Glut...how? Share your Success :)

[catkeeble]

I keep hearing the word 'glut' on the vine...

What is it?! I'm assuming it's when you get shed loads of a certain crop??

If so, how are people getting 'gluts' of their crops that are doing especially well??

I would love to hear how people do well with either their speciality crops or if they are growing something for the first time and are really pleased with the results and would like to share some tips with me (and everyone else!!)

Just thought it would help me (and everyone else!!) if you would!

Thanks

[Two_Sheds]

A glut isn't necessarily a good thing
To have "just enough" veg every day is much better, but nature doesn't work that way.

A week of heavy rain has given me a glut of lawn and weeds, which is just hateful.

[rustylady]

I seem to be having a glut of courgettes at the moment. All the rain has given me a glut of weeds, too. But the lawn isn't a problem at the moment - the guineapigs are coping well.

[maytreefrannie]

Loads of tomatoes here - but it's hardly a glut, as we have about 10 plants, Gardener's Delight, Moneymaker, Brandywine, Marnande.

[reetnproper]

We did have a glut of mange tout but they've now come to an end (plenty in the freezer). We were in danger of a courgette one but they are now producing 1 each per week, per plant (we have 3).

Thankfully everything else seems to be coming along at a nice steady pace but I predict a glut of runners in a couple of weeks, judging by the volume of flowers and tiny beans currently on the plants .

Reet
x

[solway cropper]

I try to stagger my sowings to avoid a glut but with some things it is very difficult. there are always tons of runner and climbing beans but thankfully they freeze well. Tomatoes, after a late start are all ripening well but I just give those I can't use to neighbours.

[catkeeble]

Right now, a glut of anything in my garden would be fab!!

I wasn't aware that you could freeze runner beans? Is there anything specific you have to do to them when freezing or do you just whack them in??

[maypril]

What is it?! I'm assuming it's when you get shed loads of a certain crop??

I've always understood it to be when you get too much of a certain crop (ie more than your family can eat). Courgettes and runner beans tend to produce more than you can eat so they often produce gluts.

The trick of course is to try and not grow too many plants, but with some plants such as courgettes, even one plant can overload you. With runner beans if you have too few plants, you won't get enough servings in one picking to feed the family, but the many pickings will soon add up and the family won't be wanting them every other meal!

Freezing works well for some veg but not others. Preserving through pickling and jam/chutney making is another method. Some veg can be dried, others can be stored in other ways. If all else fails, give them to your neighbour!

[maypril]

I wasn't aware that you could freeze runner beans? Is there anything specific you have to do to them when freezing or do you just whack them in??

You need to blanch them to kill off the enzymes that will break the food down in the freezer. To do this, you need a pan of boiling water and a bowl of cold water (the colder the better, throw some ice cubes in if you can). While the water is boiling, slice the runner beans.

You then want to put the runner beans in the boiling water for 3-4 minutes (depending on number of beans and how long the water takes to return to the boil). If you have lots of runner beans, do them in batches or use a bigger pan. This is because if you put too many in, the water will take a while to return to the boil and you want them to heat quickly to kill the enzymes. You don't want them in too long or they'll cook.

Once the time is up, drain the beans and put them in the icy water for a minute or two until they are cool. Then put them straight into freezer bags, tie and label them and put them in the freezer.

[Alison]

You need to blanch them to kill off the enzymes that will break the food down in the freezer. To do this, you need a pan of boiling water and a bowl of cold water (the colder the better, throw some ice cubes in if you can). While the water is boiling, slice the runner beans.

You then want to put the runner beans in the boiling water for 3-4 minutes (depending on number of beans and how long the water takes to return to the boil). If you have lots of runner beans, do them in batches or use a bigger pan. This is because if you put too many in, the water will take a while to return to the boil and you want them to heat quickly to kill the enzymes. You don't want them in too long or they'll cook.

Once the time is up, drain the beans and put them in the icy water for a minute or two until they are cool. Then put them straight into freezer bags, tie and label them and put them in the freezer.

Never bother blanching as it makes the texture a bit yucky when you eventually eat them. Also, it's another thing to be bothered doing and it's not really necessary. If I boiled beans for 3-4 minutes then they'd be ready for me to eat so none would ever get to the freezer

[GriffR]

My glut "success" was to be hopelessly slapdash on labelling my seedlings and ending up with way more cucumber plants than planned. Of course they have all now decided to do very well and we are currently overrun with crystal lemon and burpless tasty cucs !.

[Liza]

I never have a "glut" with all my animals

[binley100]

Gherkins, gherkins and more bladdy gherkins.......... Next year I won't grow so many . I mean how many jars of pickled gherkins does a family want.........

[Liza]

Gherkins, gherkins and more bladdy gherkins.......... Next year I won't grow so many . I mean how many jars of pickled gherkins does a family want.........

Yummy, Ill have 10 jars please

Perhaps we should start a grape market ! ?

I will have loads of fresh figs

[susieq100]

Gherkins, gherkins and more bladdy gherkins.......... Next year I won't grow so many . I mean how many jars of pickled gherkins does a family want.........

Well I can eat a jar of gherkins a week with very little effort indeed My son and I had this conversation and decided that there are really two sorts of people - those who love vinegar and pickles and those who don't. My family adore them so I'm putting up a jar of gherkins every other day and my only concern is that I am going to run out of jars.