New discovery this year after high yields of quince. This is a tree that is often used for rootstock for more popular fruit trees like apple and plum. I planted bare root trees many years ago but have only recently seen viable fruit levels in the last 2 years or so.
Its easy to find out recipes on the tinternet and I just mixed honey, sugar and a similar weight of peeled quince and boiled. You get a lemony refreshing slushy jam which hits the spot with wholemeal toast. Everything in the picture is organic apart from the sugar. We have a very productive bee hive on site.
Easy to make plum and damson jam. I mix the same amount of sugar (or slightly less) with the fruit and boil/simmer for as long as it takes. KEY ADVICE you must keep stirring or you create a lot of work later cleaning the saucepans. The upper layer of jam acts as an insulator for the lower levels and you cant see the burning at the bottom. When you stir with a wooden spoon you can feel it sticking to the bottom and carbonising. The stirring moves the heat around evenly.
For this reason I do the jam while cooking other things or I get side tracked and have to get the scrubbing brushes out later. If I'm there for other tasks I remember to stir.
Blackberries started off fruiting too small to be viable this Summer I think because of the very dry hot conditions but they have recovered splendidly. This spot is quite sunny but the ground is sheltered from direct sun and the brambles have duly delivered their annual crop.
