The FastDay Forum

My poppies (leaves) are well advanced this year, we're usually a few weeks behind the south though

popping in for a quick grizzle - bloody possums! (scuse the swearing). I had planted two beds' worth of late-summer beans about 6 weeks ago - the possums have demolished all but one plant! I can't believe it! I didn't think they'd eat bean plants! I netted my spinach seedlings, and so far they are doing well. I'll have to use chicken wire to net the beans next season - my garden will look like a space-station!

thanks for listening to my rant!

@jools7 bummer on the well feed possums. I've got snow peas and broad beans growing I hope the possums don't take a liking to them.
We just had a delivery of 8 Lillypillies and 32 camellias to plant over Easter. We should also have 21 bottle brushes too by then and a huge mound of soil to move. Hopefully all the work will shift the Easter eggs and buns I'll be eating.

My April poppy (albeit somewhat stunted!)

[carieoates]

Great colour too @madcatlady

I'm sure there will be plenty of seed if you want one @Carieoates abd I actually have a spare plant from some I grew from seed which is white with a blue spot in it...

[carieoates]

Yrs please

I'm a serious gardening enthusiast, in fact it's my everyday job (garden design that is). I have a big country garden which is continuously under development! I'm having problems with possums eating my roses at the moment - luckily here (NZ), we are allowed to shoot them. I know that's not the case in Aussie, so I guess we are lucky, unlike the possums!

The weather is holding me up at the moment! It won't stop raining but the weeds keep growing! Braved the weather on Sunday & spent half a day weeding. Told myself that in England they garden in the rain (well they do on 'Gardeners World' which I watch regularly) so I should toughen up, put a jacket on and just do it. Must say that I felt much better afterwards - it's a form of relaxation for me! I guess only other gardeners would understand that! Husband doesn't get it - he told me before we married that he 'doesn't weed' and that I should know that before committing to him!!!! Actually, I wouldn't want him doing too much, as he would disturb my peace and probably wouldn't do it my way!!!! I guess I'm a little possessive in the garden! He does help me occasionally- especially when he wants to earn 'brownie points'!!!

Don't get me started on possums! I have been in the garden today: pulling up the tomato plants, digging and weeding. I want to plant snow peas but I will need to erect a trellis. Feeling lazy. Yesterday I harvested all the basil and made more pesto.

I've got tonnes of basil that I need to do something with before the frosts get it. I saw on TV the other day that you can freeze it in oil, so might give that a try.

Any suggestions of what should I do with all my large tomatoes? I've already made tomato soup - but it was very time consuming, so I'm not keen to make more of that! I've also got tonnes of the little cherry tomatoes that are rotting on the bush cause I can't keep up with them. Next year I think I shall grow less plants!

I've got tonnes of basil that I need to do something with before the frosts get it. I saw on TV the other day that you can freeze it in oil, so might give that a try.

Any suggestions of what should I do with all my large tomatoes? I've already made tomato soup - but it was very time consuming, so I'm not keen to make more of that! I've also got tonnes of the little cherry tomatoes that are rotting on the bush cause I can't keep up with them. Next year I think I shall grow less plants!

Cut them up and Dry them in a low oven overnight (100 deg C). Preferably on a bed of herbs to infuse the flavours. Put in a jar and fill with olive oil

@philippapesto is fabulous: 1 packed cup of basil, half a cup of olive oil, 30 gms nuts and 2 cloves of garlic - whoosh it up in a food processor, stir in 20 gm of parmesan and spoon it into sterilised jars, with a layer of olive oil on top to prevent air from coming into contact. Keep it in the fridge. It is so delicious on toast with slice of those tomatoes on top!.

As for preserving tomatoes, you can freeze them whole in 200gm bags and use them instead of a tin of tomatoes in cooking. You can skin them, by chucking them into boiling water. The skins come off easily and then put them through a seive to remove seeds - or use a device like a mouli.Then you put them into sterilised jars and put them in a big pot, covered in cold water. Bring it to the boil. Simmer for about half an hour and leave them to cool completely in the water . This makes passata, which can be used for all kinds of tomato needs during the year. Soups, sauce, instead of tins and so on. Like Karen, I have also dried tomatoes, but in a dehydrator and they are stored in olive oil, with garlic, basil etc. . I have had a fabulous tomato crop this year and it was sad to pull up the plants today.

Yum! Thanks for both of your suggestions 'Sallyo' & 'rawkaren'. I love sun dried tomatoes (with cheese of course), so will give your ideas a try.

I also have an abundance of courgettes! Any ideas for those???

@Madcatlady lovely poppy! I sowed Californian and red flanders poppies a couple of weeks ago, I do hope they take. It's been a mild winter so perhaps your runt was confused?

Meanwhile, I've just inspected my potato grow bag (no idea why I am growing them as I'm low carbing! ) and there are a few ants that have made it their nest! so after a quick google, folks say they don't eat the potatoes and possibly keep away the pests. I do hope they are right.

Bringing in buddy@spanner here for an update on the tiny seedlings still in the bay window - which I'm in fear of exterminating as I'm a novice and have never grown any of these from seed - spanner you were asking how to take your mind off food on fastdays ............... grow them, I can assure you it will keep you very busy night and day, the potatoes will go to friends as presents after I have tasted the first one

So here we go, it's a bit like reading out the football scores:
Coriander looks ok 3-0
Four cucumber plants look strong and healthy - yipeeeee 5-0
Fennel herbs - suspect, do not look strong 0-1
Fennel bulbs - look ok 2-2
Dill - weak and weedy - but then dill does? 1-1
Aubergines - look ok, need re-potting 3-1
Where has the parsley gone? have I got them mixed up? 0-20
Climbing petunia's need re-potting 3-1
Canterbury bells, slow and steady 4-0

Outside:
Rocket - looks like miniature watercress - has not grown for well over two weeks - suspect, though it's supposed to be an easy grower 0-4
Garlic doing well 5-0, chives are peaking through though look vulnerable 1-3
As I said the potatoes have ants in their pants , so presently 0-10
No sight of the anemone yet 0-0

Still lot's to do, plant gladioli, sunflower seeds, tomatoes........

spanner, you would be really, really good at this, it's like having your own practice.

When I get my new phone working I'll try post some pics.

I really don't know what I am doing, but if I can do 52 I can do anything!

Lizbean x

Today's plant haul from lovely nursery - now off to plant them all