I would blanch if you want to freeze them. The alternative is to wrap them in damp teatowels and leave in a cold fridge until you get back - keep the teatowles damp - they should be fine for you to deal with.
Hope this helps.

I've always grown them as annuals; they shouldl be at least flowering by now, though; are they under glass?

They should be fine providing there are no rats in your compsot bin.

Morning MrsL I can't find you any Dorset village wells, but HERE are some village pumps in the county. Thankyou, Alan, that was kind I've seen a fair few of those ones in the flesh so to speak. I get about a bit I'd love my own well, and do my own a well dressing ceremony. Never say never.

I like a neutral-ish oil, and usually use sunflower oil; I find olive oil too strong for my tastes, but I know a lot of folks like that in home made mayonnaise.

Don't forget - use the raspberries in the trifle..............

I make mine in a Kilner jar; try it earlier in the year with wild strawberries - that's a really good one. Or yellow rasoberries .........

I tried the Hellman's after they changed to free range eggs, but I find it too salty. This is mine: Break two fresh egg yolks into a bowl, whisk well, then add a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice, whisk again. Start to add your chosen oil a few drops at a time to begin with, whisking well between...

Yes, a metal trivet should be fine - it's just to stop the glass bottles touching the bottom of the pan too close to the heat source.

Fascinating thread; I don't know of any village well here, but there could well have been. There are a lot of springs about, though, in the lanes. There was also a very small mill on the river that flows through our part of the Vale, but only a couple of stones remain - I suspect the rest was used f...

Hot water bath is a way of preserving, like in Kilner jars, etc, for fruit and some veg. For ketchup: Get ready on the stove a pan tall enough to hold the bottles/jars you're using; place a folded tea towel or dishcloth in the bottom, to stand the bottles on - this prevents the glass touching the bo...

I don't think the flavour will change/improve, the tubers might just get a wee bit bigger, that's all. I'd lift them when it suits you; my maincrop are going to be early this year too, might go out and investigate, but not right now.

I quite often buy reduced/half price or whatever seeds - but never from T sco. Evil place. I pass on what I can't reasonably use or save for future sowing, either for swaps or just give away.
It's very hard to resist when they're a good price.

I suppose to some to spend your Saturday night in such a mundane fashion is rather sad JB. Completely disagree I love it, it's part of how we live. I'd much rather be sitting at the kitchen table podding peas and singing, than in a crowded, expensive noisy pub/town/cinema (take your pick here). Thi...

No - the pods will turn to mush when thawed and you won;t get teh peas out easily and/or successfully. The only reason for freezing pods at all is when saving up enough for peapod wine. Having said that, mange tout peas freeze OK, but that's when the pods are young and crisp. Podding and blanching p...

You won't beat this one from the wonderful Keith Flyod, I've made it or similar (according to what I have in larders) for years. Easy to do, and the best I've tried. 2lbs tomatoes, peeled, de-seeded and chopped 1lb onions, finely chopped 2lbs or so of red peppers, de-seeded and finely chopped oil fo...