What's growing?

Only one way to find out Nfk

I've just frozen 4 pounds of white currants. Would Aka's recipe work with white currants? I usually add them to various jams but my one bush seems to be doing rather well this year.

Thanks for the tip about freezing courgettes Notso I'll try that. I also got a great recipe off this site for courgette cake, while was lovely and moist.
I've given up growing brassicas during the summer months and go for winter caulis, cabbage etc. much more successful and I cloche them until the insect season is over. Re slugs I've had real success with nematodes.
Going to harvest black currants tomorrow.

Just found this thread.....lovely to read about all the home grown produce.
I've cropped lots of sugar snap peas, climbing & runner beans are looking good. Tomatoes are ripening well in the sun and courgettes keep on coming. I froze dozens of courgettes in chopped up single portion bags last year without blanching and they were fine throughout the winter in casseroles & soups.
I've lost my annual battle with cabbage white butterflies and slugs and yet again, brassicas have ended up in a compost heap. Every year I try a new method of protecting cabbages, broccoli etc but the creatures always win.

here's the recipe

I've googled it and it looks a simple, if somewhat sticky, recipe. Worth a try.
Wondered about black currant wine..... sort of Ribena with a kick. Or better still Crème de cassis

Blackcurrant cordial is the traditional use (Ribena, anyone?) but I have never tried making it.

Many thanks for the suggestions. The raspberry vinegar is done and looks lovely in the pretty bottles I found. Starting the raspberry gin tomorrow.
As you've all been so helpful and creative can anyone suggest something different to do with black currants and gooseberries?

My amelachier tree is always early in bloom - even this year - and now has its little red berries which the local blackbirds are making short work of. They defend that tree against each other and all other invaders. The tree is usually stripped within a few days!

That recipe is now aded to my sloe gin one.

I love raspberries - I'll be round.

I can't compete on the productivity stakes but my alstromeria had 'flopped' all over my pots of cerise geraniums and it all looks fabulous.

raspberry gin and vodka
I'm raring to go now

Perfect of course. I'll hold onto this week's supply of empty gin bottle. Why didn't I think of that?

Down the off-licence? You may have to get rid of the contents first.

I wonder whether raspberry gin would be as successful as sloe gin? I've never heard of a recipe for it but the raspberries might be acid enough to go well with gin.

raspberry vinegar recipe
Now where can I find some bottles?

Think that's the only solution, give it away, swap it. The family are already saying 'no more' so it's the neighbours now. Just away to look up recipe for raspberry vinegar

Aka If I have a surplus of fruit or veg I pass it on to friends and usually get some of their surplus of something I don't grow in return. Neighbour on one side has apple trees (we don't) swop apples for chutney, jam, leeks, etc. - neighbours on other side get fruit, veg. They do not grow their own but 'repay' with wine. If I run out of 'swoppers' I find that home grown and home made (jam, chutney, etc.) is always warmly welcomed at Ancient Uncle's Care Home, Women's Aid and the local hospice. Can't bear to have anything go to waste.

Raspberry vinegar? Supposed to be good for sore throats.

Set up a stall at the gate? Advertise PYO?

Anyone got any different ideas what to do with a glut of raspberries?
I've done enough jam (in a heat wave) made too many flans (even the GC are saying 'maybe later Nana'), tried raspberry ripple ice cream (total disaster) run out of space and containers in the freezer, and still they come and come. It's the invasion of the raspberry canes. And as I've only seen a couple of bees all summer I'd love to know who's pollinating the b****y things

Help!

Achocha is another heritage seed favourite. Nice in salads and I make an eye-wateringly hot chutney with it. I love the way the plants climb.

Yes it is amaranth and it is a sort of spinach. We belong to Garden Organic's heritage seed scheme and I think it was from there. I have used it in pilau and sag aloo (sp and sp?), too bitter for salads.
Am making sweet and sour courgettes with our BBQ tonight, the EU mountain has started!

Thanks Butty and GA that article is really useful and I e saved it to the home screen of my iPad. You can see what I meant by shamrock leaves. So must water AND feed. Useful that the are ready for picking end of November and December

granjura I put straw and strawberry matting around my strawberries for the first time this year and I haven't had ANY slug damage. Also my husband made an ingenious netting system, so no bird damage.
All of the other soft fruit are protected by a newly built fruit cage - and again, no birds can get in so we've had a bumper crop.
Mamie; had to look up Callaloo and got mixed definitions. Is it amaranth or a type of spinach you're growing?

Strawberries are doing so well - and feeding both slugs and fieldfares!!!
Putting nets on tonight, and I'm afraid I bought slug pellets today. Checked that they are wildlife friendly of course. Nets tonight on red currants and blackcurrants too.