Garden And Gardener

Everything for the Gardener and their Garden

Archive for the 'Fruit' Category

Making Strawberry Jam

Thursday, June 9th, 2016

grown your own strawberriesHave you had your first home grown strawberry? Several people I know have, but mine are still not quite ready. Here’s something that will interest you if you have a glut of strawberries!

I love making strawberry jam. It’s one of our family favourites. Good for on a pieceof bread and butter or in between a victoria sponge!

Best of British – homegrown strawberry jam recipe

Sample the fruits of your labour this summer with a tasty strawberry jam recipe created by Haskins Garden Centre with tips on how to grow your own.

Strawberries are easy to grow and it’s the perfect time to get planting as the British climate heats up. The fruity berries can be harvested from borders, growbags, containers or hanging baskets – they just need plenty of sun, shelter and fertile, well-drained soil.

Pick your strawberries when they are bright red all over, ideally during the warmest part of the day when they are the tastiest. For more tips on how to grow delicious strawberries please visit www. haskins.co.uk

Recipe – strawberry jam

Step in to summer with this strawberry jam recipe which will make enough for one jar. Strawberry jam is the perfect accompaniment to a sandwich, scone or cake.

Ingredients 
250g strawberries
200g sugar
¼ lemon
½ tsp butter

Method

  • Layer the sugar and strawberries into a large bowl, finishing with a layer of sugar. Cover and leave for one day
  • By the following day, your berries should have reduced into lumpy sugary pink syrup. Tip the mixture into a large heavy-based pan and warm to dissolve the remaining sugar. Once dissolved, bring to the boil, stirring frequently
  • Add the lemon juice, return to the boil for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat
  • After 40 minutes, the jam should be a jelly-like consistency to indicate it is ready
  • Allow to cool for half an hour, then pour into sterilised jars leaving 1cm from the top and seal

Please note:
Keeps for 1 year – store in the fridge once open.
If the surface of the jam contains too much froth, stir in the butter to reduce.

Dehydrating rhubarb

Friday, June 26th, 2015

I’d acquired a dehydrator earlier in the year and this is the first time I’ve used it.
I picked some very thin stems and bought them in as well as a bigger fatter stem. I tried to get all pink stems. Washed and sliced thinly they were laid out on the trays and the machine was switched on. I left it for about 6 hours. The pieces were all dry apart from some much fatter pieces I’d left deliberately larger. These were very soft on the outside and juicy and reminded me of a caterpillar to be honest. They wouldn’t store long. Unlike the small pieces that were dried rock solid.
It is like eating flavoured bark. It does soften after a moment and exuded the intense taste of rhubarb.
I will try it early spring with forced rhubarb which will be more tender and sweet.
dehydrated rhubarb

What rootstock are aldi fruit trees?

Monday, February 2nd, 2015

I emailed – they replied!

Apples, – These will be budded onto a “M9 Dwarf” rootstock, which will fruit earlier.

Cherry, – These are budded on to “Colt” rootstock which has uniformed growth pattern, it is semi vigorous and will not grow too large.

Pear, – These are budded on to a “Quince A” rootstock which is a virus free example.

Plums, – Will be budded onto a “St Julian A” root stock or a “Myrobolane” root stock these are virus free and semi vigorous growing.

Strawberries at Suttons

Thursday, December 4th, 2014

Strawberry Plants – Cambridge Favourite £12.99

Strawberry Plants – Candy Cane £9.99

Strawberry Plants – Candy Cane £9.99

Strawberry Plants – Continuity Collection £21.99

Strawberry Plants – Elegance £21.98

Strawberry Plants – Elegance £12.99

Strawberry Plants – Flamenco £21.98

Strawberry Plants – Flamenco £12.99

Strawberry Plants – Florence £10.99

Strawberry Plants – Florence £17.98

Strawberry Plants – Malling Centenary £12.99

Strawberry Plants – Malling Opal £12.99

Strawberry Plants – Malling Opal £21.98

Strawberry Plants – Malwina £12.99

Strawberry Plants – Malwina £21.98

Strawberry Plants – Mara des Bois £12.99

Strawberry Plants – Royal Sovereign £10.99

Strawberry Plants – Snow White £12.99

Strawberry Plants – Snow White £21.98

Strawberry Plants – Sweetheart £12.99

Strawberry Plants – Sweetheart £21.98

Strawberry Plants – Vibrant £17.98

Strawberry Plants – Vibrant £10.99