General Chat

thanks Clive :-)) hope I can get that right when the time comes! Maz. XX

To make 4 pounds (1.75 kgs) of Xmas Tomato Chutney 450g/1 lb stoned plums (about 9 of them) 450g/1 lb pears (cored and peeled, about 6 of them) 225g/8 ozs cooking apples (cored and peeled, about 2 of them) 225g/8 ozs celery (4 sticks) 450g/1 lb onions (sliced) 450g/1 lb tomatoes 115g/4 ozs raisins 15g/ 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger root 850ml/1 ½ pints cider vinegar 30ml/2tablespoons pickling spice 450g/1 lb granulated sugar Cut tomatoes into quarters, chop up all the other large bits. Wrap up the pickling spice in muslin Put (read carefully) everything except half the vinegar and the sugar into a BIG saucepan Bring to boil and simmer for 2 hours stirring occasionally (the smell has to b experienced to be believed!) When everything is soft add remaining vinegar and the sugar Boil until thick Remove the muslin containing spices Fill the jars with the chutney Cover with wax paper and plastic lid (tin lids corrode!) once the mixture has cooled. Give the chutney time to mature before eating Tasty Eating as the Dutch say Clive

Squashes one and chucks it at Clive!! ;o)

I am the same.I have pepper plants in my conservatory that are just hanging.Bought them in out of the bad weather. Annie

thanks Clive :-) Suzy - pressies is exactly what I was thinking too! been collecting empty jars ever since I got an allotment, I need summat to fill them with now! Maz. XX ps ya hoo is STILL up the swannee and STILL no response from them grrrrrrrrrrrrr

I made green tomato chutney the first year we moved here.....It went down a treat as xmas pressies.

oh noooooooooo clive id rather eat a live worm than one of those nasty red things lol stray xxxx im glad yours are growing nice tho hun

Clive mine are just starting to turn red now i have 52 plants didnt intend all of them to grow!. we had to extend the green house down my flotment to house them all Weve grown marmande type as well as gardeners delight and alicante all seem fine but the slugs like them too with all this damp weather I eat tomatos everyday think im addicted! just love them so they wont go to waste and have friends and family who i can give some away to, made green tomato chutney last year and will prob do again this year.

Looking for the chutney recipe. May be an hour or so before it is here. Just off to cook our food. Clive

I've got some of those too Julie :-) * sticks tongue out at Julie * Maz. XX

Well we have some massive beef tomatoes growing ner, ner lol

Clive, if your chutney recipe is not a secret, then please could I have it too :-)) Maz. XX

Clive I wish I had some of your tomatoes.....my Dad lived in Cornwall and was known locally as the tomato man because he grew lovely tasty tomatoes, from the sort that he grew in hanging baskets, to the big beef tomatoes......he used to hand them out to friends and neighbours.... I was cutting up an on-th-vine tomato from a supermarket yesterday, and saying out loud, in case Dad was hovering around, that the tomatoes we pay a lot for, are not a patch on those he used to grow....

Home made tomato soup all round then followed by tomatoes on toast :)) Marion

ooh yes some nice chutney that's a good idea. I'd ask for your winning recipe, but I bet you'd prefer to keep it to yourself ....and I wouldn't blame ya !! LOL

Shirley If we have a surplus then it goes into tomato chutney. Wins most years in our local horticulture summer show. Clive

Clive Thanks, will make a note to get some hostas for next year.

We have had a few tomatoes, not sure of the variety as OH grows several. I do know that the tumblers tat he grows in baskets and which are usually the first to ripen are way behind this year. oh yes, you wont be surprised to hear that w e are having a problem with watering the greenhouse. Ann glos

Clive, make a pasta sauce with any left overs and freeze them!!

Theresa No I am not teasing. It's a bit windy but I have just come in from watering the tomatoes. The greenhouse has automatic vents and they are wide open. Bother have forgotten the name. We have hostas at the greenhouse door. This ideal food for slugs and snails prevents the beasties entering the greenhouse. The hostas are protected by slug pellets. We sweep up the bodies daily! Clive