Another Busy Day

It has been an overcast and light showery day here in Peterborough, and the temperature has dropped a little which is a relief, but it also shows that the cooler months are not that far off.  In fact I suspect we are or will have an earlier autumn than usual.

I am hoping to get out to see if I can collect any wild blackberries to do something with as well.  I am sadly behind on the preserving this year although I am hoping that will change in the next few days or so once the kitchen is sorted and I can find my jam jar lids!  I have a lot to do and a lot to achieve but will get there eventually.

Yesterday when I went into the garden I took photos of my small wall planters and larger planter that I had potted up rather late in the day.  I also took photos of some of the planters I had popped veggies into.  The veggies in planters are doing well and my Courgettes are producing but not as many as I had hoped.  I think it is because they are in planters I think they really need to be in the soil and the bed that they go into should be filled with muck and compost this autumn in ready for next year. Squash, Pumpkins and Beans are all greedy eaters. The same for the area where to grow beans.  That might be something to do for next year.  They say you only grow by what you learn and this year has been a learning curve for me on the gardening front in a positive way.  Seeing the possibilities like I do and then bringing your skills up to scratch by way of practice is all part of the learning curve.

My Pumpkins in their pots.  They are throwing up no end of blooms I am just hoping that they take to make pumpkins or squash.  I would like squash and pumpkin for the Pantry shelf this year.  Next year I will be better sorted on the gardening front and I hope to implement some new methods as well.

I have three types of Beetroot, the traditional Purple, a Gold version and a Chioggia.  All different for presentation on a plate or to make pickles.  They say we eat with our eyes and so I am hoping that visual presentation will tickle the taste buds.

I have also grown two planters of Chives.  I am hoping to add a couple of more planters as I have some potential uses for them in the future.  Next year I hope that I get the Chive Blossoms so that I can make a quantity of Chive Blossom Vinegar.  I have popped a planter of Carrots in-between the two Chive planters in the hope that it will keep the Carrot root fly away.

Sadly a lot of my brassicas got attacked by the Cabbage White Fly.  When I popped them outside I did not have any net cages which I do now.  So if I get some this year it will be a bonus and not for the lack of trying.  However I am going to order some more garden covers in as I think with the climate changes we are going to have more insects to cope with than in the past.  Therefore next year the Brassicas will go into the ground with covers on to protect them.

I have some fresh Ginger that has put up some nodules/shoots and so I am going to plant that up so that I can have a go at growing my own.  Ginger is expensive and I am thinking that if I manage to grow a bit I can then turn it into preserved stem ginger either desiccated or in syrup.  I made this when my Dad was alive and he absolutely loved it bless him.  Mind you so did I.  Kumquats in syrup are also a sweet and sour delight.  One of the things I am aiming to do for Christmas one year is to preserve a lot of fruit by preserving them this way and then serve them on glass bowls trays or dishes as sweetmeats on the Christmas side table. This used to be a tradition many years ago.  Not so much now but I do love preserved fruits this way. I have picked up some beautiful vintage glass pieces over the years.  I particularly have a nice oblong dish which is beautifully decorated.  Cannot get to that at the moment so I cannot show you.  I also have this glass tray that I found which I also think will be ideal.  I think it may originally have been a Dressing table tray but still ideal for table presentation.

The Herbs are doing well in the garden and I am pleased with how they have come on especially the Chives, Rosemary, Lovage, Sage and Lemon Verbena.  I even have Chamomile which I have been harvesting in very small amounts.  Hopefully the plants will be bigger next year.  I also have Dark Chocolate Mint and that has also put on a splurge.  Many of the herbs are in planters as we need a new fence and I am hopeful that will be sorted soon.  However  I did not want to put my herbs into the ground and then get them trampled on.  So will wait until fence is sorted until I do this. Plants seem to be happy in their larger pots.  There will be a lot more herbs next year.  I am going to buy in more Chamomile, plant Angelica from seed.  Home preserved Angelica is very different to its counterpart and I love it.  You can also make a liqueur/digestif from the home preserved Angelica as well which I also like. I have, Bergamot, Borage (white and Blue) and Hyssop seed as well to start off as well.

Lemon Verbena:

Going to be used in teas, potpourri, a liqueur recipe, a syrup for cakes and puddings.  Can also be used in jams.

Lovage: Can be crystallised, made into a cordial which when cordial is mixed with a little Brandy is a very good tummy soother. I am speaking from experience here.  When I was younger I was experiencing very bad stomach cramps and was very uncomfortable.  A good friend realised that I wasn't 100% and came back with a small glass of Brandy with the addition of some Lovage Cordial.  I was rather sceptical but can only speak as I find.  It soothed my stomach and I was surprised that it worked. Can be used in soups, dressings etc.  

There are a couple of links here which have various recipes.  Some of which I am going to try.

Lovage Recipes 1 and

Lovage Recipes 2

Purple Sage and Green (Common) Sage:  I use a lot of Sage in cooking and in stuffing mixes.  A very versatile herb which tends to be in use in most if not all households.  I pick and dry it (usually naturally) and then rub the herb between my hands to roll and crumble it between the palms of my hands into a large bowl.  I then store in the Pantry for when I need to use it.  I am perhaps quite a heavy user of Sage and can never have quite enough.

Dark Chocolate Mint:  This is a new one on me, and I am looking forward to using it in ice cream, and it is supposed to be good as an an anti-inflammatory tea. This I am definitely going to try.

There are some very nice recipes here:

Chocolate Mint Recipes

Rosemary:  I love Rosemary it is good for the memory and for your hair.  I love it with a Leg of Lamb that has been stuffed with Garlic and little sprigs of Rosemary. I use it for decorating the house at Christmas and it is also lovely made into a jelly which is also good with other meats as well as Lamb.

The Rosemary has really done well from four little plants I now have four filled planters as in the picture above.  Rosemary salt is on the cards as it is lovely with chips.  I am also going to make some Rosemary vinegar.

On the work front, I have been in the back bedroom tidying up after G today and sorting rubbish from items that needed to be kept.  They are sorted now and I am going back into the kitchen once G comes back.  He has just nipped to the shop but I need to get on with the kitchen and the bathroom.

After the rain had stopped I managed to get washing out on the line.  It is dry at the moment although showers are forecast later on and also tomorrow.

Right must get on.

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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