The Poultry Keeper

Heather · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:30 am Post subject:

Go on Nanny - you know you want to ! Twisted Evil

If you think how good your "home grown" eggs are just think how good you will feel when you pull your first home grown carrot - or dig a potato up before all the sugar turns to starch

Heather (drooling)

Lisa · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:42 am Post subject:

What puts you off? Tell us and we'll find a way round it for you Wink

It can be easy, and done in a little space.... A few strawberry plants or herbs in a hanging basket.... some beautiful purple podded climbing french beans or peas up a wigwam in a large pot... a few tomato plants in a grow bag (or two)...

Just a little bit of watering here and there and before you know it, its yummy time Razz

debcat · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 11:45 am Post subject:

I don't garden either Shocked

Even ordered the seeds as well

NannyP · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:49 pm Post subject:

Oh I do tomatoes, and Runner beans, although I'm not sure this year, as they were descimated my slugs last year, and I guess the chooks may like them this year. I do not like digging or weeding, or hoeing and get back ache after 5 minutes of any gardening, even pruning roses gave me back ache!!. So lasagne sounds great. I have ordered the book Jaydee has, and will wait until I have read that and thought some more.
It would definately have to be enclosed as the chooks free range and I can easily imagine them climbing up for the tasty new shoots!! Confused

And aren't I too late to do a potatoe bag thingy?

Lisa · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:28 pm Post subject:

I don't think its too late to grow them... the difficult bit is getting the potatoes to plant in the first place.

Garden centres and catalogues will probably be sold out now... The Thompson and Morgan website is still showing them as in stock - but I'd ring up to make sure if you're interested because it is sooooooooo late to buy seed potatoes I'm struggling to believe that the site is up to date...

As long as they don't get frost through them, they will grow. Basically they just need warm enough weather for between 3 and 5 months (depends on the variety).

They can be susceptible to blight which tends to be bad in summer - and is one reason why they are normally grown earlier. Then they have grown and are ready to be eaten before the worst of the blight is about. But some varieties are more susceptible to blight than others anyway... If you grow tomatoes okay, you should be able to grow potatoes...

You can just buy some from the supermarket and plant them. But go for organic ones if you do. The non-organic ones have something sprayed on them to stop them sprouting... and you want them to sprout if you want them to grow! I bought some "Nicola" the other day, yummy as boiled potatoes - they were just showing signs of beginning to sprout (especially after a few days in a warm kitchen).

You'd be after a potatoes about the size of a hens egg to plant... about between 3 and 5 in a large pot or sack? Depends on the size...

And in 3-4 months you could be eating your own tatties Wink

Hmmm.... I can feel an experiment coming on to prove my point Rolling Eyes

Knobby · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:24 pm Post subject:

Ive got Lasagne for tea ! Very Happy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

my daughter makes nice lasagne (and I don't usually like pasta) ~ I think of her and the children every time I see this title

Knobby · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:34 pm Post subject:

I know....it always makes me feel hungry to see it too !!! Yum Yum !! Cool

Lisa · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:56 pm Post subject:

Knobby · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:03 pm Post subject:

WHats your Lucky Number ?

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:03 pm Post subject:

You don't garden - but you've ordered the book anyway? Wink

Isn't reading about what other people do addictive?

NannyP · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:20 pm Post subject:

Yes, since joining this particular forum, I have bought, an Ice Cream Maker and made very rich, sickly ice cream, cooked Lemon Curd which is way too sweet Confused

, bought a Steam Cleaner, a Web Cam and a book about gardening. I'm not the sort of woman who cooks cakes and ice cream and stuff, nor do I garden and stuff, nor iron etc. I will have to watch out, or leave Sad

stephen · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:25 pm Post subject:

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:39 pm Post subject:

I have made LOTS of lemon curd using the recipe at the start of that thread - can't say I would describe it as sweet. Moreish, but not too sweet.

1 lemon to
1oz butter
1 egg
4 oz sugar (I use caster), multiply up as wished.

NannyP · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:50 pm Post subject:

No, Stephen, not tried any more but thanks for that, I will give it a go next time.
Mark and I don't take sugar, or use sugar, and yes, I know I eat chocolate, but the Lemon curd just tastes soooo sweet, I guess I don't really have a sweet tongue. and I also guess for lemon Curd, you cannot reduce the sugar?
Can you use Fruit Sugar instead? Confused