tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post1819190567287753419..comments2023-07-27T11:57:35.623+01:00Comments on Rainbow Chard: Harvest Monday - how not to freeze fruit and a seedling updateMs Idlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422072834857825965noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-9191511228372241242016-05-01T09:19:26.175+01:002016-05-01T09:19:26.175+01:00Hehe, thanks Dave, most of my fruit ends up as a b...Hehe, thanks Dave, most of my fruit ends up as a blob. When I was just getting a few rasps at a time I froze them on a tray first, which worked really well for preventing sticking together but now I don't have space. If I get time this year I will at least try and dry the fruit a bit more before freezing it though, which should help.<br /><br />Well, I had a couple of edible green fails this week which I'll tell you about tomorrow! With the dandelions have you tried covering them with a bucket or similar? It's meant to make them less bitter (I don't particularly like them either)Lou@RainbowChardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01435858511588433002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-77058090943718398072016-05-01T09:12:56.060+01:002016-05-01T09:12:56.060+01:00Thanks phoung, it's nice to be able to dip int...Thanks phoung, it's nice to be able to dip into the freezer for homegrown bits and pieces. It'll need defrosting in the next couple of months before filling back up over the summer.<br />I'm lucky with the toms as they don't ever get planted outside, so I can start earlier than some people. (I did grow a few outside once but they got blight).Lou@RainbowChardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01435858511588433002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-8336300299187552662016-05-01T09:09:37.731+01:002016-05-01T09:09:37.731+01:00Hi Margaret, it's a funny old spring eh?
I th...Hi Margaret, it's a funny old spring eh? <br />I think I will plant my toms out into their final pots in the next two or three weeks (I can't be bothered to give them intermediate pots....takes too long and takes up too much space and compost). But the lean- to still needs finishing cleaning out first (i have been doing a bit of clearing here and there so it won't be too big a job)Lou@RainbowChardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01435858511588433002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-79196303226285785642016-04-27T22:30:20.574+01:002016-04-27T22:30:20.574+01:00Lucky all my seedlings are still indoors sue! ( ap...Lucky all my seedlings are still indoors sue! ( apart from some direct-sown ones which should be able to look after themselves). My potatoes were ok in the end, despite some overnight snow, and I earthed them up on Tuesday inbetween dodging hail showers, brr. I've seen pics from other allotment sites in Norwich where tom plants are suffering a bit, but they're probably more exposed than my back garden lean-to, plus I still have some bubble-wrap up at the windows to help protect them from very cold glass over night.Lou@RainbowChardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01435858511588433002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-17150537777967019092016-04-27T22:25:35.019+01:002016-04-27T22:25:35.019+01:00Thanks Lexa, it helps having the lean-to greenhous...Thanks Lexa, it helps having the lean-to greenhouse attached to the back of the house, which gives it extra protection on one side.<br />Yes I'm hoping most of them survive through until planting out. I have a lot of weeding etc to do first (plus we did get snow this week, yikes!) But it's so nice after they've been hardened off and you can just pop them in the ground.<br />I should have said that Jan took the pic of the cathedral, she thought it wasn't very good but I think it captured a lovely time of the evening and very pretty part of Norwich. We're lucky we can stroll there in a short time :) Lou@RainbowChardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01435858511588433002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-91971099502653832742016-04-27T22:18:29.352+01:002016-04-27T22:18:29.352+01:00Mmm balsamic strawberries sound good Susie. I like...Mmm balsamic strawberries sound good Susie. I like to mix my fruit up a bit when I cook it but if I get a lot of strawbs at once I do heat them through a bit in a saucepan so they start to break down slightly - they fit in a tub better that way for me.<br /><br />Thanks, the toms will stay inside the whole time but I guess the others in maybe a month (including hardening off period). It depends how big they get and what the weather's doing. I don't really want to have to pot everything on too many times (too time consuming and uses too much compost). I will direct sow some beans outside in May sometime too. Yeah, the plum has grown a new leaf now!Lou@RainbowChardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01435858511588433002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-28331446568587677442016-04-27T21:12:57.838+01:002016-04-27T21:12:57.838+01:00I think it's great to have homegrown fruit in ...I think it's great to have homegrown fruit in the freezer whether it's in a blob or not. We usually put ours on a tray to freeze before putting in a container but it sometimes winds up in a blob anyway. It's all good I think! I'm looking forward to more currants and gooseberries as the bushes get bigger.<br /><br />You have an entirely different group of edible greens growing around you than we do here. Right now chickweed is about the only thing I could find. Later on we always have lambs quarters but the deer usually eat it first before I can do something with it. There are some dandelion green around but I'm not really a fan of them.Dave @ HappyAcreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03441364543023807886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-46612241701705109882016-04-27T00:53:41.973+01:002016-04-27T00:53:41.973+01:00You are so good about using your preserved harvest...You are so good about using your preserved harvests, and those tomato plants look huge! Mine barely have their first true leaves.Phuonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658691564062044986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-60699338922206106492016-04-26T14:36:35.621+01:002016-04-26T14:36:35.621+01:00Your seedlings are coming along so well - those to...Your seedlings are coming along so well - those tomatoes look great!! Looks like we are getting the same weather as you are - VERY chilly with a few nights at or below freezing. Had to get the winter jackets back out...ugh!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-86184880809565566602016-04-26T09:34:42.283+01:002016-04-26T09:34:42.283+01:00Our frozen fruit looks a bit similar to unless we ... Our frozen fruit looks a bit similar to unless we freeze it as a compote<br />The cold weather plus all the little seedlings is a bit worrying isn't it?Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-31963535096325204352016-04-26T04:11:04.598+01:002016-04-26T04:11:04.598+01:00Your seedlings in the greenhouse are so very impre...Your seedlings in the greenhouse are so very impressive. And I am with you. I do love watching the squash and pumpkins erupt out of the soil with such a bang! In just a few weeks you are going to be quite busy setting out all of those wonderful plants. And thanks for the lovely closing picture of the Cathedral.Lexahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11067337116117320740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6665001536585846125.post-51204830073400337482016-04-26T01:33:24.763+01:002016-04-26T01:33:24.763+01:00How wonderful to have so many berries! For field b...How wonderful to have so many berries! For field berries, I tend to cook them up first then freeze them in 250 ml mason jars (mostly raspberries on their own or strawberries with some balsamic vinegar).<br /><br />Your seedlings look wonderful - how soon will you be planting outside? Your tomatoes are definitely ahead of mine but I still have about 5-6 weeks before anything goes out. And yes, my experience is that peppers always take a lot longer than tomatoes. Pretty neat finding that plum seedling!Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354350096358468967noreply@blogger.com