposal together and hope it will allowed to run if that's the correct term. So I've got Tyrian Purple, Cone Snails, Giant Clams and The Fibonacci Sequence. To which I'll now add Yeti. 
Of course the French like their gastropods and gardening but I think the manager would draw the line at a snail garden in the Centre. Anyway it's concentrating on marine life though corals (garden) come into it as there are some in the collection I'm working with.
Nick
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
NMA
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29 August 2023 10:47:54

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 



I read that to begin with as 3 tons.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Caz
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17 September 2023 15:35:27
I only have a small raised border now but I’ve packed a fair bit into it and made use of the fence behind it, with the help (?) of our granddaughter, and it’s proving very fruitful. We’ve got two beefsteak tomato plants, plus two tumbling toms in a basket.  French climbing beans in a tub that I’ve sunk into the back of the border beside the grapevine, plus a couple of sweet peppers planted at the back.  All are cropping well, although Eden can eat the little toms almost as fast as they ripen and she loves the peppers too.  

We’ve done exceptionally well with the French climbing beans but I put in a few extra seeds, as Eden kept uncovering them to see if they were sprouting and I didn’t expect them to survive but they all did.  So we’re now supplying neighbours with beans, as Eden’s decided she doesn’t like them.

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. 
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
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NMA
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02 October 2023 16:15:16



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. 
 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
DEW
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02 October 2023 18:06:47

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 



I was going in and out of the trees at West Dean Gardens today, stripping the orchard of the last apples (a week earlier than last year, two weeks earlier than 20 years ago) - but the net result was DEW covered in spider webs😁
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Rob K
03 October 2023 14:23:16

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 



We have tried growing tomatoes (proper hybrids from seed) a few times but never had much luck.
This year, after clearing what was left of my front garden after building work, I covered it over with compost from our compost bins, and then unfortunately didn't have time to keep it in check. We ended up with a large thicket of tomato plants, sprouted from seeds in the compost. I decided to leave them, and they have given us bucketfuls of cherry tomatoes over the last few weeks. They were still cropping when I finally cleared them away over the weekend.
Yateley, NE Hampshire, 73m asl
"But who wants to be foretold the weather? It is bad enough when it comes, without our having the misery of knowing about it beforehand." — Jerome K. Jerome
Bolty
03 October 2023 14:37:39
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.
Scott
Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.
My weather station 
Rob K
04 October 2023 09:31:21

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 


Last year our strawberry plants were still flowering in November. I wonder if they will manage the same this year!
Yateley, NE Hampshire, 73m asl
"But who wants to be foretold the weather? It is bad enough when it comes, without our having the misery of knowing about it beforehand." — Jerome K. Jerome
Caz
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04 October 2023 19:20:55

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 

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. 
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
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Bertwhistle
07 October 2023 16:09:00
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).
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
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Retron
07 October 2023 16:20:05

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 


Colourful leaves, you say? Plant a sumac - the one my mum planted back in the 80s has now spread along most of the northen side of the lawn... and it's a wonderful mix of red and green.

https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/sumac.jpg 

UserPostedImage
Leysdown, north Kent
Bolty
08 October 2023 16:46:20
The autumn asters look lovely now. They were worth the wait until the very end of the growing season, in the end! 😀

UserPostedImage UserPostedImage
Scott
Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.
My weather station 
Gandalf The White
10 October 2023 11:07:04

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 



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….  
Location: South Cambridgeshire
130 metres ASL
52.0N 0.1E


ARTzeman
15 October 2023 09:40:12
Today will be the second day of eating Charlotte Potatoes grown in a Polly greenhouse.  
Chose these as I knew they would be ready this month. 5 tubs to go.




Some people walk in the rain.
Others just get wet.
I Just Blow my horn or trumpet
Bertwhistle
25 October 2023 07:59:02
Last year I planted one pack of elephant garlic cloves in leftover soil, thinking not much would happen. They flourished, and they were truly huge when gathered in July. So this year I'm going for 4 with a little horticultural grit added for drainage and a little topdressing. Great that they can be planted now.
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
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Caz
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03 November 2023 09:04:27

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 

We had the same problem with the lack of colourful leaves.  I’ve been trying to gather different coloured ones with our granddaughter, to teach her autumn colours.  All of a sudden, this week they’re in abundance. Eden got nice and sticky, producing a lovely red, orange and gold collage to display on her playroom wall. 
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
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Caz
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03 November 2023 09:15:00

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 

The recent heavy rain has put paid to my lovely bizzy lizzies, so I cleared the border yesterday.  Oddly, there was no sign of caterpillars.  I can now get on with planting spring bulbs.  It’s a new border, so I don’t have any existing bulbs in it, other than a few tete e tete from a tub bought for my last birthday and I can’t remember where they are.  😀
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
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tevo
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03 November 2023 18:41:46
Still haven't wrapped my Musa Bajoo (banana plant) up yet and monitoring TWO weather expert comments to indicate the first frost here in deepest Cambridge 😀
Caz
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08 November 2023 16:58:20
Sod’s Law!  I’m waiting for a delivery of Spring bulbs and thought it said they’d be here within ten days.  I’d bought several trays of winter pansies at the weekend, ready to plant once the bulbs were in. I checked the bulb order yesterday and it said delivery within 28 days, so I decided to plant the pansies, as they need to be in.  Two hours later, I had an email saying my bulbs were with the courier!  🤣
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
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NMA
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24 December 2023 09:24:49
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.
 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Roger Parsons
24 December 2023 09:33:02

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 


We have a fig tree next door the butterflies enjoy in the summer as the fruit ripens and oozes. This prompted a comment from a horticulturalist/entomologist friend who said: "With global warming we can expect pollinator species to establish and figs will spread across the country!" [At present our fig seeds are unpollinated and therefore infertile.] Here is the story of a fig tree's sex life... 😮
How fig trees are pollinated
http://www.figweb.org/Interaction/How_do_fig_wasps_pollinate/index.htm 
 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
roadrunnerajn
24 December 2023 09:59:02
Walking around the garden yesterday and already the Daffodils are in flower along with snowdrops and primroses. That’s early even for down here..
Germoe, part of the breakaway Celtic Republic.

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