What do you class as a glut? Is it anything that produces in abundance - if so would you consider a bumper crop of strawberries to be a glut? I know I wouldn't. In fact I never consider huge harvests of fruit to be a glut. Even last year when we had masses of plums it wasn't a glut in my eyes. Any that we didn't want were welcome as gifts so not wasted.
At the moment we are harvesting large amounts of runner beans but I don't consider that to be a glut either. We can use whatever we pick either straight away or we can freeze some to use when the runner bean season is over. Again we don't seem to have problems giving some away. Once we have had our fill we can just let the plants fade.
The outdoor cucumbers are doing well this year but again I don't think of this as a glut - even though I went round my neighbours like a door to door salesman giving them away to neighbours. I guess the idea of being able to pick lots of cucumbers is satisfying in that there is always a chance that they will not produce so there is a sense of achievement when they do!
We never have a glut of carrots - you can never have too many carrots - we leave these in the ground over winter and dig them up whenever we need them.
Personally it seems the only time I refer to having a glut is in relation to courgettes - so why is this? For us a glut is when something produces so much that we can't use, store or give away the crop fast enough and end up with produce being added to the compost heap. There isn't the option to leave fruits on courgette plants as they grow so quickly and spoil. On top of this the plant will cease production altogether if fruit aren't taken off considering that the job of producing seed is done. Picking courgettes is akin to dead heading flowers.
Each year we promise to grow less plants but each year something prevents us from keeping our promise - usually a freebie packet of seeds comes along that just must be tried. This year we also grew extra plants as it seemed unlikely that many would survive but they did. So far we have managed to give away any courgettes that were surplus to our requirements - so if I am to stick to my definition of a glut then the courgettes are at that stage just yet but I don't suppose this can go on for much longer. IN the meantime if you live near us and you see me heading your way with a box - watch out!
At the moment we are harvesting large amounts of runner beans but I don't consider that to be a glut either. We can use whatever we pick either straight away or we can freeze some to use when the runner bean season is over. Again we don't seem to have problems giving some away. Once we have had our fill we can just let the plants fade.
Personally it seems the only time I refer to having a glut is in relation to courgettes - so why is this? For us a glut is when something produces so much that we can't use, store or give away the crop fast enough and end up with produce being added to the compost heap. There isn't the option to leave fruits on courgette plants as they grow so quickly and spoil. On top of this the plant will cease production altogether if fruit aren't taken off considering that the job of producing seed is done. Picking courgettes is akin to dead heading flowers.
Each year we promise to grow less plants but each year something prevents us from keeping our promise - usually a freebie packet of seeds comes along that just must be tried. This year we also grew extra plants as it seemed unlikely that many would survive but they did. So far we have managed to give away any courgettes that were surplus to our requirements - so if I am to stick to my definition of a glut then the courgettes are at that stage just yet but I don't suppose this can go on for much longer. IN the meantime if you live near us and you see me heading your way with a box - watch out!
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I think there are ways and means of using everything up...I was thinking to myself just the other day that we are far too wasteful as a society in general. I don't count anything as a glut...if it produces plenty then surely it' just a bonus although my Hubby is getting a little fed up with courgettes now. Oh well if all else fails at least it will help feed the pigs.
ReplyDeleteI think where I have been going wrong with the courgettes is I have been missing too many and letting them get way too big....I am hoping to remedy that next year...same with my gherkins too.
This has turned more into a rambling post than a comment...oh well...I guess I can use some of it in a post too.
erm what was the question?? Oh yeah, what do you class as a glut..erm....I guess it is only a glut when we decide we've had enough and so have all the neighbours!!
The beauty of having an allotment shop is we can also sell veggies that are in abundance to help raise funds for improvements on the plots. That way more people get good home-grown veg too!!
We don't have an allotment shop, Tanya so that isn't an option but so far nothing has gone to waste - our neighbours have a enormous capacity for courgettes.
DeleteMy neighbours have an enormous capacity for everything I grow!!!!
DeleteI'm envious now I've seen those bags of runner beans destined for the freezer. I'm still hoping that my late sowing will start producing soon.
ReplyDeleteAnd there are already lots in ours and my sister's freezer, Jo. Oops sorry shouldn't have mentioned it.
DeleteI've always thought of having a glut as having so many of something that you have to actively think of how to get rid of them. I suspect the dictionary defintion would add that no one else wants them but for me a you can have a glut in something desireable but end up having to rack your brain for new ways to use it - and get a little sick of the sight of it in the process. The perfect example would be plums - when mum's trees are ripe we start out making jam but there are only so many jars of jam needed and from there one has to get imaginative about how its used:- plum sauce, plum chutney, pies, stewed and frozen etc. Wanted but definitely a glut in my version of the word.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever made plum sorbet?? It's lovely!!
DeleteWe get loads of plums in a good year, Liz but never seem to have too many. We freeze loads in a sort of compote and what we don't want allotment neighbours are happy to take off our hands.
DeleteI haven't had the pleasure of any gluts as I can barely manage to provide veg for myself with my 'improvers' veg growing ability lol! I think I would consider a glut anything I couldn't manage to eat or freeze for my own household. The nearest I'm getting at the minute is cherry tomatoes - I'm getting a small bowl full daily but am managing to eat so far.
ReplyDeleteI bet those cherry tomatoes are delicious though Kelli
Deleteahaha - i think a glut is in relation to courgettes too!! haha - there is nothing better than giving your fruit and veg to loved ones. We have friends that gloat over what they got at parties, it's so silly. One couple got loads of rhubarb the other loads of spuds - both thought they's done the best, it got a little heated hahahah
ReplyDeleteWe were only saying the other day, Carrie that you forget how special homegrown vegetable are - especially when people are so enthusiastic when you give some away.
DeleteI never had a feeling of "glut"....we got enough harvest for daily use only! hahahha...
ReplyDeleteAnyway do you receive any malware warning when go to my blog? I don't knw why.....but no danger actually since I try using another acc to enter...strange....
No I don't get any warnings, Malar although I've been away for a week so have been out of circulation. I'll let you know if I do get a warning.
DeleteGood question.
ReplyDeleteI'd definately fancy some of those cucumbers though!!
For me, a glut this year has been the arrival of 7 GIANT MARROWS! All at once, haven't even ate one yet. We are sick of marrows, we must have harvested about 30 in total this growing season. Must be the rain!!
The cucumbers were just so crunchy Martin! So were the 7 officially marrows or just overgrown courgettes?
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