Yesterday, I was having a 'furtle' in the shrubbery (sounds rude!) looking for weeds, when I came across a self-seeded Blackcurrant bush. absolutely dripping with fruit. What an unexpected bonus. So, I have decided to make blackcurrant cordial instead of jam, as I still have jars left from last year.
Blackcurrant Cordial
Place 13oz. blackcurrants, 1.3/4 pints of water and 10oz. caster sugar in a saucepan. Bring to the boil, then simmer for just 5 minutes. Press through a sieve then bottle.
I will put some in plastic pop bottles for freezing as it only lasts a couple of weeks in the 'fridge.
You can do the same with Raspberries adjust the quantity to 20oz. raspberries with the juice of half a lemon added.
Pick of the Crops
On my early morning visit to the allotment I found that the Broccoli is ready for harvesting. Of course, they are all ready at once, and if you don't pick them when they are in their prime, they start to separate and go to seed. So, for the next couple of weeks, we shall be very healthy and full of broc.
Self-seeders
I may have mentioned before that I like to let plants self-seed around, I think I may have let it go a bit far this year.
Poppies and Marigolds
Both have seeded freely in and amongst the potato crop - I haven't got the heart to pull them up when they seem so happy where they are. I'll probably regret it next year when I have no room for anything else - I must learn to be brutal - but not just yet!
I rather like it - and I'm hoping that my veg patch will look this way by the end of July! I've got sunflowers coming up between the potatoes, calendula appearing amongst the courgettes (both self-seeded) plus I've sown cornflower, nigella, bergamot and honeywort, and planted a poppy - all self-seeders for next year! Profusion of colour, here we come!!
ReplyDeleteWhat type of poppies are those, Elaine? My oriental ones are just finishing, but I have my first crop of Shirley poppies coming along.
ReplyDeleteI love broccoli, and we are currently eating lots of it too. The "Kaibroc" ones I have grown for the first time this year are great. The stems are bigger, and the flowers smaller than most similar types. The stems are lovely and succulent. I imagine that if you had a lot you could freeze them, but I never think that frozen produce is as nice as real fresh stuff.
ReplyDeleteI wish that I could find something like that when I'm weeding!
ReplyDeleteMy potato patch has become a pot marigold one with potatoes but the poppies have behaved themselves this year! Flighty xx