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Post by murrayc on Jul 19, 2017 7:21:25 GMT
Didn't it rain last night! A really dramatic storm, but looking round my garden this morning, where I have many plants in containers none seem to have been overturned by the wind that preceded it nor by the torrent itself. There didn't seem to be any hailstones while I was watching/listening from my bedroom window around 1am, so I'm hopeful there won't be any damge on the plot. What worries me is the effect on my courgettes. Only a few weeks into the growing season and already we have to be vigilant that todays delicate little 3 inch stub doesn to become tomorrows 6 lbs monster. We've already picked over 24 lbs of them and the recipe books are being sifted and exhausted of ideas: ratatouille, vegetable bakes, stuffed with mince and spices of various kinds, served as a side vegetable, as a main ingredient in pastas. Chutneys have been mentioned, and of course there are baking uses. It's such a shame that they are just too prolific. I love the sweet, fresh flavours of the small, young courgettes, but not everyday, at every meal. Yesterday's pickings. Do we dare venture onto the plot to see what monsters the storm has brought forth?
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Post by wilbarra on Jul 20, 2017 7:47:27 GMT
ITS BEEN A WONDERFUL GROWING YEAR. BEANS HAVE BEEN MY PROBLEM I PICK A BAG FULL AND THEN AS IF BY MAGIC ANOTHER BATCH HAS PRESENTED ITSELF READY TO BE PICKED THE FOLLOWING MORNING. JUST ABOUT TO SIT DOWN OUTSIDE TO PREPARE A WHOLE SACK FULL THAT I PICKED YESTERDAY, FOR THE FREEZER. WHO EVER SAVED RYDERS BLUE FROM EXTINCTION SHOULD BE KNIGHTED.
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Post by murrayc on Jul 20, 2017 9:42:52 GMT
ITS BEEN A WONDERFUL GROWING YEAR. BEANS HAVE BEEN MY PROBLEM I PICK A BAG FULL AND THEN AS IF BY MAGIC ANOTHER BATCH HAS PRESENTED ITSELF READY TO BE PICKED THE FOLLOWING MORNING. JUST ABOUT TO SIT DOWN OUTSIDE TO PREPARE A WHOLE SACK FULL THAT I PICKED YESTERDAY, FOR THE FREEZER. WHO EVER SAVED RYDERS BLUE FROM EXTINCTION SHOULD BE KNIGHTED. I always thought that was you, wilbarra! You are absolutely right, it has been and continues to be a marvellous growing year. I'm keeping a record of how much we've picked and weighed from our plot - with no great claims that we have done anything special other than plant seeds and keep them watered and weeded , sometimes - and the amounts are greater than in any of the 6 years we've been at America Lane. The Ryders Blue is the gift that keeps on giving....delicious, lovely to look at and easy to grow.
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Post by jane on Jul 21, 2017 5:57:30 GMT
I second that. It's the first year I have grown them (thanks to the seedling swap in May 😃) and they are delicious! My granddaughter loves them! Especially as they magically change colour from purple to green on cooking!!
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Post by jane on Jul 22, 2017 11:05:24 GMT
Quick question about freezing the purple beans. Do you blanch them as with other veg, before freezing
Therefore presume they turn green before they get frozen?! So careful labelling required!!
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