Gardening

[Alberto]

OK, I had to Google about Apple jam.

What I found:
If cooked without adding water is jam, otherwise is compote.
It seems the reason apple jam is very rare is because apples, unlike most other fruits, can easily last many weeks if stored properly, so no need to jam them really.
Still, I find making it a lot of fun and will probably make some (=huge amount, I'm greedy as usual) with my garden apples later this week.

[Robinson100]

Did I mention that the apples were small - like very small?
If you put your thumb and forefinger together, that´s the average size of the little devils!!!

I also have quinces in the garden, which are now ripe, so have found a recipe for quince and apple jam...... just an awful lot of peeling coming my way

Compotte also sounds like a good idea...... if I have time, I will give it a try!

[kiplette]

Quince are cool. Rather than chopping and peeling bricks (they are so hard!) I usually slow cook them until they are softer and then deal with them. They then smell amazing.

I made quince cheese in the past, which was cool - essentially solid jam, which you slice and eat with cheese, or use as a spread.

Also fruit leather - fruit mush dried in strips. We didn't add sugar to ours, but presumably most people do.

[Fraufruit]

For all you gardeners, I'll just throw in a link to my good friend's garden in Indianola, Washington in case you're interested.


https://www.penick.net/digging/?p=95383

[kiplette]

Thank you muchly, FF, that was a treat. The photos are stunning.

[Alberto]

Very nice photos, FF, your friend is privileged.

[Robinson100]

Need some advice on this one please!

Our house runs parallel to the road, with the carpentry workshop door at one end, and the house door at the other. The workshop door is the first one you reach as you come onto the property.

At the other end of the house, about 3 meters from the house door, and tucked away in a corner, we have a lovely big gooseberry bush, which was full of fruits just about ripe now.

I went out yesterday to pick them to make jam, and discovered that all but three gooseberries have been taken!!!!
This actually happened last last year as well, and we don´t have a clue as to who might have taken them.

Any ideas as to what to do for next year, as I am currently at the stage of just wanting to rip somebodys head off!!!!!!

[Sannerl]

I went out yesterday to pick them to make jam, and discovered that all but three gooseberries have been taken!!!!
This actually happened last last year as well, and we don´t have a clue as to who might have taken them.

Any ideas as to what to do for next year, as I am currently at the stage of just wanting to rip somebodys head off!!!!!!

Install a camera and a motion sensor.
And some signs that this bush is private property and taking the gooseberries without permission is theft.
Maybe that bush is on this map by accident and the thieves don't follow the rules anyway: https://mundraub.org/ - just check.

[Robinson100]

No, we are not on that map, thank goodness!
I think we´ll start small and get a lock fitted on the garden gate!
Still, it´s a pain in the neck!!!

[Sannerl]

No, we are not on that map, thank goodness!
I think we´ll start small and get a lock fitted on the garden gate!
Still, it´s a pain in the neck!!!

A tiny Wifi-camera with USB costs about 30 Euros. High quality and with a rainproof casing.

[bethannbitt]

we´ll start small and get a lock fitted on the garden gate!
Still, it´s a pain in the neck!!!

And downright disappointing that people behave so rudely. My idea was also to put up a sign. BTW, my bike parked out front of my house, near downtown, often has people throwing trash and bottles in my basket. I may put a sign on it.

[Robinson100]

That little voice in the back of my mind keeps telling me to set some trip-wires, but I guess that might have some kind of legal consequence - unfortunately!

[Sannerl]

That little voice in the back of my mind keeps telling me to set some trip-wires, but I guess that might have some kind of legal consequence - unfortunately!

Gooseberries have thorns already.
Tripwires won't help...

[Franklan]

That little voice in the back of my mind keeps telling me to set some trip-wires, but I guess that might have some kind of legal consequence

Wo kein Kläger, da kein Richter...

Claymore.jpg (494.43 KiB) Viewed 163 times

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymore_mine

[Emkay]

That little voice in the back of my mind keeps telling me to set some trip-wires, but I guess that might have some kind of legal consequence - unfortunately!

It could well be wildlife taking them. Especially if it happened last year too. Are most fallen gooseberries also gone? We’ve a few small fruit trees though given up expecting to eat any other than the odd apple the wasps leave for us. .

[PandaMunich]

The pear tree is surprisingly full of fruit this year
And the zucchini in these metal SchneckenStopp metal ufo saucers have started producing.
The black tomatoes are also coming along nicely, the others not so much.

20250713_104136.jpg (8 MiB) Viewed 85 times

20250713_104148.jpg (8 MiB) Viewed 85 times

20250713_104358.jpg (8 MiB) Viewed 85 times

[Sannerl]

That little voice in the back of my mind keeps telling me to set some trip-wires, but I guess that might have some kind of legal consequence - unfortunately!

It could well be wildlife taking them. Especially if it happened last year too. Are most fallen gooseberries also gone? We’ve a few small fruit trees though given up expecting to eat any other than the odd apple the wasps leave for us. .

An acquaintance of ours (married to a Japanese woman and living in Japan) also has the case of the missing gooseberries and is suspecting a neighbour.
But maybe it's an Enoki? Could be from the other subspecies in Robinson100's case: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_raccoon_dog - one name for those in German is Obstfuchs...