1. Can you save beans for drying / shelling from any variety? I know they’re some varieties that are best fresh for pods, some for drying the actual beans and some that do both. I ask because I’ve let my DFB pods get to big. 1a. Can I leave them for shelling? 
2. How’s the best way to dry them? I know you’re supposed to leave them on the plant to dry. All they will do is rot, if I leave them on the plant. 
3. Can you use any variety for any recipe? For example if recipe asks for kidney beans can I use Cherokee trail of tears ? I know flavour and probably texture will differ, but does it really make much difference?

OK, opened chrome today and everything is wiped, no bookmarks, no passwords, no nothing. No warning! Enough is enough. I liked chrome 'cos the homepage can be set to a blank background.

So I need a new browser, preferably one with an uncluttered homepage. I've tried edge but can't see a way to remove all the homepage rubbish I don't want.

Any recommendations? what do you all use?

Hello all,

I'm still quietly plotting my new garden, particularly things I can be doing when I (hopefully) move in, as that will probably be October/November.

I do fancy putting in a couple of fruit trees. However, it's not a big garden and they will have to go near the south end of the garden so that they are well away from the house and the garden retaining walls. I think I'll be wanting something on dwarfing rootstock so they don't cast too much shade (though a bit will be good as I think the garden could be too hot in summer) and don't take up too much space.

There are just so many choices and I don't know what to go for! Ideally, I'd like something that will give decent harvests (for a single person, not needing to feed the nation!) within a couple of years as this isn't going to be my forever garden. I'd prefer something that doesn't need too much fussing over, and obviously, taste is very important! I'll probably get a separate fig tree in a container (my previous one died while being babysat by my mother) and rather fancy trying a peach in the greenhouse, but need to do a bit more reading on that.

I'd love to hear your suggestions about the trees you have in the ground or would like to have. I'd love a greengage but couldn't find anyone selling them on sufficiently dwarfing rootstock, so maybe a nice dessert plum? Any good apple recommendations? I'd like a cherry, and don't think a small one would be too much of a hassle to net from the birds, provided I didn't accidentally trap them very often (my Mum stopped netting her fruit bushes for this reason). Dessert cherries and sour cherries both appeal. I don't fancy a pear tree so much, but maybe that's just because I'm used to mealy supermarket pears?

What does the hive mind suggest?

While at allotment yesterday I harvested a single shye of potatoes which were ample for my Sunday dinner.Or so I thought.

They were Desiree, looked fine and were a decent size. To my dismay after peeling them when I cut into them some of the centres were mushy? They weren't discoloured and you wouldn't realise they were mushy until you touched them? I have never had this problem with any spuds before and hope the rest aren't similarly infected.
I haven't googled it yet but just wondered if others had had this problem before?

I have no idea why but fancy growing a Mulberry tree although I have never tasted one.  I have a few questions if I may.

Are they worth it?
Easy to look after?
Diseases?


Ta

Looking at planting a cooking apple tree on the new plot, any reccomendations please?

Afternoon folks

I noticed a few of you have sown beetroot this week, is this with the intention of growing under cover or outdoors?

Happy Birthday Jen

I'm curious whether anyone has the same problem.

In winter, I'm scrabbling around trying to grow things on windowsills and in jam jars, squeezing plants into the GH and treating them like babies. The pleasure of eating every tiny green leaf make it all worthwhile.

In summer, the wide open spaces of the garden beckon and, whilst I grow lots of fruit and veg I don't pick it at the right time or grow too much of the same thing and don't want to eat it all or freeze it. It overwhelms me.  Don't misunderstand me, I enjoy eating the toms, raspberries etc but the pleasure of eating a few small leaves of chard in winter is lost when faced with beds full of the stuff (slight exaggeration but you know what I mean).

I'm picking the first apples at the moment and they're lovely when picked and eaten straight from the tree. In a few weeks time, I'll be sick of the sight of them! There'll be boxes of apples at the front gate for anyone to take and more will lie rotting beneath the trees. You might say "Grow less apple trees" but, some years, the crop is poor and I'll be desperate for them.

If only there was a way of growing exactly what you need at exactly the right time!
Does anyone know how?

Please post your entries  before the Festival ends at midnight, 30th September.

No Chat, just photos!


We'll take a Vote on the best entries in October, with the Award of Prizes at the end of October.