Mary Fisher wrote:
"David in Normandy" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
We've been eating our runner beans (unsliced) every day for a few weeks
now,
I've just come in from gathering tonight's ration. We can't get enough of
them fresh. I've tried salting and freezing them but never drying - we
don't
tire of them.
Mary
I expected a bumper crop this year due to last years beans surviving
Winter and coming up again, in addition to those planted elsewhere this
year. Despite all the rain we've had a fairly poor crop. I think it was
due to the cold weather and lack of sun.
Ours were very late to blossom but there was lots of foliage. Neighbours'
beans haven't been as good. Once they started fruiting they've gone at full
belt - I'm pleased to say. The same happened with the tomatoes.
The big winner this year has been the Spring greens/cabbage which I
planted last Autumn. We are still eating them!
Lucky you!
There haven't been that many slugs and caterpillars this year either,
though there have been lots of toads around. So the leaves haven't been
as full of holes and livestock as usual.
We've had few caterpillars but lots of slugs. I've formed a theory that you
only ever get one slug per cabbage. Well, that's been my experience :-)
Mary
I still have the Kilner jars my mother used, the problem now is getting
the lids and rubber bands to fit. Most fruit preserves well, got a nice
collection of blackberries this year. during the war Mum preserved
apples by slating and drying, a good soaking after and they were fine in
pies, how she did it though I do not know.