Frost disaster??

[Waffler]

Wasn't sure where to post this, so opted for allotments, even though it relates to the garden.
Had a hard frost last night - OH and I both mantain that this wasn't forecast. It's really pretty, but I've wandered round the garden and I'm hoping I haven't fallen foul of it. I haven't yet harvested the apples (bramleys and eaters of some sort) since it's been so mild and have only been using windfalls. The eaters seem normal, but the Bramleys seem to give very slightly when you squeeze them; hardly noticable, but not as hard as I would expect. Does this mean they've been frosted and if so does it mean they can't be stored? I imagine they'll be fine to freeze (in the freezer as opposed to outside!), so I shall pick them today anyway, but wondered whether it's worth trying to store them whole or not.
Also, my newly planted broad bean look a bit sorry for themselves. Planted last week, they stand about 8" tall, but they all have their heads flopped over this morning. Have I lost them?
My lone pumpkin was just starting to orange up a bit, but now I'm thinking that I've probably lost that to the frost.
PLEASE tell me I'm wrong, and that the sun will warm everything up and it will bounce back.

[Elmo]

Can't really answer your question but I can tell you theres more frosts on the way i'm afraid till at least sunday.

[JennieAtkinson]

Sorry to hear you have also succumbed to frost Waffler - our first hard frost was last week, but we don't have apples and fruit growing up here.

[ugly gourd]

Hi waffler sorry to hear your so worried if I was you harvest your apples and pumpkin (ripen on window ledge). The broad beans should flop after the frost and pick up after in the sun so I would leave them but maybe cover with fleece if frosts forecasts sort of hardening of but to the frost as its been so mild the apples my bramleys always give a bit so maybe because you were looking for damage you felt it differently but if you cut one in half most veg when frosted will show a shade darker flesh where its damaged. Ive got lovely mottled butternut from where they got caught yesterday so there stored and Im crossing my fingers :d

[Waffler]

I've brought in all the Bramleys (that I could reach!) and actually they seem fine and don't seem at all soft now - maybe it was just my fingers giving! LOL. My goodness have we got a lot of apples now though! Tomorrow will be spent prepping and freezing the windfalls and laying out the rest in trays etc. to store. We're visiting family at the weekend, so I think I shall go armed with apples!
I think the beans may be ok. The eating apples I haven't actually bothered with (ran out of time and light) and they seemed ok this morning anyway.
Thanks for the encouragement!

[bramble]

Oh Waffler , you just have to make apple jelly, its just delecious. Don't let your apples go to waste.

[NOG]

We had a frost warning on the 31st on BBC4 so Mrs Put all the clay pots in the greenhouse.

I had most of the stuff out of the ground at the plots and couldn't beleive it would frost but it did. Today the car was cvered so up the plot tonight to ct back the Artichokes and cover the crowns with leaves and cut back the Asparagus.

Now waiting for the sun to return.

[Waffler]

Oh Waffler , you just have to make apple jelly, its just delecious. Don't let your apples go to waste.

I won't let them waste bramble - I've already wasted our pears I'm afraid Just didn't get round to doing anything with them in time.
I made chilli jelly today and put 4 Bramley's in that - only 72 to go (ish?!)

[ugly gourd]

how did your chilli jelly turn out I made it today as well I keep gojng and dipping a spoon in it!! :d

[Waffler]

Posted elsewhere on this: tasted fantastic, but hasn't set. I'm gonna follow LJ's advice tomorrow and reboil - possibly with the addition of some shop-bought pectin. but it looks great! Before I washed up the pans etc. I kept wiping my finger through the scrapings.

[Lesley Jay]

Waffler had the scrapings set? Because if they had by tomorrow the jars of jelly should be set aswell.

[Earthbabe]

Sorry to hear about the probs Waffler. I think there may have been some small courgettes here at home and on the lottie but they will probably be mush now. I must admit I have been more worried about the little fellas as they are only 8 weeks old than the veggies. kale etc on lottie should be fine as the frost wasn't that hard. Just hope it's ok next week to put the broad beans, onions and garlic out. All the plots to be used have had membrane on them and I'll cover with fleece so fingers crossed.

[Waffler]

Waffler had the scrapings set? Because if they had by tomorrow the jars of jelly should be set aswell.

No, they hadn't really set and today the 'jelly' is still not set. It's not thin, you can tell it's thickened up, and the chilli bits are suspended rather than sunk, but I wanted it with more of a wobble than a slosh!

[Earthbabe]

Oh dear Waffler. What happens now?

[Waffler]

Well... I thought I'd scowl a lot, stamp my feet, then throw myself on the floor and kick my arms and legs about (otherwise known as 'throwing a major strop'). If that doesn't work, I may follow LJ's advice and buy a bottle of pectin later, add a glug, reboil the mix and see what happens. I'll let you know how I get on!