I was totally disenchanted with the faff of seed sowing and was never going to do it again. However....... I'm really pleased with the big white nicotiniana and cosmos sulphurea. There are some horrible yellow ones which can be disposed of but the dark reddish orange ones are well worth the effort. I'm still going to sow practically no seeds next year.
I, on the other hand, am constantly disappointed by the price, range and quality of plants on sale here - bog standard and expensive - so will sow more and more seeds.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I think you need to harvest a lot earlier then @pansyface. Our broad beans have been eaten or frozen for weeks now. Courgettes are picked at not much more than finger size. Only 2 plants so not overwhelming - yet. Picking outer leaves on cut and come again lettuces so they continue to crop.
More water for tomatoes and more consistent or they split or get blossom end rot.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
2lb cucumber 1 large green pepper 2 large onions 2 oz salt
½ pt cider or wine vinegar 8 oz soft brown sugar ½ tsp ground turmeric ¼ tsp ground cloves ½ tsp celery seeds 1 dsp mustard seeds
Wash cucumber but do not peel. Peel onions. De-seed pepper.
Thinly slice all prepared vegetables and place in a large bowl. Add salt and mix well. Cover and leave to stand for at least 3 hours. Rinse vegetables well, in a colander, under running, cold water. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
Place in a large pan, add vinegar (I usually use ordinary white distilled vinegar) and bring to the boil. Simmer until vegetables are soft, about 20 mins (well, I found it a bit longer).
Add sugar and spices to the pan, stir to dissolve and boil for a further 10 mins.
Pour hot pickle into hot, sterilized jars and cap immediately with sterilized lids.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
I'm really pleased with the big white nicotiniana and cosmos sulphurea. There are some horrible yellow ones which can be disposed of but the dark reddish orange ones are well worth the effort.
I'm still going to sow practically no seeds next year.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
More water for tomatoes and more consistent or they split or get blossom end rot.
… I’ll find it tomorrow 👍
Ah … found it already
Sweet cucumber pickle
2lb cucumber
1 large green pepper
2 large onions
2 oz salt
½ pt cider or wine vinegar
8 oz soft brown sugar
½ tsp ground turmeric
¼ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp celery seeds
1 dsp mustard seeds
Wash cucumber but do not peel.
Peel onions.
De-seed pepper.
Thinly slice all prepared vegetables and place in a large bowl.
Add salt and mix well.
Cover and leave to stand for at least 3 hours.
Rinse vegetables well, in a colander, under running, cold water.
Squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
Place in a large pan, add vinegar (I usually use ordinary white distilled vinegar) and bring to the boil.
Simmer until vegetables are soft, about 20 mins (well, I found it a bit longer).
Add sugar and spices to the pan, stir to dissolve and boil for a further 10 mins.
Pour hot pickle into hot, sterilized jars and cap immediately with sterilized lids.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.