Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Edible Borders


Are you are looking for something gay and colourful to plant in your summer borders this year that doesn't cost the Earth? Then look no further than the supermarket veg aisle and keep your eyes peeled for Jerusalem Artichokes, they are neither artichokes, nor from Jerusalem, they are native to North America and are perennial sunflowers, producing tall thick stems that reach 6-10 feet high, loaded with yellow flowers, smaller than the sunflowers we all know but just as striking. I bought a bag of them today from the discounted shelf at Sainsbury's £1.50 reduced to 25p I just hope nobody saw me.

If you have got the space Taro root, turmeric and ginger make attractive plants too, you might have to go to Waitrose for them, take advantage of those serve yourself tills, place the taro root, ginger and turmeric together into one of those net bags they provide and put them through as bananas the whole bundle will cost less than 80p.

14 comments:

  1. Good economical tips on shopping and gardening at the same time. You are a marvel - the new Mrs Beeton, indeed! Jx

    PS Sweet potatoes are actually a variety of Morning Glory, hostas are related to and taste like asparagus, and you can eat day-lilies, dahlias and zinnias too.

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    1. I'm always plotting and scheming at the supermarket and I found a novel way to obtain free seeds from the garden centre, I can't help myself.

      Back later, I'm being called for.

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  2. I am always amazed at Mitzi's housekeeping tips. I don't know why some nice man hasn't swept her off her feet.

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    1. Men Mrpeenee, to quote Lily Savage 'Why buy a book, when you can join a library'.

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  3. Thank you, Mitzi, my borders do need to be livened up, if not trimmed and tidied.
    And many thanks for the serve yourself tip - so many things to be disguised as bananas.
    Sx

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    1. They are a boon those serve yourself checkouts. Never pay full price for Morrison's salad bar again, fill a carton then place it in a brown bag and put it through as bananas. When buying loose bananas don't overfill the bag with them, save some room for smaller items such as expensive vanilla bean paste/extract and marmite etc.

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  4. At least you were hopefully not seen at Sainsbury's and not Asda...

    I've grown ginger root for years, but these Jerusalem artichokes are new to me. I'm going to have to get some to plant up the allotment (not a euphemism).

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    1. You'll find them in the chiller at Sainsbury's and Waitrose ask a menial if you can't find them. Mine have already started to sprout they're going to be rampant. They would make an excellent windbreak for an exposed side on your allotment and an ideal privacy screen if you have nosy neighbours.

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  5. So WHY the name Jerusalem Artichokes if they are neither from Jerusalem nor are they artichokes?

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    1. Bugger only knows. The Italian word for sunflowers is Girosoli which sounds very similar to Jerusalem and it probably morphed into Jerusalem over the years, that's my reckoning anyway.

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  6. This is good old Topinambur. SOme Franch Canadians sent the stuff to Europe in the beginning of the 17th century, they had survived a harsh winter because of that "knolle".

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    1. It's used to make a schnapps too, a good all-rounder.

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  7. Darling Mitzi,

    Alas, we no longer have any borders to 'jazz' up. Indeed, we cannot even boast of a window box or a single plant pot. Our gardening days have been consigned to the ancient past of our lives to be replaced by Bloody Marys sporting a stick of celery.

    Trust you are well. So happy to find you still here in Blogland with Ms Scarlett for company. xx

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    1. A visit from Jane and Lance is always a welcome surprise. Has it really been 6 years since your last post?

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