2024 - What I did today

Spent the whole morning on my feet bottling apple dollop, I'm sure it's time for a sit down.

Dead headed the cottage garden. Picked some flowers. Decided where the samphire is growing next year. In a fish box between the bath and the permanent exotic fruit bed. Decided against a whole bed of it because that’s a lot of trips to the beach to collect seawater.

Cleared part of the original chicken run which has wire netting on three sides. Somewhere to plant my YS Fruit bushes - thornless blackberry and loganberry and some other odds and ends.
Then I moved to Strip 3 and removed lots of Thorny blackberries, cut back a hazel and a broom so that I could walk down a path (again).

In tune with SC, I watered the samphire seedlings with homemade "seawater" ( rainwater with sea salt and seaweed tablets.)

Dead headed the cottage garden. Picked some flowers. Decided where the samphire is growing next year. In a fish box between the  bath and the permanent exotic fruit bed. Decided against a whole bed of it because that’s a lot of trips to the beach to collect seawater.

Could you make up some "sea water" using seaweed in a tub of rainwater - maybe with some sea salt?

Dead headed the cottage garden. Picked some flowers. Decided where the samphire is growing next year. In a fish box between the  bath and the permanent exotic fruit bed. Decided against a whole bed of it because that’s a lot of trips to the beach to collect seawater.

Could you make up some "sea water" using seaweed in a tub of rainwater - maybe with some sea salt?

Quite possibly. But I was also concerned about the amount of seawater/salt water run off seeping into other bed and harming other crops. As it’s a long term crop. Concerned about the salt buildup. So I’ve compromised with a fish box full rather than a bed full. Which I think will be a sufficient amount after seeing the size it’s got to this season in a lager pot. Hopefully won’t cause too much of an issue in the future. Don’t think it’ll be a huge issue as the veg patch is so wet, it should get diluted quickly.

Spent the whole morning on my feet bottling apple dollop, I'm sure it's time for a sit down.

I think I'll try some apples as I won't have so many tomatoes to bottle this year and I've plenty of bramley apples. I assume for tomatoes they just need to reach 70C?

Spent the whole morning on my feet bottling apple dollop, I'm sure it's time for a sit down.

I think I'll try some apples as I won't have so many tomatoes to bottle this year and I've plenty of bramley apples. I assume for tomatoes they just need to reach 70C?

Don't ask me, I've only ever bottled stewed apple.  There's all sorts of instructions online about waterbaths etc., far too complicated for my liking. All I do is stew the apples with the amount of sugar P likes boil and bottle it up like I would jam.  I try to get as many air bubbles out as possible.

Dug the voluntary spuds that appear in the polytunnel bed. If I ever have any more come up, I’ll just rip them out. Definitely not worth it.

Made jam this morning then went out and attacked the usual suspects - montbretia, brambles & vinca. I cut the bulbs off the montbretia and chop up the leaves, which are dropped on the path or beds, depending on what is nearest.. The brambles & vinca go on the bonfire heap. We only have one more collection of garden waste this year and that will be from the front hedge, when its cut!

Spent the whole morning on my feet bottling apple dollop, I'm sure it's time for a sit down.

I think I'll try some apples as I won't have so many tomatoes to bottle this year and I've plenty of bramley apples. I assume for tomatoes they just need to reach 70C?

Don't ask me, I've only ever bottled stewed apple.  There's all sorts of instructions online about waterbaths etc., far too complicated for my liking. All I do is stew the apples with the amount of sugar P likes boil and bottle it up like I would jam.  I try to get as many air bubbles out as possible.

I meant 70C for apples not tomatoes as that is what it is for apple juice. I'll collect up some bramlies in the morning. I won't bother with sugar though as can add that when using it. I bottled 5kg of tomatoes this morning. With them I get to boiling point, at least 99C on a thermometer, and add a bit of lemon juice. Then I picked some beans, 4 sorts for drying for eating and seeds for next year.