The First of Many

Yesterday I picked in the first colander-full of plums, the first of very very many I would imagine.  The poor trees are simply groaning under the weight of all the fruit.  Indeed, one of the larger branches has totally collapsed since I was away and has pretty much sheered off under all that weight.  Sadly, the plums on the most laden tree are not ripe as yet so I'm hoping there won't be too many snapped branches before they are ready for picking.  As luck would have it the rotary clothes line is managing to prop up some of the heaviest branches so those should remain OK.  Hanging out the washing is becoming more and more tricky but that's a small price to pay for so many plums.

I stewed up this first lot (very yummy with a dollop of clotted cream on top) and also gave a bagful to the next-door neighbours.  When I went shopping I bought in four bags of preserving sugar - I'm determined to give plum jam a go this year and wouldn't mind trying to make some Chinese-style savoury plum sauce too.  My fingers are itching to have a go with the jam and I may just be tempted to make a couple of jars from the already ripe plums - just to see how it works out.

Although we've not had the 'barbecue summer' so widely predicted by the Met Office in April, the weather we have had seems to have suited the fruit trees very well.  Some of the apples are so large they look like they could be ready for picking - although early August does seem a tad too soon to me.  Anyone know if apples can be picked this early?

Comments

[sharie]

I spotted a plum tree growing 'wild' when I took some of our dogs for a walk today. Still not ripe but next time I go I may take a bag with me.
Plums are tasty, haven't thought of making a jam from them

[Wendy]

We've got a very ancient victoria plum tree at the bottom of our garden. It is very variable as some years we get a lot and others almost nil. Last year was okay and I made a nice lot of jam. This year not too bad but they are all high up out of reach so the starlings and sparrows have got their eyes on them! Got to try and beat them by getting the ladder out this year I think. I'm sure you will be successful with your jam, plums set really well.

[Shoestring]

Oh - I'm so jealous! The garden of my childhood home had four plum trees and I really miss them. So nice of you to pass them on to your neighbours. One of my colleagues just got a bagful from a neighbour and made a lovely plum crumble!

[Teresa]

What lovely fruit. We've got an old plum tree but it hasn't got much fruit this year I'm sorry to say. I'm hoping my husband can get some plums from trees around the Country Estate where he works. I'll definitly give jam a go then. Hope it turns out a success.