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Miss Thrifty8 August 21, 2011
Our garden, despite being somewhat neglected by yours truly this year, is doing well. The fruit is beginning to ripen. We have:
Damsons! Not a damson to speak of in 2010, but 2011 is going to be a bumper year. Any ideas for what I can do with this lot will be very welcome. I’m thinking damson jam, damson cheese if I’m feeling really edgy, but after that I’m stuck…
Blueberries! Our soil in this part of North Yorkshire is very, very alkaline. Blueberries are supposed to prefer acidic soil. But our little blueberry bush, despite not growing very much, manages to put out a decent crop every year. I just have to get to the berries before the birds do.
Blackberries! I’ve written about our brambles before. When we moved here, the lawn didn’t have any grass and was instead overrun with waist-high brambles. Brambles are tough buggers to get rid off, but we managed to uproot and cut ours back to the furthest corners of the garden. We still have to work to keep them in check, but they produce lots of delicious blackberries every year, so who am I to complain?
8 Responses to “Fruity garden”
daisychain says:
I want to coem and live in your garden. Damsnon jammmmmm
August 21, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Obelia says:
We went to the annual Damson Day in the Lyth Valley (Cumbria) this year, and the food stalls there have lots of damson inspiration! 🙂
As well as damson jam and damson cheese, I recall damson chutney, damson gin (mmmmm) and other damson liqueurs, damson bread, pork & damson sausages and burgers, and lots of different damson crumbles and damson puddings – including a fab crumble by the Cartmel Village Shop who do the famous sticky toffee pudding.
August 22, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Debt Advice UK says:
I think the harsh winter is what has done the fruit trees the world of good.
There is nothing better than a pot of home-made jam. Also crumbles and pies are another great treat.
What about some home brew of some kind for your damsons?
August 22, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Rob says:
Hi Miss T.
Try using some of those damsons to make Damson Gin. It tastes great. I sometimes see at for sale at Christmas Markets for £12 a bottle.
btw Damson Trees tend to produce a heavy crop every other year 🙂
August 23, 2011 at 9:34 am
John Nichols says:
I’m definitely a fan of the Damson Gin and Damson Vodka, but lots of other things to do with Damsons! Have fun!
August 23, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Miss Thrifty says:
Wow – so many great ideas for damsons. Thanks all! I had better go and pick them in before they all fall off the trees…
August 25, 2011 at 3:42 pm
101 Centavos says:
Never heard of a damson until now. I see now from helpful wikipedia that they’re another subspecies of plum. Sounds wonderful.
September 3, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Sandy - yesiamcheap says:
I have to confess to not knowing what Damson’s are but they look a lot like plums. Maybe that’s what we call them in the U.S.? I’m in love with the rest of your crops? Do I see canning, jams, jellies, pudding and fruit pies in the future? Wish I was at your house…especially for the blueberries. I’m be all over a cheesecake with blueberry topping.
September 5, 2011 at 2:14 am