Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2018 i Kitchen Garden

The autumn harvest is under way, which begs the question – what am I going to do with all those surplus crops? Well read on and worry no more, for on page 61 KG regular Ben Vanheems brings you a comprehensive guide to drying fruit and veg – a great way to fill the store cupboard with nutritious goodies. Continuing the theme, top chef Anna Pettigrew has some super recipes and good advice as to how to store some of our most prolific treasures. Deputy editor Emma Rawlings looks at bounty of a different type as she encourages us all to ditch our green waste bins and to compost as much garden refuse as we can, turning it instead into a rich soil conditioner. Grapes have a reputation for being…

■ Make any structural repairs before windy weather arrives ■ Remove old and discoloured leaves or whole plants if finished cropping ■ Sow mangetout and winter hardy varieties of podding peas ■ Harvest last grapes and pick up any fallen leaves ■ Plant some onion sets in the greenhouse for early small bulbs next spring ■ Stop feeding and reduce watering. Aim for steady, healthy growth at this stage ■ Support broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts: tall stems can break even in a protected environment.…

GHOSTLY GARDENERS ALWAYS WELCOME Loved your Story Time ‘Plot 4B’! We took over our very own plot 4B in April this year. It’s already gone from a weedy wilderness to this in the pictures, and we have already harvested lettuce, beetroot, spinach, chard, mangetout, peas, courgettes and cucumbers. Our young daughters love growing their own food, and our plot is providing them with fun while boosting their health, knowledge and confidence. If any ghostly gardeners would like to help overnight on the plot to eradicate the bindweed please feel free! Rebecca Dale, Lincolnshire TONY SAYS: I have some spirits locked away in my shed if that’s any help Rebecca? A CUNNING PLAN After many years of having our crops ruined by our friendly rabbits I decided to have a back-up…

SHOWCASING BEES With 35 UK bee species in danger of extinction marketing agency www.bronco.co.uk has created a new website to highlight the importance of bees and what they provide the environment: www.thelifeofbees.co.uk. The company has also adopted a beehive with Bees for Business, as part of the latter’s project to reverse the decline of the honey bee by installing 250 beehives over five years on their organic farm: www.BeesforBusiness.com. Both sites contain a range of really interesting facts about bees and demonstrate why it is so important that as a world we look after our bees. Did you know, for example, that it has been estimated that one-third of our crops rely on honey bee pollination and that each honey bee will visit as many as 100 flowers in a…

■ For covering a large area, ‘Brandt’ is hard to beat – superb autumn colours and in a good summer the fruit is sweet, if a little small. ■ ‘Black Hamburg’ – often listed under its alternative name of ‘Schiava Grossa’ – is fantastic if you are growing in a pot or under cover. Large black fruit, reliable to crop. ■ The best of the modern hybrids is ‘Regent’. Blue-black fruit, sweet and delicious, and very disease resistant. ■ For something different, try the strawberry grape ‘Fragola‘ – exquisite pink grapes, small but utterly delicious.…

■ ELEPHANT GARLIC (Hardneck) – One of the most ancient veg grown by the Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. A colossal garlic – it can grow to an amazing 15cm (6in) across and weigh as much as 1kg (2.2lb), with each clove bigger than a regular garlic bulb! It will cope with damper conditions better than regular garlic and can be planted in the autumn or spring. Bulbs will keep until the following summer in a cool, dark place. Available from www.dobies.co.uk ■ ‘RED DUKE WIGHT’ (Hardneck) – Hotter and stronger than any of the commonly planted garlic in the UK, these bulbs still have the attributes of their mother bulbs which came from Central Asia, perhaps 800 years ago with the Mongol invasions. A true heritage variety. Available from www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk…

HOW TO ENTER We are looking for the UK’s most passionate fruit and veggie grower and now veg plots are starting to look bountiful it is the perfect time to take some photographs and enter our competition. So if you love your plot then share it with us and other KG readers. Simply send us a few photos of your plot and you could win some great prizes and your plot will also be featured in a future issue of Kitchen Garden. SEND US: ■ One photograph of yourself, preferably taken on your plot. Others who help you on your plot can also be in the picture but please state who is pictured. ■ Six pictures of your plot. Aim for one overall shot and then some pictures of smaller…

STEP 1: Fruit leathers are satisfyingly chewy, tasty and nutritious. Try any fruit combinations, perhaps with a pinch of spice such as cinnamon to liven things up. Start by washing and preparing the fruit. STEP 2: Add a sweetener to balance tart fruits. You can use honey, very ripe bananas or plain old sugar for this. Blend everything up into a smooth pulp. STEP 3: Spread the pulp on to non-stick sheets. Aim for a thin layer about 3-5mm (¼-½in) thick. Dehydrate at around 57C (135F) for between four to eight hours. STEP 4: Your leather’s ready when it’s lost its stickiness but still has a bit of a shine. Cool, then roll up to store in jars, or layer between dustings of icing sugar to stop them from sticking…

GREEK GREEN BEANS Celebrate your green beans with this classic Greek dish. Served hot or cold it should help to make a dent in your bumper crop of beans! Delicious served with feta and some crusty bread. It also keeps very well in the fridge for up to a week, and freezes well too. SERVES 8 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour ■ 6 tbsp olive oil ■ 2 large onions, finely diced ■ 8 cloves garlic, minced ■ 2 tins chopped tomatoes or 6 fresh, very ripe tomatoes ■ 4 tbsp tomato paste ■ 4 tsp sugar ■ 4 medium potatoes, cut into small chunks ■ 1kg/2.2lb green beans, ends trimmed ■ 1 large handful flat leaf parsley, finely chopped ■ 1 small bunch dill, chopped ■…

CJ WILDLIFE CJ Wildlife has 30 years’ experience in researching and developing products to help you attract, care for and enjoy all types of wildlife in your garden. Our latest catalogue is packed with hints, tips and a variety of wildlife products and gifts. For a 10% discount visit www.birdfood.co.uk  and quote UKKGCF18 at checkout. WILLIAM JAMES & CO William James & Co from Bridport, Dorset has been manufacturing and supplying fruit cages, vegetable cages and garden netting since 1954. The company’s products are renowned for their quality and ability to protect fruit and vegetables from garden pests and birds as well as deer, butterflies and insects. It also stocks a range of grow-your-own and garden equipment including polytunnels and garden tools. Call 01308 425100 or email…

■ BLACK MULBERRY (MORUS NIGRA): An award-winning variety producing juicy near-black fruits when fully ripe. Harvest from July – September. (See main picture) ■ ‘CHELSEA’: An old variety, which fruits early in its life and was propagated from a tree originally planted in the King James era. Larger fruit than above; good intense flavour. ■ MORUS ROTUNDILOBA ‘CHARLOTTE RUSSE’: Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show plant of the year 2017. A new dwarf variety growing to 1.5m (5ft) and ideal for the patio.…

SAVE OVER £16 SHALLOT ‘GRISELLE’ Regarded by discerning cooks as the ‘true shallot’ and also known as the French grey shallot, this long bulb species (Allium oschaninii) originally grew wild in Central Asia. A purplish pink flesh (and a grey skin) is a feature along with a fine strong flavour favoured by cooks, particularly when used in beef dishes. 25 shallots only £11.95 ONION ‘SHAKESPEARE’NEW One of the best autumn planting varieties we have seen recently on the trial grounds – highly recommended! New to D T Brown, this British-bred variety produces high yields of tasty, good-sized bulbs which are darker brown-skinned than most varieties once dried off. ‘Shakespeare’ has excellent skin formation, which means it shows good storage potential well into the winter months. 250g pack only £3.95 GARLIC…

ELECTRIC GARDEN SHREDDER This QS2500 quiet drum shredder is ideal for shredding garden waste up to 40mm (1½in) in diameter. Supplied with a practical plunger for increased throughput on heavier loads, a motor power of 2500W, a 50-litre collection box and a 10m (33ft) cable length. COBRA www.cobragarden.co.uk TEL: 0115 964 5915 PRODUCT CODE: QS2500 PRICE: £199.99 KG VERDICT An excellent product, perfect for dealing with those thinner branches, twigs and hedge cuttings that would otherwise take a long time to break down. The auto-feed enables continuous shredding and the long cable length is a boon. Easy to operate and quiet. Quality Effectiveness Value for money URBALIVE WORM COMPOSTER + STARTER PACK Suitable for indoor or outdoor composting, this worm composter is made up of trays where worms transform food…

LIFT & STORE CARROTS STEP 1: Home-grown carrots are delicious and well worth growing if you can keep carrot fly off by growing them under an insect-proof mesh. This method works well as long as there are no gaps to allow the adults flies in and you rotate the crop every year. Roots left in over winter can be damaged by a late attack of root fly or heavy frosts, so I like to lift before winter. STEP 2: Once the protective covers have been removed, cut down all the foliage to within a couple of inches and dispose of it on to the compost heap. This prevents the long leaves getting in the way and the short stumps can be used as handles when lifting the roots. If the…

■ Harvest winter squashes when they are fully ripe, which is when the skin is hard and a rich colour. If stored in a cool shed they will keep for several months. ■ Plant over-wintering onion sets while the soil is still fairly warm and not too wet. Plant so that the tip of the bulb is just visible and space the bulbs around 10-15cm (4-6in) apart. ■ Keep picking autumn raspberries little and often. If the weather is fine they will often continue ripening through October and into November until the weather turns cold and damp. ■ Pile all the vegetable waste in a heap as you clear the plot and when finished you can mix it together and add to the compost heap. ■ Apply grease bands around…

■ Split tomatoes are a sign of uneven watering. Avoid letting ground dry out: dampen it down a little every few days rather than giving a deep soaking. Skin is fragile at this time of year and fruits often split when you pick them. Handle with care and use split fruit immediately. ■ Check under pots for slugs and snails. These creatures often hide in the holes at the base. Activity drops right back in cold weather, but they still venture out to eat young seedlings after dark. If you get rid of them now, you will have fewer to deal with next year. ■ Leave doors and windows open when you can. Good air movement reduces the chance of grey mould getting a hold on plants. It’s better to…

DOING THE SPLITS I have had a problem with my beetroot splitting. Can you tell me what has caused this? Michael Binns, North Yorkshire Emma Rawlings, deputy editor Kitchen Garden magazine EMMA SAYS: Splitting in beetroot is usually caused by uneven watering. For example, the very hot, dry weather we have had recently means that you will likely be watering and a sudden influx of water may cause the roots to swell quicker than normal, leading to splitting. It is always difficult to keep watering evenly during a prolonged hot spell. Mulches and adding plenty of organic matter to the soil during the winter can help. I would also be tempted to harvest the roots a little smaller during such times to reduce the risk of…

Intriguing video showing you how to make a vertical hanging garden from six lemonade bottles. http://bit.ly/lemonadebottlegarden TWITTER KITCHEN MEGALOMANIA paul bassett davies @thewritertype My plan to achieve world domination by eating artichokes: today Jerusalem, tomorrow the globe. FACEBOOK FAVES I JUST DIGGED THAT SPADE DB Property & Garden Maintenance It’s been a sad day for me today, I’ve finally had to say goodbye to my value range spade that has been in my family for generations, (well I’ve owned it 19 years). Can we all take a bow and say thanks for all the hard work that it has done for me.…

There are many vegetables that I love to grow and eat, but none is as rewarding as garlic. This simple little bulb can transform a meal from bland to bold with just one clove. Garlic has certainly become popular in the UK over the last few decades as people have become more adventurous with their food – unlike our grandparents’ time when meat and two veg was the thing. Part of the allium family, garlic is related to onions, leeks and shallots and it grows in pretty much the same way. The only difference is that you never see garlic seeds for sale, just the cloves, which are similar to onion or shallot sets. Sets are small immature bulbs which are planted and grow into a mature plant. The difference…

Mushrooms are incredibly nutritious and good for our health. The ideal species to grow, however, is not the button mushrooms we are all familiar with as they are fairly tricky to cultivate. For an open bed, the best species to try is King Stropharia, also known as garden giants or wine caps (Stropharia rugosoannulata). They are fine eating mushrooms that aren’t available in the shops simply because they are too fragile to transport. The first requirement is untilled ground, as mushrooms grow their main organism, the mycelium, underground, with the mushrooms being produced as fruit. Therefore, this is a crop to try under perennial plantings, like fruit trees or bushes, or perennial vegetables, and get a valuable extra crop from the same space. It also works with no-dig annual veg…

Having a garden waste bin is really a bit of a luxury. Years ago gardeners managed their own garden waste. So how can you manage without these bins and possibly save yourself some money if your council charges? Many people already manage without one and we don’t usually have bins on our allotments. It is true that gardens are smaller than they used to be which means composting and storing waste is more difficult – hence the need for green bins – but with a bit of effort and space it is possible to manage your own garden waste. CREATE A GARDEN WASTE AREA In a large garden it is a good idea to create an area devoted to dealing with garden waste. The following ideas would create the perfect…

1 ST  PRIZE VALUE £921 ■ Mountfield Mower worth £329 ■ Set of 3 Harrod Trumpet Wire Rust Obelisks value £242 ■ WOLF-Garten tools worth £250 ■ Two Wests & Elliott vouchers value £100 2 ND  PRIZE  VALUE £744 ■ Mountfield Mower worth £329 ■ Harrod Decorative Wall Trellis (and brackets) with ball finials value £165.45 ■ WOLF-Garten tools worth £150 ■ Two Wests & Elliott vouchers worth £100 3 RD  PRIZE  VALUE £638 ■ Mountfield Mower worth £329 ■ Harrod Vintage Round Wire Obelisk in natural rust, ideal for climbing plants. Value £109 ■ WOLF-Garten tools worth £100 ■ Two Wests & Elliott vouchers worth £100…

Send the above together with your photographs to:- Kitchen Garden Passionate Plotter Competition, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR or email your pictures and answers to erawlings@mortons.co.uk Photocopies of the above form are permitted. We regret that photographs cannot be returned. DATA: Protection of your personal data is important to Mortons. Your data will be stored securely and only be used for the purpose of processing and publishing the competition and notifying the winners. Data will then be destroyed.…

Dehydrating food is an exceptionally easy way to preserve gluts from the garden or allotment. There are many compelling reasons to start drying food if you don’t already do so. Dried fruits and vegetables take up considerably less room than frozen or bottled produce. It doesn’t require great expense or in-depth expertise, and it’s very safe – no risks of botulism or mould! LOW-TECH ALTERNATIVES For millennia, aside from salting the only other way to preserve food was to dry it. This simple, low-tech technique has served us well for generations and there’s every reason to continue. Tasty (and healthy!) snacks, chewy fruit leathers, herbs for the larder or dried tomatoes to bring winter cooking to life: just a few of the many reasons to add drying to your preserving…

STEP 1: Courgettes are a prime candidate for drying given their seemingly non-stop production! Begin by washing the courgettes. STEP 2: Top and tail the courgettes then slice them with a sharp, clean knife into 5mm (¼in) discs. Lay the slices out onto your trays. STEP 3: Set the dehydrator to 52C (125F) or as close to this as you can. You may find it beneficial to rotate the trays halfway through drying. STEP 4: Your courgette slices are ready when they become brittle. Allow to cool completely then pack into moisture-proof containers.…

Beans of all types tend to produce in abundance during the summer, often far too many for most families (and friends) to cope with. Fortunately, they freeze really well. ■ Wash, top and tail the beans ■ Slice into smaller bite-size pieces ■ Blanch by placing in a pan of boiling water for three minutes ■ Plunge into iced water to prevent further cooking ■ Drain and pat dry ■ Divide into convenient portions and place in a freezer bag ■ Seal and label with contents and date before placing in the freezer ■ Eat within nine months…

KINGS SEEDS Once again Kings Seeds brings you the best possible choices for 2019. This year once again we have introduced many new varieties, all chosen for their outstanding garden performance. Today’s catalogue, compared to our first in 1888, has vast ranges of vegetables, fruit and flowers. Your choices are also extended with our sister company Suffolk Herbs’ section, which has an amazing range of organic and unusual varieties. Our company policies are the same. Both offer the finest quality seeds at real value for money, backed up by good old-fashioned service. As seed quality is the most important factor we share a well-equipped laboratory where our qualified technician tests all our seed for vigour, germination and purity. We feel sure that once you try our quality seed, you will…

AUTUMN PLANTING ONION, SHALLOT & GARLIC BULB COLLECTION Autumn is the perfect time to plant onion sets, shallots and garlic; the soil is still warm from the summer and the days are still long enough to give high light levels. Our onion, shallot and garlic collection consists of varieties that are perfect for autumn planting and have been selected not only for their exceptional flavour but for their growing performance in British gardens. This best-selling collection will arrive just at the right time for planting and will provide an extra-early harvest of tasty alliums. Each collection contains: a 250g pack (about 80 sets) of onion ‘Radar’, an ultra-hardy variety with a mild and crisp flavour; a pack of shallot ‘Jermor’ (25 shallots), the very best for flavour as well as…

VEGETABLES ALL YEAR ROUND OCTOBER 17. Barnsdale Gardens, Exton, Oakham, Rutland. How to make the most of your plot. 10am-4pm. Book on 01572 813200, www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk JUBILEE SAILING TRUST’S 20TH PUMPKIN FESTIVAL OCTOBER 13. Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, Southampton. Giant pumpkins, scarecrow avenue. Noon-5pm. www.jst.org.uk A TASTE OF AUTUMN OCTOBER 17-21. RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey. Displays, tastings, tips and tours. 9am-5pm. 01483 224234 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley APPLE FESTIVAL OCTOBER 7. Llanerchaeron, near Aberaeron, Ceredigion. Celebrate the harvest from the ancient espaliers in the walled garden, talks, tips, apple identification. 11am-4pm. 01545 570200 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/llanerchaeron GROW YOUR OWN FRUIT AND VEG OCTOBER 20. West Dean Gardens, West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex. Autumn tasks and planning for spring. 9am-5pm. Book on 01243 811301 www.westdean.org.uk For a full list of shows, festivals, events and courses…

3 BEAN & PUMPKIN CHILLI A heart-warming dish of seasonal pumpkin, chilli and fragrant spices. This dish benefits from a slow cook to enhance the flavours. SERVES 4 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour ■ 1 tbsp sunflower oil ■ 400g/14oz pumpkin, peeled and chopped into small dice ■ 1 large stick celery, chopped into small dice ■ 1 medium onion, finely chopped ■ 4 cloves of garlic, minced ■ 1 red chilli, finely chopped or ½-1tsp dried chilli flakes ■ 1 tbsp tomato purée ■ 1 tsp ground cumin ■ 1 tsp ground coriander ■ 1 bay leaf ■ 1 cinnamon stick ■ 1 tsp smoked paprika ■ 400g can of chopped tomatoes ■ 100g/3½oz each dried kidney beans, aduki beans and black eye beans, or a…

PULL OUT OLD BRASSICAS As the last of the summer brassicas such as cabbage and calabrese finish, pull out the old plants to finish clearing the plot. All the green waste can be added to the compost heap and to help it break down quickly, chop the plants up with a spade. PROTECT OUTDOOR SALAD CROPS Cover outdoor salad crops over with some garden fleece to give them extra protection through autumn and into winter. The fleece not only protects from autumn frosts and drying winds, it also keeps off pigeons looking for fresh green leaves. RECYCLE PLANT LABELS Collect plant labels from the plot as you clear summer vegetables. Rub or scratch off the writing and give them all a good wash in some warm, soapy water. When dry,…

Our Star Question winner will receive vouchers worth £25; the writers of all other questions printed will receive a £10 voucher. They can be redeemed against any products in the latest Mr Fothergill’s catalogue, which will be sent out with the vouchers so you can choose from the massive range of quality products including seeds and garden equipment. To receive a free catalogue, call 08453 710518 or visit www.mr-fothergills.co.uk Email questions to tflanagan@mortons.co.uk or post to Question Time, Kitchen Garden, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR. Please include your full address on letters and emails. We do not publish full addresses.…

The RHS Harvest Festival Show is well worth visiting if you ever have the chance. Held in early October in the impressive Lindley Hall in Westminster, it is probably the grandest village show in the country. Crates of apples were for sale – but not just any old apples, these were a huge range of heritage varieties from the trees at RHS Wisley. Much like any other local show, there were tables of fruit and veg competing in various classes. The standard, as you might expect from RHS members, is very high. None more so than in the various grape classes, where the Dukes of Marlborough and Devonshire were the main contenders, with picture-perfect bunches of black and white grapes. This seems to reinforce the stereotype that you need heated…

■ NO CLOVES: One of the main problems I always get asked about is when bulbs don’t split into cloves and stay as one big garlic flavoured, onion shaped bulb. This is because garlic needs a prolonged period of at least one month of cold weather (below 10C/50F) to split. This is called vernalisation. If you live in a part of the UK where the winters are mild, consider placing your garlic in the fridge for a month before planting it. This normally affects those who plant garlic in spring as temperatures are on the rise at this time. Therefore, it may be worth considering planting hardneck or elephant garlic in the autumn and let winter do the job for you. If you think that your plot is too wet…

After the soggy dull summer and everlasting winter of 2017-18, I didn’t expect the Decaisnea fargesii to perform this season, but as I type this it’s already starting to develop long sausage-like fruitlets, pale green as yet but soon to swell and turn an unnatural, fertiliser bag blue. The late rain this season suited it down to the ground and I don’t think it’s ever flowered – or fruited – so profusely since I planted it as a seedling some years ago. It was a gift from a friend in Wales who’d been visiting gardens and found a spilt pod on the path of some grand house or other. SOMETHING EXOTIC For those who want a small tree with an exotic appearance, I can’t recommend it highly enough – well-mannered…

1. COMPOST BIN You can fit a compost bin such as a Dalek type bin on the smallest of plots. Worm bins are good because once you get an established population of worms you may find you will keep feeding the bin and nothing much comes out! Although it is good occasionally to remove some of the lovely compost it generates. 2. OUT OF SIGHT If you have a hedge in your garden but little room to put waste, consider putting some of your garden waste under the hedge. Leaves and twiggy bits can be disposed of under the hedge. It will create a habitat for many creatures and help keep the soil moist and feed the hedge too. 3. SACKS OF LEAVES You can buy open-weave hessian sacks (Haxnicks…

MOUNTFIELD Mountfield has been one of the UK’s leading lawnmower manufacturers for more than 50 years and its lawnmowers, lawn tractors and garden care products all share a reputation for outstanding quality and reliability. The Mountfield team have maintained their position as a leading lawnmower manufacturer by continually developing their products, with investment and innovation ensuring that only the best combination of performance and value for money is offered. In recent years, best-selling garden tractors, lawn riders, roller mowers and a range of class leading 48-volt garden tools have been launched. The innovations have continued with new 80-volt cordless lawnmowers. www.mountfieldlawnmowers.co.uk HARROD HORTICULTURAL This company has been producing top quality garden products for 60 years and is innovative in bringing new designs on to the market. It offers an excellent…

WONKY Veg HOW TO ENTER 1 Send us a photograph of your wonky veg including your name, address and email address on the coupon on these pages. 2 The wonky veg does not have to have been grown this year. If you have a picture of misshapen produce that you’ve grown previously, you can still send us the picture. 3 We are looking for naturally occurring wonky/odd-shaped fruit or veg. Two or more veg entwined with each other can be sent in and classed as one entry. 4 We need high-res images so check that digital pictures are at least 400KB or larger. Kids Veggie Art HOW TO ENTER 1 The competition is for under-16s only. 2 Use at least one fruit or vegetable in your artwork. More used will…

Fill a large pan two-thirds full with water and bring to a rolling boil. Plunge your prepared vegetables into the water then quickly return to the boil. Blanching begins when the water re-boils, which should be within a minute at most. Blanch for the recommended time (one to two minutes for most sliced vegetables) then immediately stop the cooking process by transferring the vegetables into a bowl of icy-cold water. A wire basket or colander is recommended for moving batches smoothly in one go. Once the veg is cool enough to touch (but still warm), drain it off then immediately arrange on your trays to begin drying.…

MR FOTHERGILL’S Choose from the UK’s largest range of vegetable and flower seeds and enjoy savings of up to 20%. The family owned and run seed experts offer you more than 1700 varieties including a new range of RHS-endorsed AGM winners. For 2019 Mr Fothergill’s is proud to be supporting Children in Need and is offering two special varieties with a donation of 25p from each packet sold. All seed orders come with two FREE packets and p&p is FREE on orders over £50. Call 0845 371 0518 today to request your FREE catalogue or visit mr-fothergills.co.uk GREENHOUSE SENSATION The Gardening Angels of Greenhouse Sensation are dedicated to making your plants the best they can be, with award winning innovations including propagators, self-watering planters and other gardening essentials.…

Unlike beans, plums do not store fresh for very long and are best eaten or used straight from the tree. However, as well as using in delicious recipes as below, or frozen in pies and crumbles, they can be preserved in various ways including drying (see p 61), bottling, canning, in jams, sauces, chutneys and other preserves, as wine or brandy. They can also be frozen in a syrup solution. To bottle: ■ Select only undamaged, firm, but ripe fruit ■ Leave small fruit whole or halve and remove the stone of larger fruit ■ Prepare your preserving jars and lids by placing in boiling water for 10 minutes ■ Pack your jars with the fruit, allowing space at the top for the syrup ■ Make a preserving syrup by…