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We're picking loads of strawberries, far too many for our own needs so I've been giving them to family and friends who are only too pleased to take them off our hands. I would have done some jam making but I just haven't had time with one thing or another. The strawberry plants aren't in the best position on the plot, it's very hard to get to some of the plants but they'll have to stay where they are for the time being. I think they'll only be a year or two old as they're producing so well.
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We got our first courgette this week, it was a little larger than I like, but another couple followed which were just the right size. The first three cucumbers have also been harvested from the garden, two from the inside greenhouse and one from outdoors. They're all Mini Munch, a snack size variety. The Crystal Lemon plants haven't produced a thing yet.
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I love this time of year when there's plenty of delicious things to harvest. I wonder what'll be waiting for me on my next trip to the plot.
Harvests like this are what we spend most of the year leading up to! If you like such things, why not try making the Blackcurrants into a fruit gin or vodka - using the Sloe Gin technique?
ReplyDeleteWe're lucky to have the fruit harvests as they're inherited plants on our new plot. We don't drink gin or vodka, well, any spirits, but we could give it a go.
DeleteI made ribena with the currants last year and jelly with them this year, I'll make anything I can strain as taking the stalks off them is a never ending task. Someone did suggest freezing them and then rolling them to get the stalks off though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a crop strawberries, I'm envious x
They're certainly fiddly things. I hadn't heard about freezing them and then rolling them, that's a good tip. I may have a go at making a cordial.
DeleteBlackcurrants, yum, yum yum.......always reminds me of my second pregnancy (surprised I can remember that far back) I had a craving for them.
ReplyDeleteI add them to apple for crumbles, jam, also make a coulis to top ice cream, delicious..
Your berries look wonderful,
I like all your ideas, cumbles, jam and coulis. I'll look up some recipes.
DeleteLots of goodies there! I certainly agree with your last paragraph. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a great time of year, isn't it? Always something to bring home when we visit the plot.
DeleteWow... great harvest, Jo! Plenty of fruits there. Love the berries. I just dream to grow berries on my home garden, but once again, it's really difficult to grow berries here
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of things in your garden that I'd like to grow, but they wouldn't survive our climate.
DeleteYou've really fallen on your feet with all the soft fruit you've inherited. I am oversupplied with redcurrants, should make jelly..
ReplyDeleteI really have, there's so much there. I've never made jelly, it looks a bit faffy to me having to strain the fruit.
DeleteOoh! All that delicious fruit! I was reading someone recently who was making blackcurrant jam..mmmm!
ReplyDeleteI may have a go at blackcurrant jam, it does sound delicious.
DeleteI freeze a lot of my soft fruit until I have the time to deal with it. As long as you make something out of the defrosted fruit its fine, but it is a bit mushy to eat by itself!
ReplyDeleteI've been freezing mine too, I don't want it all to go to waste. I think jam is top of my list of things to make at the moment.
DeleteBlack current jam is the best! But if you find a good cordial recipe please blog about it because I want to try it too! xx
ReplyDeleteI do fancy trying blackcurrant jam, but I shall look for a cordial recipe too. I'll definitely blog about it.
DeleteFantastic Jo!!! xx
ReplyDeleteHappy times, coming home from the allotment laden with fruit.
DeleteWe've just eaten our first 2 courgettes for tea. Our blackcurrant bushes are in the front garden and they have loads of fruit on. I've still got a bag from last year in the freezer! The strawberries I've been eating every day and they're still going strong.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
xx
It must be the start of the courgette glut. I've got a few plants this year so I'm expecting to be harvesting plenty. I'm freezing raspberries and blackcurrants too, I just don't have time to do anything with them at the moment. We're harvesting so many strawberries, though I'm not complaining, I look forward to strawberry time every year.
DeleteIsn't it just great to have produce ready once again. As with everything at the moment I am behind but enjoying my fruit...my blackcurrants aren't quite ready to be picked yet though...hopefully by the weekend!!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great time of year when the harvests start. It doesn't take much to get behind, everything's growing at quite a pace.
DeleteCucumbers already, lucky you, they are something I really struggle to grow. And what an amazing fruit harvest. I especially love strawberries and raspberries, delicious. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteThey're only the ones with mini fruit, have you tried growing them? They're just the right size for lunchboxes. Strawberries are my favourite, I'm not such a lover of raspberries.
DeleteWow - what crops! Your courgettes and cucumbers are so far ahead of mine. As for blackcurrants: lightly cook with sugar and pour over ice-cream, make sorbet or ice-cream, mix with whipped creametc and make a fool and my mum used to make them into a tart too. I love them :-)
ReplyDeleteI got my cucumbers and courgettes sown quite early, some plants are producing and others aren't. Great suggestions as to what to use my blackcurrants for, they all sound great.
DeleteOut blackcurrants aren;t ready yet but we are converts to Mini Munch and have been harvesting quite a few, Two plants are growing in the cold frame.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that the Mini Munch are producing well for you. I think they're a great size, no waste at all from them. Better to harvest little and often, they're always fresh then.
DeleteEverything looks so scrummy, how lovely to be able to pick your own, so fresh, how about adding some blackcurrents into a smoothie, unless they are really tart! we also add cucumber to ours xcx
ReplyDeleteI never tire of growing my own food, such a worthwhile thing to do and the hard work is so worth it when harvest time comes around. I'm not a lover of smoothies, in fact, none of us are.
DeleteIsn't it wonderful to get your first harvest? I picked out first huge courgette yesterday, can't wait to cook it. (how sad am I?)
ReplyDeleteX x
It's a great time of year, everything starting to be ready to harvest. We've had so many strawberries, I'm going to miss them when they stop producing.
DeleteWhat a great harvest! We are not quite there yet.....
ReplyDeleteYour time will come, well worth waiting for.
DeleteWhat a fab fruit harvest you have there!!! I only have loganberries so far and still don't have a ripe strawberry.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have the courgettes, mine are at the harvesting stage too along with my mini munch....daughter loves them. Oh yes, it's the very best time of the year when to get the pickings!xxx
Glad to hear that the Mini Munch are doing well for you, I've had quite a few off mine already, they're great little cucumbers. I was so pleased with them last year, I think they're going to be just as good again this year. Hope your strawberries ripen soon, perhaps you've got a late variety.
DeleteI'm afraid my comment has not one thing to do with this post...but I had to comment here. I, too, am a Jo and I have a Cavi....in fact I have two of them. But, My Sophie, the diva looks just like yours in your pic. She even has the same toys.
ReplyDeleteToo Cute not to c omment.
xo
Jo
Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. Cavvies are such gorgeous little dogs. I shall be popping over to your blog to see if you've posted a photo of Sophie.
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