Sunday 23 August 2009

Bletting my medlars

Three years ago when we planted up the gaps in the orchard, two medlars were included in the list of "must have" trees. I'm still berating myself for having forgotten a black mulberry, but this winter I will buy one - there is a tree guard already up waiting to protect it.
The medlars are growing nicely in their contorted fashion, and in contrast with two medlar fruits last year, they are positively blooming having produced a couple of fistfuls.
The fruit is sitting in the scullery waiting to blet, or rot, just a little before I make some medlar cheese, not unlike a quince membrillo.
The place is full of bowls and trugs and baskets and trays of runner beans, blackberries, courgettes, tomatoes, aubergines and more. We start jamming and peeling and shredding with a vengeance but start to flag by 6pm. There will be more to bottle and preserve tomorrow.

6 comments:

Whispering Walls said...

Meddling pedlars peddling medlars

Sara said...

It's such a wonderful, bountiful time of year! I'm picking blackberries tomorrow to make Blackberry jam & Blackberry & Apple chutney. Wish me luck - I'm a bit of a novice at this home produce thing!

Mopsa said...

WW - new tongue twister - cheers!

Sara - it's addictive and very rewarding and NOT difficult. Follow someone's tried and trusted recipe and love the results.

mountainear said...

We can tick both medlar and mulberry boxes.

The mulberries are only young and produce only enough fruit to feed a couple of blackbirds. The medlar is still trying - our previous one fruited, erm, fruitfully but I was never over-impressed with it.

It is a wonderfully productive time of year and those groaning larder shelves are The Best.

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Mopsa said...

Tell me more, James, if that's ok?