Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Does anyone share the guilt?

BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
in Fruit & veg
I have just harvested at least 100 runner beans, overlooked ones which have gone tough and stringy, putting them straight on to the compost bin. I’m feeling a pang of guilt; do others?

Perhaps I could have been more diligent in giving them away but it is hard enough round here to find someone without their own surplus and, if you do, you have to talk your way out of a reciprocal gift of courgettes.
Rutland, England
«134

Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    One of our neighbours came round the other day with a trug load he was kindly offering. We declined as all of our plants have been prolific this year. Once I am bored to death with eating them and the freezer has a good supply I leave them to produce beans then freeze those for use in soups and stews. They also make a good houmous.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    The freezer is stuffed to the gunwales. Took some to mother in law when we visited. I’ve made three batches of piccalilli heavy on the beans. Now we’re just eating and eating them … very few escaped my attention to grow past the edible stage … just a few are on the compost heap … to go into the bean pit next spring to feed next year’s crop. 

    No guilt here 😇… I think they’ll be finished by the time we go on holiday in ten days’ time. 

    😂 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Runner beans do nothing for me, give me a young tender Broad bean any day.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    BenCotto said:
    I have just harvested at least 100 runner beans, overlooked ones which have gone tough and stringy, putting them straight on to the compost bin. I’m feeling a pang of guilt; do others?


    No.
    Offering free veg around my neck of the woods singles you out as some kind of weirdo... don't ask me why?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    punkdoc said:
    Runner beans do nothing for me, give me a young tender Broad bean any day.
    Ditto. 
    I do feel guilty ( given how many have had blight ) at the masses of tomatoes with which I just can't deal .
    Devon.
  • EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
    Around here, not many people grow their own. I've left plums and apples in a box on the driveway and they've disappeared within a few hours.
    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    Hostafan1 said:
    punkdoc said:
    Runner beans do nothing for me, give me a young tender Broad bean any day.
    Ditto. 
    I do feel guilty ( given how many have had blight ) at the masses of tomatoes with which I just can't deal .
    Tomato juice!.. we still have passata in the freezer from last year!..and I'm sick of the sight of cucumbers!
    I'm not bothering next year.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I used to give them to the Care Home in the village when I grew them in England. They don't grow very well here in SW France.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Chris-P-Bacon said:

    No.
    Offering free veg around my neck of the woods singles you out as some kind of weirdo... don't ask me why?
    Oh. That’s quite sad. Our village FaceBook group is awash with people giving away things - recently, a table and chairs, raspberry canes, lots of surplus harvested produce, firewood, irises etc.
    Rutland, England
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Chris-P-Bacon said:

    No. Offering free veg around my neck of the woods singles you out as some kind of weirdo... don't ask me why?

    Gardening at all singles me out in the neighbourhood.

    I wouldn't spend your life trying to keep your head down and not get noticed. It's boring and a waste of life. Start a trend - leave your fruit and veg out - your neighbours will appreciate it. Anyone who tuts at free runner beans is too sour, narrow and petty to worry about anyway.
Sign In or Register to comment.