Rustical

Category: Food

  • Planting Peppers Early

    At the end of the last season, a friend kindly posted to us a few seeds from a giant pepper with a view of us having a go at growing a big one. He advised us to get them planted early January  which seems incredibly early but he is the expert so today half of…

  • Display of red mushrooms with white spots heralds Autumn

    The annual arrival of our red mushrooms with white spots heralds the onset of Autumn. I did buy a book to identify safe mushrooms to eat but, having read it, decided against it as being ‘almost certain’ just isn’t good enough. However, in this instance being ‘nearly sure’ IS good enough; I am almost certain that…

  • Gathering Giant Pumpkins

    On fields eerily shrouded in mist, the 2016 Giant Pumpkin harvest has begun. All the giant pumpkins that have not been sold in advance will be listed for sale on www.bigpumpkins.co.uk/pumpkins-for-sale/

  • Harvesting Mini Pumpkins

    The 2016 season mini pumpkins are now available. They make perfect autumnal table decorations for restaurants, events and weddings either as they are (they are very tactile) or can be used hollowed out as tea light candle holders. We have even sold them for use as soup bowls. We are harvesting them to order at…

  • New range of smokehouse wood chips added

    Our little Wood Chunks website has been selling our home grown wood for some time now to the point where our regular customers kindly bring samples of their fare which is very much appreciated (hint, hint) . Food smoking is an art and from my experience, each ‘artist’ likes to understandably select the materials that…

  • Busy day in the sun

    A very busy day making the most of the sunshine to get caught up with all the field and footpath mowing but the highlight was cutting our first pumpkins of the season. It usually gets to September before the PR people remember to think about Halloween but quite a few have been making enquiries already. The…

  • Roast Tomato and Pepper Soup

    As we hit ‘peak tomato’ in the polytunnel we try and prepare as many portions of our favourite soup; freezing portions of our delicious roast tomato and pepper soup for a hearty warming meal later in the autumn. In fact every time the oven goes on, a tray of roughly chopped tomatoes, peppers, garlic and…

  • Rosemary Twigs for flavour on the BBQ or Smoker

    In response to a Wood Chunks Customer request I have been today been bundling Rosemary twigs for use in the smoker or on the BBQ. As a rule resinous woods are not favoured for use in smokers but as these burn so quickly they are used to provide an instant hit of the herbs distinctive…

  • July Poly Tunnel Update

    A few snapshots of the more interesting crops growing in the polytunnel.                  

  • NFT and Aeroponic Hydroponic Trials

    A new greenhouse with an electric supply has allowed us to trial growing lemongrass plants in some NFT and Aeroponic hydroponic systems. We now have Lemongrass plants in a Nutriculture NFT hydroponic grow tank, some Fennel in a smaller NFT system and some ‘mother’ lemongrass plants in an aeroponics tank. I have no idea if Fennel will grow…