| I'm not by any means a gardener, but I do love my | | | | tomato seeds. Two weeks went by and the flowers |
| grandchildren and when they clamoured to buy some | | | | started to show, but there was no sign of the |
| seeds, I let them pick one packet each. Chloe the | | | | tomatoes. Another two week went by and just |
| eldest picked a packet of mixed flowers, and I | | | | when I'd given up. Bethany came racing indoors, all |
| reckoned I could cope with them. But the youngest | | | | excited. |
| Bethany was going through one of those phases that | | | | 'Come and look Grandad, they are growing.' |
| children go through. She had taken to eating | | | | And sure enough the tomatoes were showing, but I |
| tomatoes, as if they were apples, she couldn't get | | | | didn't hold out much hope for the crop. Anyway as |
| enough of them. | | | | soon as the plants were big enough I transplanted |
| Yes, that's Right. You've guessed it. She picked a | | | | them into a couple of grow bags and they took off, |
| packet of tomato seeds. Glory be, what was I to do | | | | like Jack's magic beanstalk. |
| now, as far as I was aware you needed a | | | | . |
| greenhouse in these northern climes, to grow | | | | It's now the 30th of September, the plants are 5ft |
| tomatoes. I tried to talk her out of it, but she was | | | | high, filled with tomatoes, and are still flowering. |
| having none of it. | | | | Bethany is over the moon and is looking forward to |
| 'You said I could pick my own seeds, Grandad,' she | | | | picking her first fruit, or should I say vegetable? But |
| cried. | | | | as we slide into October, no way on earth are they |
| 'Yes, but I don't think you can grow them without a | | | | going to ripen and to save her disappointment I |
| greenhouse.' I said. | | | | decided after consultation with the Grand Dame, my |
| 'Why?' | | | | mother in-law, to turn them into chutney. See the |
| 'Because, they don't like the cold.' | | | | recipe below. By the way, Chloe's flowers bloomed, |
| 'But it's not cold, Grandad, it's nice and warm.' | | | | though they are nearly finished now. |
| 'I don't mean just today, I mean in general.' | | | | Green Tomato Chutney. |
| 'What's in general?' | | | | Will make 5- 6lb. |
| 'It means...em... it's cold most days.' | | | | Ingredients |
| 'That's alright then, we'll plant them today while it's | | | | 4lb green tomatoes |
| warm.' | | | | 1lb apples |
| I gave in then, thinking, we'll plant the seeds today | | | | 1lb of onions |
| and she'll eventually forget all about them. | | | | 8oz of raisins |
| I paid for the seeds, a pack of plant pots, a bag of | | | | 2lb of soft brown sugar |
| compost, and lugged them home on the bus. After | | | | 1/2oz of salt |
| getting off the bus the girls ran ahead, leaving me to | | | | 1/2oz of root ginger |
| hump the compost and plant pots. Reaching the | | | | 1oz of mustard seeds |
| house and since my hands were full, I pushed the | | | | 11/2 pints of malt vinegar |
| door open with my foot and was just in time to hear | | | | Method |
| the little one say, 'And, Grandma, Grandad's coming | | | | Cut up tomatoes, peel, core, and cut up apples, cut |
| with the pots and the compy stuff and we're going | | | | up onions and chop raisins. |
| to plant the seeds straight away.' | | | | Bruise ginger and tie in muslin bag. |
| 'Hold it, hold it,' I said as I staggered through the | | | | Place all ingredients into pan, bring to boil and simmer |
| door, 'before Grandad does anything, he's going to | | | | until vinegar has been absorbed. (Approx 2 hours) At |
| have a nice cup of tea.' | | | | this point you should be able to draw a wooden |
| 'Aw, Grandad,' she said. | | | | spoon across the mixture and it will leave an |
| But she waited, after a fashion, humming a hawing, | | | | impression. |
| until I had a cup of tea, and then she dragged me | | | | Remove the bag of ginger, pour chutney into hot dry |
| out into the garden. | | | | screw-top jars and place waxed discs on top of each |
| Opening the bag of compost I filled six pots for | | | | one. |
| Chloe and let her plant her own flower seeds, then | | | | Cover jars with a clean cloth until cold. |
| help Bethany with her tomato seeds. Now all we | | | | Screw on lids (Make sure they are vinegar proof |
| could do was wait. | | | | first) label and store in a cool cupboard. |
| The weather was mild so it should have been, since | | | | Mmm, I can taste it now. |
| it was May and we were far too late for planting | | | | |