The FastDay Forum

Hi. I was wondering if there is any interest in setting up a gardeners corner? I have looked on the forums and can't seem to find anything live. My reasons are entirely selfish as I just started out this year so on a big learning curve. It would be great to be able to trade tips as well as hearing from those who are able to grow exotic stuff depending in where in the world we all live. I have absolutely no idea how to set it up so if any interest I'm sure Moogie or Caro can help get us started. Looking forward to tea and cake in the potting shed.

I garden. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much. I'd be interested in this

I grow herbs and vegetables, and have some citrus fruit trees and edible flowers. Liking to pluck a salad all year round and being able to work in my kitchen pickling and preserving my freshly grown goodies motivates me to put in the effort that it takes so that I am eating something from my garden in some way each day.

While I have been doing this for years, feel I am still on my 'L's' as there is so much to learn. Currently chuffed that I have grown and dried my very own sage, marjoram, thyme, basil and oregano. Also make mustards and marmalades. They make fabulous gifts

Count me in, I will be in the veggies patch if not back in the kitchen preserving

Yes, I'm a gardener. I have to say my garden looks amazing at the moment. It's in full Spring bloom. The Pride of Madeira is doing it's thing with big bluish purple spikes. The crab apple is blooming as are a lot of my roses. The first of the irises are out and the jasmine is wafting its scent. There are weeds as well but we won't look too hard at them.
I don't do too much in the way of food production but I do have two tomatoes in, which are flowering all ready. I also have a wide shallow pot with a mesclun mix in it as I resent buying leafy greens in the supermarket that go all icky before I can use them in my lunchtime salad sandwich. I do have a lot of self seeded parsley as well.
I'd be happy to talk gardening. I've mentioned before that time spent in the garden on fast day is very soothing and diverting.

[wildmissus]

I tinker about in the garden but I'm not sure it makes me a gardener! My OH finally put up our radial pergola which had been in the garage for 3 years. Here is a picture of it in progress.

The tree between it and the washing line is a Victoria Plum from which I had zero plums from this year! I then have a couple of raised veg boxes which I didn't have time to plant up this year and then there are runner beans in the green pots.

When it comes to gardening I'll try anything once but I love Clematis which are now happily growing up the pergola.

I'd be up for gardening chat. It is already fascinating reading what people on the other side of the world are growing.
We have a biggish garden with Fruit trees, a veg plot, and a greehouse where we have grown a vine to provide shade ...and er grapes. My OH is making cider this year which is a new activity and will be making wine when the grapes are ready. Last year's batch wasn't that successful.
We are currently picking the last of the tomatoes, a few blackberies and apples and there is kale, leeks and celeriac still in the ground and onions waiting for someone to string them up

Count me in too please. I have a garden, unfortunately I also have a husband who loves his strimmer/chainsaw/hedge trimmer, I attempt to grow, he follows a more 'slash and burn' path.

Mumma, my OH favours the Shock and Awe chemical warfare technique, with similar results

Mumma C I know what you mean and OH usually expects me to clear up what he's slashed. I'm mainly into growing veg. The tomato glut has almost ended for this year, I think it will be the first time I will be left with green tomatoes. Freezer is full and I think I've done all that is possible with tomatoes. Just started a tomato pickle as I don't really like chutney. Garlic crop was amazing and I'm on Brussels for the first time ever. Don't have much fruit, birds usually get the cherries and figs before us but have a good crop of walnuts.

Love to hear other people's tips.

I grow veg too, mainly for the slugs, mice, and my little black Scottie Ruby to eat! I've had loads of green tomatoes this year, I've made chilli chutney with them, in kilner jars with pretty labels, (im sad) I give them to those friends who 'pop in' whilst passing at christmas! I did have a recipe for fried green tomatoes American southern style once, but pickled sounds good.

Glad I'm not the only one with a frustrating gardening partner! I'd dream of being married to monty don!

I am in but a rather dull gardener, the most exciting thing in mine is a blueberry bush that has been most fruitful this year.
I have just spent a lovely two hours having a clear out. Having had a lovely warm summer with a very active social life I am afraid it's gone a bit wild!!
I have cleared some beds ready to put some rosebushes in at the end of the month - does anyone know if I should compost them or not? I have aerated the soil and banked it up.
Also going to get some heathers and winter flowering plants for my pots- they need cheering up!
I have so many gardening questions right now!!

I really enjoy gardening but a couple of years ago my OH took over as I was studying and he won't let me back in!
We have been very successful with raspberries and picked the last bowl on Sunday. Tomatoes have been good, giving us a steady supply.
The flowers are doing their last bit before the frosts come and the hanging baskets have been really good this year, with the begonias looking fab!
It's all been done by my OH and I just sit back and enjoy his success. The only drawback to his planting is that he likes everything in rows whereas I like the more random approach - I wouldn't exactly call it 'drift planting' but more haphazard than rows. Oh well you can't have everything!

Spanner - I usually compost all our flower beds this time of year (well OH does) I just point!

[Betsysgr8]

I grow veg too, mainly for the slugs, mice, and my little black Scottie Ruby to eat! I've had loads of green tomatoes this year, I've made chilli chutney with them, in kilner jars with pretty labels, (im sad) I give them to those friends who 'pop in' whilst passing at christmas! I did have a recipe for fried green tomatoes American southern style once, but pickled sounds good.

Glad I'm not the only one with a frustrating gardening partner! I'd dream of being married to monty don!

My Mom's recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes

South Dakota Fried Green Tomatoes*
3 firm green tomatoes*
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
Dash hot pepper sauce (I add alot more than a dash but Mom is a bit of wuss with spicy, )
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs (italian seasoned bread crumbs work very well)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4-6 tbsp unsalted butter
Cut tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Beat the egg, milk and hot pepper sauce in a shallow bowl. Combine the bread crumbs, salt and pepper in a pie pan. Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over med. heat. Dip tomato slices in the milk mixture, shaking off any excess, then lightly coat with the crumbs. Fry a few slices at a time until golden about 2 min. on each side. Add more butter as needed. Serve with a bit of blue cheese or ranch style creamy dressing.

*This also works very well with the large zucchini that always seems to stay hidden in the garden.

Fabulous. nine of us so far - 10 if we add Betsy. I think that is a jolly good start and we can probably all fit into the potting shed, although wildmissus pergola looks like a good place to park on a nice day.

I'd love some tips on composting too as its that time of year..... Also my purple sprouting broccoli is looking a bit 'lacey' on the leaves, yet the black kale looks absolutely great. Any clues anyone? Betsy thank you, I now know what to do with my surplus of zucchini. Your mom's recipe sounds heavenly.

[Betsysgr8]

Count me in! Though I didn't get a veg garden going this year as I spent much of the spring as caregiver to my Mom but will be planting some brussels soon. Canned 38 quarts of tomatoes last year and still have a most of them, so not sure what I'll plant come spring.