Grow your own spice rack!

[British Red]

Spices are often overlooked in peoples plans for self reliance but food without herbs and spices is dour bland stuff.

Our latest video looks at how to grow & use a useful range of herbs and spices. It's very possible in this country to grow enough to produce a wonderful array of Chinese, Italian, Thai and Indian dishes.

 

[slowworm]

Do you have any recomendation for mild chillies? We always grow our own and generally like ones that give a good flavour rather than just heat.

Smoking them also worked and is something worth a try.

 

[British Red]

Do you have any recomendation for mild chillies? We always grow our own and generally like ones that give a good flavour rather than just heat.

Smoking them also worked and is something worth a try.

For mild I like Lemon Aji (citrus notes), Chilhuacle Negro (smoky chocolate), Slim Jim from real seeds are good too.

 

[TeeDee]

Ref the Fig trees - how old are they please? Did you take them on from sapling or have some fairly mature specimens?

 

[British Red]

Ref the Fig trees - how old are they please? Did you take them on from sapling or have some fairly mature specimens?

They are about 5 years old. They are impossible to kill & easy to propagate. If you could collect I would give you some.

 

[TeeDee]

They are about 5 years old. They are impossible to kill & easy to propagate. If you could collect I would give you some.

Thats a very generous offer - too far I think but still very generous.

I have some figs in the greenhouse but still quite small. I'm concerned about leaving them outside - I maybe being a bit of a nervous ninny on that point.

Maybe I should just pot them up to a larger pot and leave them outside?

 

[British Red]

I have some figs in the greenhouse but still quite small. I'm concerned about leaving them outside - I maybe being a bit of a nervous ninny on that point.

Maybe I should just pot them up to a larger pot and leave them outside?

As you know you do need to restrict the roots but a big pot is fine (and can be buried in the ground too). These one have seen -10C without issue. In Hampshire I know some massive fig trees (20' plus).

 

[TeeDee]

As you know you do need to restrict the roots but a big pot is fine (and can be buried in the ground too). These one have seen -10C without issue. In Hampshire I know some massive fig trees (20' plus).

And they fruit on a regular basis? Are we talking a few fruit or plentiful? Figs with a little cheese and honey is a guilty pleasure of mine.

 

[British Red]

And they fruit on a regular basis? Are we talking a few fruit or plentiful? Figs with a little cheese and honey is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Several hundred on a good year

 

[TeeDee]

I am once again , feeling inadequate.

 

[slowworm]

We inherited a fig with our house and every year it produces hundreds of large figs every year. Sadly it seems to be growing in an old scrap heap so I'm reluctant to eat them.

I have taken cuttings and have had a few figs produced in pots but they do seem to like a bit more room than a pot. (I need to take some more cuttings as the main plant may need to be dug out).

I've never know a fig get killed by the cold, lack of water or poor drainage tends to kill young plants.

 

[British Red]

I am once again , feeling inadequate.

Honestly once they establish, they go nuts

 

[TeeDee]

I don't want to derail your thread too much but what other soft fruit trees ( conventional or not ) do you find very prolific? I'm looking for a heavy fruiting Plum I can have as an espalier.

 

[British Red]

I don't want to derail your thread too much but what other soft fruit trees ( conventional or not ) do you find very prolific? I'm looking for a heavy fruiting Plum I can have as an espalier.

Plums are fickle but if you get a good one they are great. My one bit of advice is to prune in Summer. Winter pruning lets bacterial canker in. Varieties well, Victoria of course but Opal are reliable and Green Gages taste awesome. Strictly speaking they are stone fruit rather than soft fruit which is more berries etc.

 

[FerlasDave]

I for one would appreciate the laksa recipe, if you wouldn’t mind please?

 

[British Red]

I for one would appreciate the laksa recipe, if you wouldn’t mind please?

Hi Dave,

Laksa is a bit of a hybrid dish (Thai / Malaysian / Chinese) & there are many variations. Like so many noodle dishes it really is all about the stock! Given the time of year (chicken killing season) I am making an enormous batch as we speak!

Chicken Stock by English Countrylife, on Flickr

Anyway, if you are a reader of recipes, this is a great place to start

Spicy Noodle Laksa Recipe

This spicy laksa recipe from actress and Celebrity Masterchef winner Sophie Thompson is made with rice noodles which makes it gluten free.

www.greatbritishchefs.com

 

[British Red]

For those who prefer to watch a recipe, this is "Aunty Liz" (of Uncle Roger fame). Her food is...look, just watch it

 

[FerlasDave]

That’s awesome! Thank you!

 

[slowworm]

@TeeDee here's a photo of the figs from our tree. A good size and popular with the wildlife including hornets. I'll take some cuttings and might have a plant or two spare in a year; I don't think it is the usual Brown Turkey cultivar, so hope it is one more suited to Devon and worth cultivating.

 

[TeeDee]

@TeeDee here's a photo of the figs from our tree. A good size and popular with the wildlife including hornets. I'll take some cuttings and might have a plant or two spare in a year; I don't think it is the usual Brown Turkey cultivar, so hope it is one more suited to Devon and worth cultivating.View attachment 90208

Thank you that very generous of you - more than happy to either pickup in person or pay for postage.