blackcurrants

[claybasket]

Hi all, went down the lotty and picked my 5blk/currant bushes what a bumper crop nearly12lbs I'll freeze them until I get time and jars for the big jam making day, and my broad beans have done well3carrier bags full and still got some to pick, my primo cab is doing well, but the runner beans are sad only 3 made it up the poles the carrots are rubbish so there's always next year how did your stuff perform ?    

[claybasket]

[BarriedaleNick]

Mental year for fruit.  I have bags and bags of raspberries in the freezer, have made raspberry, strawberry and cherry jam and I am making blackcurrant jelly right now. Still got pounds of cherries to freeze and more to pick - must have had over 30lbs already.

On the veg front - cabbage is going great, fantastic beetroot, corn looks good as do the squashes.  Lettuce keeps bolting though.
My Red Alert toms have been going great guns fro over a month and the outdoor toms look lush. 

I just need some rain as watering is killing me at the moment.  We were supposed to have a downpour today but it just about wet the pavement...Other than that this is one of the best years for ages.

[claybasket]

I totally agree with what you say ,and my lettice keeps bolting the sweetcorn are brilliant plenty of beetroot,a much better year then last year YEE HAA.

[plotstoeat]

Not a single blackcurrant this year. Don't know wether to blame weather or my wife's pruning last year

[pumkinlover]

Not a single blackcurrant this year. Don't know wether to blame weather or my wife's pruning last year

It sounds a bit like it I am afraid.  I am just pruning the branches of which are laden with  fruit to bring home and take the berries off at home.

[Digeroo]

my wife's pruning last year

I think it is more likely to be a lack of pruning last year. 

Like Pumpkinlover I take off the branches that have fruited and put some to root, then feed the bush.

[jesssands]

I pruned my one massive blackcurrent bush back about arpril time, I think. I wasnt sure how, but read on the web to take a few of the oldest, darkest stems off. I took 4 or 5 and I had 7lb of fruit off this one large bush. I then made 21 jars of jam of various sizes. I was very pleased.

I have pulled 4 massive beetroot to cook. I thought they were so big, they would be woody. In fact they were lovely, so will be doing some more next weekend.

Runner beans are doing very well. 3 small pickings, enough for dinner for the 2 of us, then Friday I picked 2lb.

All good here!   

[plotstoeat]

laden with  fruit to bring home and take the berries off at home

mmmm I smell blackcurrant pie! Alas not in my house 

[claybasket]

I was picking blackberry's with my wee granddaughter today pick a good size punnet boiled them and mashed them up put some sugar in and then strained them in to a jug we made ocelots and the G/daughter drank the juice  she loved it. 

[claybasket]

I was picking blackberry's with my wee granddaughter today pick a good size punnet boiled them and mashed them up put some sugar in and then strained them in to a jug we made ocelots and the G/daughter drank the juice  she loved it. 

WE made Ice lolly's don't know what happened with my spelling 

[jesssands]

ha lol claybasket.. I even googled ocelots to see if I might like to make them next time with my blackcurrents!! I was no wiser for doing so.. thanks for clearing that up!

[pumkinlover]

 

[plotstoeat]

we made ocelots and the G/daughter drank the juice  she loved it.

i thought ocelots were big cats but lollies sounds good esp today