I also do the oven method for pickles etc. I dishwasher the jars, then heat them at 100 Deg C for at least 30 minutes, then add the hot pickle/chutney/jam and seal. Then (not for the jam) I pop them in a deep tray of water back in the oven for another 30 mins at 100. I have chutney that is several y...

we are still waiting to have the aircon connected at work, it was already 30 degrees in the office when I arrived this morning!!!

welcome to the forum!

I have a new generation pressure cooker and I love it! There's a very good website: http://www.hippressurecooking.com with a lot of resources: recipes, reviews on all the different cookers, including the electronic ones. I use a stovetop, Kuhn Rikon, and it is fabulous. My only previous experience o...

have a great birthday pp.

My mum has had to completely fence off her rose bed at the new house, as deer get in and they eat the leaves & the buds, which are a particular favourite of theirs. 4foot chicken wire doesn't look pretty, but you get used to it fairly quickly.

I'm growing it in a bucket sitting in an old washing up bowl, up a piece of string. As I said, Steptoe style!

Ta-da!

yes, my mum has also discovered that a little bit of kale goes a long way!!

thanks so much! after 27 years of growing veg, I didn't think I could still be this proud! I'll get a pic of what's left, only made 2 rounds of sandwiches with it so far.

I'm over the moon! I picked a 36cm perfectly straight & blemish free cucumber from my greenhouse at home! Grown steptoe-style, I didn't hold out much hope, but it is quite spectacular! This is my first harvest (apart from strawberries) after we gave up the allotment.

There appears to be no end to the mischief caused by the garden vandals (aka foxes). They are now eating the blackberries straight off the plant, climing onto the wheelbarrow to do so. I will move the wheelbarrow later, but should I be worried about my tomatoes? they are growing fast, and it won't b...

I would bandage it with jute twine. I accidentally tore a growing tip on one of mine a few years ago, but only part way through. I bandaged it with string, and it kept growing for the est of the season.

absolutely marvellous! thankyou for sharing