The gooseberry jam didn't last long, so I made some loganberry jam last night.
3 pounds of loganberries made 5 jars of jam
Put all the loganberries in a big pan, no water, mash a few with a wooden spoon, boil for about 20 mins - the loganberries break down in their own juice
Turn the heat down, add 3 pounds of sugar, stir in well to ensure all the sugar is disolved properly
Bring to boil for another 20 mins and test for set with a cold plate - if it isn't ready, boil a bit more and keep testing
When it's ready, pour into hot, sterilised jam jars
I used ordinary jam jars, the same as those we get from the supermarkets - I washed them in the dishwasher before storing with lids on
To sterlise them, I poured boiling water in them and rinsed them out
I then put the jars in the oven on the lowest setting to warm them up - pouring hot jam in a cold jar could break the jar
I used the ordinary jam jar lids, sterilised in boiling water - as the lids have the smooth waxy coating underneath, no need for wax discs or any messing about - as the jam cools, the pop-up safety button should pop down
The jam is very good but it's a bit runnier than I'd like. That might be because it wasn't boiled enough or didn't reach a high enough temperature. Or it could be that it didn't have enough pectin to cause a set. Next time I'll add a spoonful of lemon juice to help the set.
Monday 19 July 2010
Sunday 18 July 2010
Rain at last!
We've just had a week of badly needed rain. As I really only have potatoes, onions and sweetcorn on the allotment, and they only need watering, I haven't been up there for a week. However, I will go up there this week and pick all the redcurrants and gooseberries.
Fruit at home is doing well. I've picked about a pound of raspberries or loganberries per day from the garden - I have several pounds of each in the freezer, ready for making jam. The gooseberry jam at home has gone. I'll be making some more this week, along with either raspberry jam or loganberry jam.
The rhubarb crowns I split seem to be doing well. 3 of the crowns in the ground have new shoots, along with the one in the bucket. The other 3 are showing no signs of life at the moment. The big old crown in the old rhubarb bed is still doing well - it looks like that needs splitting into 3 crowns this winter.
I've picked some of the small Iceberg lettuces at home. Not sure if they were Mini Green or Little Gem, but they were good.
The seeds I sowed just over a week ago are doing fine - loads of seedlings showing, especially PSB. Hopefully will have time to build a frame and set up some netting for them this time. I'd rather feed me than the pigeons!
Fruit at home is doing well. I've picked about a pound of raspberries or loganberries per day from the garden - I have several pounds of each in the freezer, ready for making jam. The gooseberry jam at home has gone. I'll be making some more this week, along with either raspberry jam or loganberry jam.
The rhubarb crowns I split seem to be doing well. 3 of the crowns in the ground have new shoots, along with the one in the bucket. The other 3 are showing no signs of life at the moment. The big old crown in the old rhubarb bed is still doing well - it looks like that needs splitting into 3 crowns this winter.
I've picked some of the small Iceberg lettuces at home. Not sure if they were Mini Green or Little Gem, but they were good.
The seeds I sowed just over a week ago are doing fine - loads of seedlings showing, especially PSB. Hopefully will have time to build a frame and set up some netting for them this time. I'd rather feed me than the pigeons!
Thursday 8 July 2010
Pallet Compost Bin
A few weeks ago I built my first pallet compost bin at home. I used 3 pallets all nailed together for the sides and back. The one on the left side is a double-sided pallet - I'll be adding another compost bin on that side later. I nailed a length of 4 x 2 across the top to stop it pulling apart. I lined the inside with compost bags stapled to the pallets.
For the front of the compost bin, I nailed a few cut-down floorboards together. They are held in place by other floorboard pieces nailed to the front of the bin, so that they can be lifted out when I need to empty the bin.
I now have another couple of pallets, plus a big box of nails, so can build the 2nd bin when I get a chance. I'll be collecting a few more pallets to build compost bins for the allotment too.
For the front of the compost bin, I nailed a few cut-down floorboards together. They are held in place by other floorboard pieces nailed to the front of the bin, so that they can be lifted out when I need to empty the bin.
I now have another couple of pallets, plus a big box of nails, so can build the 2nd bin when I get a chance. I'll be collecting a few more pallets to build compost bins for the allotment too.
Rhubarb
All the crowns in pots seem to have died, except one, which was very large with loads of small stems. I felt that if I left it as it was much longer, it too would die, so I decided to split and plant it today.
When I emptied the bucket, the soil was very dry, despite frequent watering. That could explain the poor growth. As I rubbed the soil away, I found loads of roots and mini-crowns. I split the whole lump into 7 crowns. The first 6 all had a small single stem growing. The 7th (and largest) didn't have any stems growing.
I dug over part of the bed behind the greenhouse where the buckets have stood for a long time. The bed has been sheeted over, so mostly weed free. The soil was quite moist. I planted out the first 6 crowns out about 18" apart - that might be too close for the long term, but it's fine for the rest of this year and a smaller area means less weeding. If they grow well, they can be moved apart early next year. The 7th crown (with no stems) was put back in the bucket for the time being with fresh compost. I'll keep it well watered so it doesn't dry out!!
When I emptied the bucket, the soil was very dry, despite frequent watering. That could explain the poor growth. As I rubbed the soil away, I found loads of roots and mini-crowns. I split the whole lump into 7 crowns. The first 6 all had a small single stem growing. The 7th (and largest) didn't have any stems growing.
I dug over part of the bed behind the greenhouse where the buckets have stood for a long time. The bed has been sheeted over, so mostly weed free. The soil was quite moist. I planted out the first 6 crowns out about 18" apart - that might be too close for the long term, but it's fine for the rest of this year and a smaller area means less weeding. If they grow well, they can be moved apart early next year. The 7th crown (with no stems) was put back in the bucket for the time being with fresh compost. I'll keep it well watered so it doesn't dry out!!
More Sowings
I recently lost all my brassicas - pigeons ate the ones I planted out in the veggie patch, and the seedlings in the greenhouse all died in the heat. The lettuce I started a while back is almost ready to pick, and I'll need more soon. So time to sow some more veggies!
I sowed about 12 trays including:
36 Cauliflower (All Year Round)
24 Late PSB
12 PSB Rudolph
12 Winter Cabbage (Offenham)
8 Kale (Black Tuscany)
8 Swede (Magres)
8 Swede (Invitation)
8 Lettuce (Mini Green)
8 Lettuce (Little Gem)
4 Butternut Squash
4 Courgette (Green Bush)
8 Lettuce (Lollo Rossa)
8 Lettuce (Red Salad Bowl)
8 Lettuce (Salad Bowl)
12 Spinach (Hector)
12 Spinach (Picasso)
12 Spinach (Bordeaux)
12 Spinach Beet
Tray loose sown radish
I want to grow as much veg as I can now and get it planted out as soon as possible. I don't know how many brassicas I can actually plant out in the veggie patch and the allotment, and I know a lot of it has been sown late now, but I've got to try and grow whatever I can now.
The loose leaf lettuce and spinach will be used in patio tubs again. I must sow some rocket to go with it.
I've also sown several more climbing French bean seeds by each of the canes where the previous sowings didn't take. Fingers crossed I'll actually get a half decent crop of beans this year.
I sowed about 12 trays including:
36 Cauliflower (All Year Round)
24 Late PSB
12 PSB Rudolph
12 Winter Cabbage (Offenham)
8 Kale (Black Tuscany)
8 Swede (Magres)
8 Swede (Invitation)
8 Lettuce (Mini Green)
8 Lettuce (Little Gem)
4 Butternut Squash
4 Courgette (Green Bush)
8 Lettuce (Lollo Rossa)
8 Lettuce (Red Salad Bowl)
8 Lettuce (Salad Bowl)
12 Spinach (Hector)
12 Spinach (Picasso)
12 Spinach (Bordeaux)
12 Spinach Beet
Tray loose sown radish
I want to grow as much veg as I can now and get it planted out as soon as possible. I don't know how many brassicas I can actually plant out in the veggie patch and the allotment, and I know a lot of it has been sown late now, but I've got to try and grow whatever I can now.
The loose leaf lettuce and spinach will be used in patio tubs again. I must sow some rocket to go with it.
I've also sown several more climbing French bean seeds by each of the canes where the previous sowings didn't take. Fingers crossed I'll actually get a half decent crop of beans this year.
Gooseberry Jam
I've had several pounds of gooseberries in the freezer since last year. I was too ill to do much about anything last year and been really busy and lacking motivation at times this year. As the freezer was filling up again with soft fruit this year, I finally gave myself the kick up the bum that I needed to do something about it - I made jam and it's lovely!
I used just over 2 pounds of gooseberries with 2 pounds of sugar. Topping and tailing the gooseberries was easy while they were still frozen - just pick the tops and tails off with a fingernail. I then boiled them for just over half an hour in just over a pint of water. I then turned the gas right down and added the sugar, stirring for a few minutes while the sugar disolved. I then boiled it for about 10 minutes or so and potted it in saved jam jars. I got 3 jars full right to the top.
I gave two jars away, one to my neighbour and one to my girlfriend. Several other people said they really like it and have placed orders! I've said I'll give them a jar of jam if they give me a big bag of sugar - fair swap?!
I love jam so don't want to give too much of it away and don't want to use too much fruit making jams all the time - I want to make other things like gooseberry pie and gooseberry wine, and want enough gooseberries to make more jams throughout the year.
I used just over 2 pounds of gooseberries with 2 pounds of sugar. Topping and tailing the gooseberries was easy while they were still frozen - just pick the tops and tails off with a fingernail. I then boiled them for just over half an hour in just over a pint of water. I then turned the gas right down and added the sugar, stirring for a few minutes while the sugar disolved. I then boiled it for about 10 minutes or so and potted it in saved jam jars. I got 3 jars full right to the top.
I gave two jars away, one to my neighbour and one to my girlfriend. Several other people said they really like it and have placed orders! I've said I'll give them a jar of jam if they give me a big bag of sugar - fair swap?!
I love jam so don't want to give too much of it away and don't want to use too much fruit making jams all the time - I want to make other things like gooseberry pie and gooseberry wine, and want enough gooseberries to make more jams throughout the year.
A Catch Up - Part 2
Following on from the previous post .....
Not much has happened on the allotment. Most of it was sheeted over to prevent weeds. Fortunately most of the sheeting has stayed in place. so mostly weed free.
The potatoes have suffered. The late frost caused some damage and the hot, dry weather has taken it's toll too. The potato beds weren't covered so were full of weeds. I have now weeded the first bed and soaked the bed a few times (I now have a hose with attachments at last!) - the potatoes seem to be recovering. I'll weed the second bed this week and hopefully earth up too.
I planted out 30 sweetcorn through the weed sheeting - I had dug the bed over some weeks ago then sheeted it over. They are all doing "ok", but not very big yet. I also planted about 120 onions on the salads bed - again the dry weather has taken it's toll.
The gooseberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants all have a lot of tall grass growing through them and are covered in a climbing weed with big white flowers. I think it's all helping to keep the birds from eating the fruit, but I'd rather clear the weeds and net the bushes. In any case, it's just about time to pick the fruit, so will try and do that next week. The strawberries are completely lost in the weeds.
One grape vine is visible in the weeds. I'll try and find the other and clear more weeds from the plot. The plum and pear treeds on the plot seem to be doing well with loads of fruit this year. The raspberries are poor again, so will replace some or all of them over the winter with canes saved from home.
That's about it for the allotment - hopefully I'll have some brassicas to plant out soon.
Not much has happened on the allotment. Most of it was sheeted over to prevent weeds. Fortunately most of the sheeting has stayed in place. so mostly weed free.
The potatoes have suffered. The late frost caused some damage and the hot, dry weather has taken it's toll too. The potato beds weren't covered so were full of weeds. I have now weeded the first bed and soaked the bed a few times (I now have a hose with attachments at last!) - the potatoes seem to be recovering. I'll weed the second bed this week and hopefully earth up too.
I planted out 30 sweetcorn through the weed sheeting - I had dug the bed over some weeks ago then sheeted it over. They are all doing "ok", but not very big yet. I also planted about 120 onions on the salads bed - again the dry weather has taken it's toll.
The gooseberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants all have a lot of tall grass growing through them and are covered in a climbing weed with big white flowers. I think it's all helping to keep the birds from eating the fruit, but I'd rather clear the weeds and net the bushes. In any case, it's just about time to pick the fruit, so will try and do that next week. The strawberries are completely lost in the weeds.
One grape vine is visible in the weeds. I'll try and find the other and clear more weeds from the plot. The plum and pear treeds on the plot seem to be doing well with loads of fruit this year. The raspberries are poor again, so will replace some or all of them over the winter with canes saved from home.
That's about it for the allotment - hopefully I'll have some brassicas to plant out soon.
A Catch Up - Part 1
It's been several weeks since my last post - I've been very busy clearing junk in the house and decorating so I can get a lodger in. Although the lodger is now in, the veggie patch and allotment have suffered a bit. I also now have a girlfriend and it looks like this one could actually last more than a few weeks!
We had a late frost a few weeks ago that damaged a lot of the potatoes. We've also had a very dry spell the last couple of weeks with no rain at all, and some extremely hot days. All the seedlings I had in the greenhouse are now dead due to the heat and not watering them enough.
I planted out loads of brassicas at home. Sadly, the pigeons have eaten them all. What with the loss of all the seedlings in the greenhouse, I have no brassicas to plant out either at home or on the allotment. I have now sown a few more trays of brassicas, full list to follow. I have more time to look after them now so hopefully all will be ok!
The peas (Twinkle) I planted at home are a bit poor. Some didn't germinate, the plants grew slowly, the plants are short (12-18") and currently hidden by weeds, and the pods are small - overall a poor crop. I definitely prefer the Rondo peas I grew last year.
I now have only two rhubarb crowns growing at home - the big one in the bed, and the biggest one in the pot. The rest seem to have died. The pot one doesn't seem to be doing too well, nothing usable on it, so I'll split the crown and plant in sometime in the next couple of weeks.
I sowed loads of window boxes of carrots. Foxes have dug up one and knocked another over. The tub of parsnips seem to be ok.
The salad tub is past it's best now. The spinach has gone to seed and everything seems to be covered in blackfly. I did have more seedlings for a replacement tub, but those seedlings died. I will sow more this week.
The potatoes in the ground seem ok and have mostly recovered from the frost damage. I've had the sprinkler on most days, so they haven't dried out. I managed to earth them up a bit, and used a mulch of grass cuttings to help cover them up and keep the weeds down. The potatoes in buckets on the patio are not so good - I didn't top up the buckets with compost and water them early enough, so they look a bit yellow and wilted, but now they're topped up and well watered, they seem to be recovering.
The lettuce is doing well - no visible slug damage - hardly any slugs at all this year. The climbing French beans (Blue Lake) that have done so well in previous years are a dismal failure so far this year - only 6 plants on 14 canes, and the plants are only 12 inches tall at the moment. The aubergine plants are still there, not much bigger than seedlings - but fingers crossed they'll grow something useful. The spinach is "ok" - it looks usable. but nowhere near as good as last year.
Soft fruit is doing well though. I've picked loads of raspberries and loganberries in the last week or so - all put in margerine tubs and stored in the freezer. The gooseberry bushes have sprouted very long shoots so could grow quite big for next year - not many gooseberries this year tho. I had a handful of strawberries, not enough to be worth saving, so scoffed them all.
I saved one loganberry runner in a pot earlier this year and it seemed to take ok. I've given this to a neighbour. I've also pulled up several raspberry canes that sprouted everywhere, and put them in tubs in the shade. A few seem to be surviving. If they do survive ok, I'll take them up to the allotment over the winter to replace the rather naff raspberry canes up there.
The pear, apple and my little cooking apple tree seem to be doing well this year - all very well loaded with fruit. The plum tree has some fruit ripening, but nothing spectacular yet. Must check the plum tree in the street.
Tomatoes and peppers in the greenhouse seem ok. I've paid a bit more attention to pinching out the tomatoes this year. They haven't grown as tall as last year, but I do have the first green tomatoes showing. I've set up the drip feeders again now, but using a different make of drippers to last years ones. Hopefully these won't get blocked as easily as last year's ones. The peppers have started to flower, so I've put them outside now in the hope they'll get pollinated by bees.
The herbs I grew in pots have mostly failed. I might give them another go next year, depending on time etc.
Leeks seems to be ok in pots at the moment - not sure how many I've got, but should fill up some of the potato beds when I finally dig up the potatoes.
Onions are doing ok so far - about 85 of them in the ground here. They're surrounded by weeds at the moment, but I'll get the weeds up over the next week or so.
And last of all, today, I picked up a large chest freezer, kindly given away on freecycle. I can see this being filled up pretty quickly with fruit over the next couple of months. My neighbour over the road will give me her apples for making cider - I'll simply bag them up and freeze all the normal apples until I get time to make cider. My next door neighbour will give me his cooking apples - I'll be peeling and slicing then freezing them - I should get loads of apple pies and crumbles any time I want them!
We had a late frost a few weeks ago that damaged a lot of the potatoes. We've also had a very dry spell the last couple of weeks with no rain at all, and some extremely hot days. All the seedlings I had in the greenhouse are now dead due to the heat and not watering them enough.
I planted out loads of brassicas at home. Sadly, the pigeons have eaten them all. What with the loss of all the seedlings in the greenhouse, I have no brassicas to plant out either at home or on the allotment. I have now sown a few more trays of brassicas, full list to follow. I have more time to look after them now so hopefully all will be ok!
The peas (Twinkle) I planted at home are a bit poor. Some didn't germinate, the plants grew slowly, the plants are short (12-18") and currently hidden by weeds, and the pods are small - overall a poor crop. I definitely prefer the Rondo peas I grew last year.
I now have only two rhubarb crowns growing at home - the big one in the bed, and the biggest one in the pot. The rest seem to have died. The pot one doesn't seem to be doing too well, nothing usable on it, so I'll split the crown and plant in sometime in the next couple of weeks.
I sowed loads of window boxes of carrots. Foxes have dug up one and knocked another over. The tub of parsnips seem to be ok.
The salad tub is past it's best now. The spinach has gone to seed and everything seems to be covered in blackfly. I did have more seedlings for a replacement tub, but those seedlings died. I will sow more this week.
The potatoes in the ground seem ok and have mostly recovered from the frost damage. I've had the sprinkler on most days, so they haven't dried out. I managed to earth them up a bit, and used a mulch of grass cuttings to help cover them up and keep the weeds down. The potatoes in buckets on the patio are not so good - I didn't top up the buckets with compost and water them early enough, so they look a bit yellow and wilted, but now they're topped up and well watered, they seem to be recovering.
The lettuce is doing well - no visible slug damage - hardly any slugs at all this year. The climbing French beans (Blue Lake) that have done so well in previous years are a dismal failure so far this year - only 6 plants on 14 canes, and the plants are only 12 inches tall at the moment. The aubergine plants are still there, not much bigger than seedlings - but fingers crossed they'll grow something useful. The spinach is "ok" - it looks usable. but nowhere near as good as last year.
Soft fruit is doing well though. I've picked loads of raspberries and loganberries in the last week or so - all put in margerine tubs and stored in the freezer. The gooseberry bushes have sprouted very long shoots so could grow quite big for next year - not many gooseberries this year tho. I had a handful of strawberries, not enough to be worth saving, so scoffed them all.
I saved one loganberry runner in a pot earlier this year and it seemed to take ok. I've given this to a neighbour. I've also pulled up several raspberry canes that sprouted everywhere, and put them in tubs in the shade. A few seem to be surviving. If they do survive ok, I'll take them up to the allotment over the winter to replace the rather naff raspberry canes up there.
The pear, apple and my little cooking apple tree seem to be doing well this year - all very well loaded with fruit. The plum tree has some fruit ripening, but nothing spectacular yet. Must check the plum tree in the street.
Tomatoes and peppers in the greenhouse seem ok. I've paid a bit more attention to pinching out the tomatoes this year. They haven't grown as tall as last year, but I do have the first green tomatoes showing. I've set up the drip feeders again now, but using a different make of drippers to last years ones. Hopefully these won't get blocked as easily as last year's ones. The peppers have started to flower, so I've put them outside now in the hope they'll get pollinated by bees.
The herbs I grew in pots have mostly failed. I might give them another go next year, depending on time etc.
Leeks seems to be ok in pots at the moment - not sure how many I've got, but should fill up some of the potato beds when I finally dig up the potatoes.
Onions are doing ok so far - about 85 of them in the ground here. They're surrounded by weeds at the moment, but I'll get the weeds up over the next week or so.
And last of all, today, I picked up a large chest freezer, kindly given away on freecycle. I can see this being filled up pretty quickly with fruit over the next couple of months. My neighbour over the road will give me her apples for making cider - I'll simply bag them up and freeze all the normal apples until I get time to make cider. My next door neighbour will give me his cooking apples - I'll be peeling and slicing then freezing them - I should get loads of apple pies and crumbles any time I want them!
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