January 2, 2021 - Garden and Allotment Tips and Advice

Can You Freeze Melon?

November 10, 2024January 2, 2021 by Gardening With Ben

Can You Freeze Melon

Have you purchased too many melons when you have seen a special offer? Melons do not last long once they have been picked or bought from the shop so the question a lot of people ask is can you freeze melon to use at a later date? The answer to the question is yes you can freeze melon. Here we will provide you with the step by step process on how to freeze melons for a later date.

Allotment and Kitchen Garden Book

Are you starting an allotment or planning on growing your own fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a kitchen garden? If so we highly recommend the book Allotment Month By Month. This does exactly what it does on the cover to help you with what you should be doing in the allotment and kitchen garden each month. Below you can see the link for Amazon where you can purchase the book directly. This book is extremely popular with all allotment holders as you will read in the reviews:-

You can check out all the allotment and kitchen garden books we recommend here.

How to freeze Melon

Here we will give you an easy step by step process on how to freeze your melon so that you can use them at a later date and not waste any food. Whether it is a watermelon or a cantaloupe melon you can use the same method for freezing them.

If you are growing your own cantaloupe melon you will always know if it is ripe as you well be able to smell the sweet melon smell.
Wash your melons – Make sure that your melons have been thoroughly washed before you start to slice them up. This is because they can be dirty from being stored at the supermarket.
Dry your melons – Make sure you have then dried them well after you have washed them. You don’t want your melons slipping out of your hands.
Slice the melon open – if it is over ripe it will not freeze very well and should be used up.
Scoop the seeds out of the melon.
Slice your melon into cubes – you don’t want the rind on the melon when freezing.
Place some baking paper on a baking tray and place the melons on the paper spread out so they are not touching.
Freeze the melon for one hour until the pieces are solid.
Once frozen you can transfer the pieces to either a Tupperware box or zip lock bags.
Sprinkle sugar over the melon the help keep the flavour.
Write the date on the box or bag so you know when you froze them.
Place the melon back in the freezer until you need them.
The melon can be stored in the freezer for upto 1 year.

We hope you have got the answer to the question “Can you freeze melon?” Now you won’t be wasting any melon by throwing them away. Safely freeze your melon until needed.

Can You Freeze Cucumber?

November 10, 2024January 2, 2021 by Gardening With Ben

Can You Freeze Cucumber

Growing your own cucumbers can be fun and exciting. The only issue with growing cucumbers is that they can all seem to be ready at the same time so if you have not got anyone to give them to you can be quite inundated with how many you have. Cucumbers do not tend to last forever once picked so the question you may ask is can you freeze cucumber? In this how-to guide, we will be explaining the best way to freeze your cucumber so you can use it as and when you need it.

Allotment and Kitchen Garden Book

You can check out all the allotment and kitchen garden books we recommend here.

How to freeze Cucumbers

Here we will give you an easy step by step process on how to freeze your cucumbers so that you can use them at a later date and not waste any food. You don’t want to be freezing your cucumbers whole as they will not defrost very good they will become soggy and mushy which is not what you want.

Wash the cucumbers thoroughly.
If you don’t like the cucumber skin you can peel them with a vegetable peeler.
Slice the cucumbers into slices.
Place a sheet of baking paper on a baking tray
Lay the slices of cucumber on the baking trays
Leave in a freezer for 2 hours until frozen solid.
Take the cucumbers out and place them in a zip lock bag with the date on and place back in the freezer.
You can leave the frozen cucumber in the freezer for up to 6 months until needed.

We hope you have got the answer to the question “Can you freeze cucumber?” Now you won’t be wasting any cucumbers by throwing them away. Safely freeze your cucumber until needed.

What we are up to in January at the allotment and home.

November 10, 2024January 2, 2021 by Gardening With Ben

What we are up to in January at the allotment and home.

Hello and welcome to my first blog of 2020. Hopefully, these will be a regular occurrence if I have time. In this blog, we will keep you updated with how things are doing at the allotment and what we are getting up to.

As I write this blog we have snow falling in Sheffield so there is not much I am able to do at the allotment but I am still able to do things at home.

Allotment and Kitchen Garden Book

You can check out all the allotment and kitchen garden books we recommend here.

Gardening Podcasts

Last year we tried doing gardening podcasts for a month and they were really well received so we have relaunched these. These are available on nearly all the podcast platforms – Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and many more so search for Gardening with Ben and subscribe to stay updated with my regular gardening podcasts. These probably won’t be daily but there should be a couple a week to listen too. We have put two new ones online so far this year so check them out.

Seeds to plant this month

It’s always exciting to plant seeds in the new year and get started with new plants. Last year i grew flowers for the first time last year and will be growing lots more this year trying different things. Yesterday I went and purchased my first lot of seeds. These were:-

Broadbeans
Aubergine
Onions
Pepper
Strawberry
Rhubarb
Geraniums
Carnations
Snap Dragons
Sweet Peas.

Let me know which seeds you are sowing this month? Find out other seeds you can sow here.

Jobs happening in the allotment

Well down on the allotment I was nearly at the top of my plot with digging it over but the bad weather has put a stop to that. Fingers crossed it gets better soon so I can finish digging it over and rebuild my paths and beds. Mind you I have a few months before I will be planting outdoors. My next task will be to improve my shed and get it ready for sowing the bulk of my seeds at the end of March and April. I will certainly make sure my shelves are secure after what happened last year. After I have completed my rebuilding and completing my shed I will then go back to working on the top of my plot which I started at the end of last year. This is going to be a new herb garden and seated area in my plot. I don’t really why I’m making a seated area as I certainly do not have time to rest.

Gardening With Ben Shop

At the moment the shop is closed to purchase hoodies and T-shirts as the printers are closed for the new year. But in the background I’m adding more products including women’s t-shirts and hoodies as well as men’s vest tops which I was asked for. We are also excited that we are launching 10 new designs so watch this space!

Greeting Cards – Last year I had someone come down and take some fantastic pictures of my produce and plants. These have been put onto greeting cards and will be available to purchase so for any occasion.

Again I wish you all a happy new year and thankyou for all the support you give me. I cannot believe how big my following has got to.

Remember Keep Gardening!

Gardening With Ben

tomatoes carrots and radish on the top of the table

Can You Freeze Tomatoes

November 10, 2024January 2, 2021 by Gardening With Ben

Can You Freeze Tomatoes

Growing tomatoes can be great fun and you can certainly reap the rewards from the harvests of the plants. You can be inundated from the amount that you will harvest. You will have fruit bowls full and friends and family will love them. Unfortunately, tomatoes do not last long once picked so need to be eaten fast. The question you may ask though is can you freeze Tomatoes? Well, the answer is yes you can freeze tomatoes easily to be used at a later date. Here we will be explaining how to freeze your own grown tomatoes.

Find out about different tomato varieties here.

Allotment and Kitchen Garden Book

You can check out all the allotment and kitchen garden books we recommend here.

How to freeze tomatoes

Here we will give you an easy step by step process on how to freeze your tomatoes so that you can use them at a later date and not waste any food. You can save all your tomatoes for sauces, salsa. When freezing tomatoes there is no blanching required or peeling them it is a straight forward process. The only issue with freezing tomatoes is that they will only be good for sauces, you won’t be able to eat them normally as they will just be soggy when defrosted.

To freeze your tomatoes all you need to do is write a date on a zip lock bag and put the tomatoes in them. Make sure there is no air in the bag when fastening up. You can then store them in the freezer for up to a year!

You will not be wasting any tomatoes this year now and will be able to store them to use for your stews, curries, soups to make some delicious meals.

We hope you have got the answer to the question “Can you freeze tomatoes?” Now you won’t be wasting any tomatoes by throwing them away. Safely freeze your tomatoes until needed.

Best Growing Flower Books

November 10, 2024January 2, 2021 by Gardening With Ben

Best Growing Flower Books

Are you looking at growing flowers in the garden and allotment? Do you want to grow your own cut flowers for your vases in the house? Here we have found the best growing flower books available to purchase online. These flower books and flower encyclopedias will give you lots of information tips and advice for growing your own flowers.

Allotment and Kitchen Garden Book

You can check out all the allotment and kitchen garden books we recommend here.

Book The Cut Flower Patch: Grow your own cut flowers all year round

About the book:-

Growing your own cut flowers is so rewarding and you can benefit from the hard work by filling your vases and giving them away to friends and family. In this book Louise gives you advice and tips on how to grow them from seeds, bulbs and plants. Louise also gives information on hardy annuals, half hardies and biennials to spring and summer bulbs to adding foliage and fillers. Follow these step by step tips and advice to getting great displays in the garden.

Purchase the book:-

Here you can see the price the book is currently on sale for at Amazon. Click the link below where you can purchase the book safely and securely through Amazon

Reviews of the book:-

This gardening book has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. It has a 5* percentage of 77% from over 100 purchases. It is a very popular book for gardeners. Here is what some of the purchases have said about the book:-

Click to purchase the book from Amazon

Book Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms.

About the book:-

In this book you will get tips and advice on:-

Irresistible photos of Erin’s flower farm that showcase exquisite blooms
Tips for growing in a variety of spaces and climates
Step-by-step instructions for lavish garlands, airy centrepieces, and romantic florist design and décor for every season

Purchase the book:-

Here you can see the price the book is currently on sale for at Amazon. Click the link below where you can purchase the book safely and securely through Amazon

Reviews of the book:-

This gardening book has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. It has a 5* percentage of 78% from over 140 purchases. It is a very popular book for gardeners. Here is what some of the purchases have said about the book:-

Click to purchase the book from Amazon