tho beady eyed might see dd2 leg, as we were playing accidentally water the child… [well i was anyway 
]
watering
Frantic Gardener on May 23rd 2011
aubergine flower
Frantic Gardener on May 23rd 2011
must investigate what that is under leaves, prob just soil
Elderflower Cordial
Frantic Gardener on May 23rd 2011
Twitter is a fantastic thing. Reminded me to make some elderflower cordial. We have lots of elderflowers in the garden [pernicious weed!] and usually make elderberry jelly. There are lots of recipes on the net. Here is another one
first pick 20 elderflower heads
Then add 1.6kg of sugar [preserving makes it clear but granulated or caster will work] to 1.25l of water. Heat gently until all the sugar dissolved and then boil.
Whilst you are doing this, get 2 oranges and 2 lemons. If you are keen, you can zest them first, or if not just cut in half and then thin slices
When your syrup has boiled, add it to the bowl full of elderflowers [with most of stalks removed] and sliced citrus. Add 50g of citric acid and then give a good stir.it smells fabulous [though DD1 who was making it doesn’t agree]
Leave it to stand 24 hours and then strain it through a jelly bag [or a sieve with a muslin so fine enough] into sterilised bottles to sit in the fridge. hadn’t thought of freezing some before, but I might try that this time to see how it works out.
at least the grapes are looking good
Frantic Gardener on May 22nd 2011
, a photo by Scrumbledelicious on Flickr.
some containers
Frantic Gardener on May 22nd 2011
don’t usually container veg, but spares or no space yets have been containered up. 2 pots of mangetout, one of dwarf french beans and 2 courgettes
some of the better things
Frantic Gardener on May 22nd 2011
although dejected ’bout the brassicas [see below] , there is time to sow more, mollycoddle them a bit and plant them in a different area when bigger - ie pretend we def do have club root and take precautions. will do that tomorrow. also hope to get sweetcorn out tomorrow and the large pumpkin. also have a med pumpkin and a med squash from the first sowings, and 3 experimental pumpkins from middle sowing then 5 winter squash and 4 butternut squash and 2 pumpkins [mars] from the final panic ones. poss have too many now… love them though, so will hve to find room!!
Sowing:
final sowing of climbing french beans to be ready to fill any gaps, and if there aren’t any, to wigwam in a pot. Sowed direct some spring onions and carrots where i pulled out the pak choi [ 
] thinking they should be better.
Potting On
I had 2 courgettes left over, and have put them in a big container each and hope they do well in that. Having to water the garden so much, that container gardening doesn’t seem much different.
Harvesting
rocket and also some peas - yippee!!!
Otherwise i just did loads of watering, and got v v stung by a nasty invisible stinging nettle - ouch!! Anyone got advice for me about the brassicas tho, would be most welcome.
2 cauli purple queen
Frantic Gardener on May 22nd 2011
as seen through environmesh. what a difference???
planted at same time
Frantic Gardener on May 22nd 2011
and in the same bed, don’t they look fab. ready to harvest