GARDENING
The little red berry that makes Christmas
T
he end of summer and the loss of an hour, brings with it shortening days with the sun flying at half-mast in the sky. Our thoughts turn to Christmas as we busy ourselves with celebrations and thoughts of our family and friends. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a spoonful of homemade cranberry sauce to really bring out the best of that juicy slice of turkey. Did you know that cranberries can grow in the UK, although you do need to invest a few years of love and attention before they reward you with their bounty. • When planting allow approximately two square feet for plant to spread. • If your soil tends to be dry, the dug area could be lined with polythene. • You don’t want to create standing water (that’s a pond), just soupy soil, so punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage. • Fill the area with ericaceous soil, sharp sand, and add a sprinkling of blood, fish & bone to the planting hole. • Water regularly and mulch as cranberries like a moist soil • Water like mad through the growing season, with rainwater whenever possible. • About every 3 years during production, cut out any dead wood, never the uprights, and trim new runners to invigorate berry production • Ripe berries are deep red and seed inside is brown • Before winter sets in, cover plants with heavy mulch of pine cuttings. • Cover plants with fleece in spring to protect the new growth.
Many people consider cranberries to be a superfood due to their high vitamin c and antioxidant content. Homemade Cranberry Sauce Ingredients: 500g cranberries (fresh or frozen) 200g caster sugar 100ml water Zest & juice of 1 orange ¾ tsp dried cinnamon 80 ml por t What you need to do: Put the cranberries in a large, heavy-bottomed pan with the caster sugar, water, orange zest, orange juice and cinnamon and bring to the boil. After 5 – 10 minutes the cranberries will pop open. When they have started to open and soften, mash lightly to let out all the pectin, this will make the sauce thicken. Stir in the port and cook on a moderate heat for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat, ladle into warm, dry, sterilised jars and seal. Once opened, keep in the fridge and eat within 1-2 weeks
Garden jobs for December & January
• Insulate outdoor taps and prevent ponds from freezing • Harvest leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage, sprouts and remaining root crops • Protect terracotta pots from cracking in freezing weather by bringing them indoors or wrapping in bubble polythene
• Reduce watering of houseplants • Check stored bulbs and corms regularly for signs of rot • Order seed catalogues Most importantly have a great relaxing Christmas. By Suzi M - garden lover and plotter at Roundhill Allotments
Completely Bromsgrove
19
