The Veg Plot.

[redtrummy]

So as the produce rolls in what do you do with the surplus? Wife made the usual 6lb of piccalilli today. Next will be pickling of the shallots - both much better than any bought equivalent.

We make various chutneys and fruit jellies. Had a list of 22 last year so will not need to do so much this year as we have got a lot left so it will be a quiet year. Luckily no BBE dates on any of the jars!

Have got 5 gall of red currant wine on the go and I make a Damson stout/porter using 3lb of Damsons 3 pts of stout/porter (homebrew), two lb of Demera sugar - makes a port like drink at about 16% proof.
Last years chilli pickle was enough to send you into outer space!

[garynortheast]

At the moment I'm busy freezing the surplus runner beans. I have a lot of cucumbers so I may try pickling some of them in a spiced brine. I'm eating most of what I'm picking this year. I'm not as well organised as usual as I'm on new veg plots and only here in this house on a temporary basis. Once (and if) I get permanently housed, I should be able to get much better sorted with the veg growing again.

[Sir Trev]

Freezer for us too, although that port-like stout sounds excellent RT.

[svenrico]

Originally Posted by Sir Trev

Freezer for us too, although that port-like stout sounds excellent RT.

Sounds a bit too potent for me

[redtrummy]

Could have mentioned this elsewhere on here but today I got out the Rotavator which I have not used all year since trying to change to a no dig garden - so it has been in the shed for 15 months unused or so.
After a squirt of Easy start it fired up and ran fine! I am pretty sure I had given it a shot of Briggs and Stratton fuel preserver when last used.
I can only think that it was this that stopped the carb getting gummed up so I am a convert!

[redtrummy]

Hope those gardeners amongst us are up to speed and have started this years planting! - I got carried away and have far more seeds than I have ground prepared. Guess the surplus can be set next year.

[garynortheast]

I'm desperate to get sowing and planting but I can't as I'm still in a state of limbo with regards to housing. i don't want to start stuff off when I don't know what my housing situation is going to be this year.

If I do finally move to somewhere more permanent with a garden, I will be going flat out to get crops in the ground.

[redtrummy]

Hi Gary - Do you think you will be able to go back to your old house?

[garynortheast]

Originally Posted by redtrummy

Hi Gary - Do you think you will be able to go back to your old house?

I'm not optimistic although I would dearly love to go back to the village at least. The house has stood empty and untouched for nearly a year since the chapel kicked me out. There's been no work done on the place at all.

[redtrummy]

Sorry to hear that Gary - what a bummer