Kitchen Garden Forum

Yesterday I went to Tescos, told they had some pepper plants . . . well what a let down, wilting, very poor quality, even my inexperience could see it as a rip off. I did find what I was looking for, in fair condition, however I wont be going there again. Not impressed with that particular store in general, lacked 'aumbience', poor quality on the bakery, and dirty every where!!! If the health and safety man had been around, he would have had a field day!

To day I went to B&Q, looking for a small three prong 'cultivator', between seed row size, got a big one, I also wanted some 'Culture rings'. Both items one would have thought, 'simple' . . .

They have rationalised their stock. Garden tools are now of the more expensive variety, £8 for, IMHO a poorly designed cultivator, and culture rings, no chance. I have noticed this rationalising in the home toll section recently! Its fancy expensive, or really cheap and very, very nasty, if they have what you want.

I'm not surprised, driven all the small independents out of business, now they supply what they want

So I was driven to the Internet, 8 rings for £3.99 + £2.50 postage, I will be looking at Morrisons, scrounge some old flower tubs cut the bottoms off. And the hand size cultivator, I had one many years ago, a freebie on a magazine, we lived in a clay soil area in those days, the head came off! Threw it in a box . . . rummaging around in an 'old box', this after noon, looking for a cheapo, pressed steel small fork to bend into a shape, no different to the £8 fancy job'ie. Guess what I came across the freebie hand size cultivator. Glued the head on, it works a treat in the light sandy soil at CJS Towers in Ipswich, V to B&Q.

Rant over . . . CJS

Just a thought about the ring culture pots - Dad made some by cutting, with a hacksaw, some plastic drainage pipes into sections of the depth he wanted. I've not measured them, but they look like 10 inches wide and 15 inches deep. They've been used every year since for the past 40 years, so very economical and still going strong.

Hi CJS,
The answer lies in redundant flower buckets. Florist bung them out when the tops start to break (will ruin flower stalks) but what you need is the bottom 6" or slightly more if it is available. Cut the bottom off last otherwise they are difficult to handle whilst cutting. So cut to the depth you can manage and then the bottom. They make superb culture rings and will last for years. They should be free!
JB.

CJS wrote:Yesterday I went to Tescos . . . Not impressed with that particular store in general, lacked 'aumbience', poor quality on the bakery, and dirty every where!!! If the health and safety man had been around, he would have had a field day!

Now that Tescos have eaten everything in their path, and have filed another record breaking profit, they've become shabby beyond belief. There's more life in a tramp's vest than in my local branch. Give me Morrisons any day. Cheerful, friendly, clean, good value and lots more variety. And they water their plants.

Hi Felix,
I am perfectly in agreement with you with regards to Tesco's they are simply awful in this area but as you say with Morrison's it is entirely different and the staff locally obviously get some job satisfaction from working there and absolutely nothing is too much trouble for them.
I also think that Morrison's ranges of produce on the whole is far superior.
JB.

Morrisons, ah yes, the shop where the manager was taking plastic bags of apples from the cardboard boxes they came in and throwing them onto the shelf.
When I sarcasticaly said "What a wonderful way to treat apples." he replied "Thanks mate."
It was north london though........

Yes I agree about Morrisons, I was only using that Tescos cos I had been told they had the plants I wanted??? I must say in defense of my local Tescos at Copdock, they are very good. However, Morrisons is our usual choice, 5 minutes walk away, excellent service, their own brands are very good compared to most other 'own brands' we have tried.

The only thing Morrison dont buy well (IMHO) is chicken!!! rubbish big old boilers, Sainsburys or Asda for chicken . . .

CJS

And Morrisons golden syrup is nothing like as good as Tate and Lyle.
Otherwise pretty good.

Hi CJS,
I agree about Morrison's and Chicken. I bought some because they were the only place open and I had some surprise guests and thought a chicken casserole would serve. They were Chicken thighs and tough as old boots.
Normally the only meat that I buy from Morrison's is their minced Lamb which is very good. I have never bought a joint of meat from any supermarket and never will.
Today it took me best part of an hour to rescue a Lamb that had got it's head stuck through the sheep wire and and one of his front legs through the wire behind a stainer post he was so bloody strong and my confession is that I thought 'that will do very nicely with new potatoes and minted peas in a couple of months time' and then felt thoroughly disgusted with myself. Glad to say that he seemed none the worse for his experience.
JB.

Tough meat? its strang, my grandma and mother used to by cheap cuts of meat, all they could aford! they were superb on a long slooow roasting . . . . dont seem to work these days??? However we have cracked it, I bought Hazel a 'Slow cooker' last year. She has not been well, so a 'bung it all in' type system seemed a good idea.

Fine, did the job, I bought a couple of recipe books for 'Slow Cookers'. Reading them opened the eyes, cheap meat 'Joints' are now melt in the mouth. Secret, marinade in cider for an hour or two, we now cook in the cider in the slow cooker, dont taste of cider. Had a cheap rolled brisket joint (Morrisons) at the weekend don this way. Great flavour, cooked with veg in pot, (and/or a veg stock cube) tender, tender enough to slice and put in sarnies. (Morissons chicken does not cook any better this way, tender yes, taste cotton wool!)

This is not a one off, been using cider since Christmas (including ) looking forward to the veg being from my own garden, even more flavour.

Try a chunky veg stir fry, Aubergine, sweet pepper, onion, celery, courgettes plus any pre cooked veg in the cup board, pre cook things like carrot and parsnip in the microwave . . . you will never boil vegies again!

CJS

Don't feel awful about thinking of the lamb as roast lamb, Jonboy. I feed my pigs and watch their hams fill out to gauge when they should go to slaughter. At least you know it hasn't been intensively reared and cruelly treated. After tasting my own pork I'd be vegetarian rather than eat supermarket pork now.

weve been using a slow cooker for the sunday joint for some time, just stick it on when we wake up. the meat doesnt shrink or dry out and it leaves space in the oven for other goodies.

Hi everyone. I work at Morrisons here in Hull and it's lovely to hear compliments about the staff from you good people! We do try very hard to give good service but unfortunately, we are more used to getting brickbats from customers, than praise! It means alot when someone says "Thankyou for your help". I don't work on Produce or Flowers but I know the hard work put in by the folk who do. I work in the bakery (not fun in a heatwave ) so if you're ever in Hull, you may find me slicing your bread!! Cheers!

PS. I'm a fan of slow cookers too. Wonderful invention!

Elaine wrote:so if you're ever in Hull, you may find me slicing your bread!!

Quite often, as it happens. My parents live in Beverley and I often go up there through work. But it's usually the Wingfield Way branch I go to. It's a palace of glittering delights. Are you on the Holderness Road?

Despite general economic doom and gloom at the moment, I hear Morrisons are taking on several hundred extra staff. I applaud them for it.