Fruits

Around this time of the year we get all kinds of things fruiting and one that I have grown mainly for its appearance is the fig.
But what do you do with the fruit?
Its insipid and cant be kept.
Even a neighbour I used to give the fruit to is not really interested anymore.



Another long standing plant that self seeds is Physalis.
It has quite a nice flavour but contains about a thousand seeds per berry.

Any ideas? I dont get enought to make wine BTW.:D



And how about these, they look good, just waiting for a volunteer to try them.
Its the kangaroo apple.:D

 

Hi Pete
The figs look like Brown Turkey. We've got one but have never yet had fruit and if we don't get any next year it's heading for the compost heap! The fruits look much smaller than the ones in the attached photo and they were really juicy and sweet, but are are different variety. I suspect BT fig just isn't in the top division when it comes to taste.

As far as the Physalis goes, we just ate them raw and didn't mind the seeds. If we grow them again I'll have a try at dehydrating some as I believe they shink to about raisin size and taste quite a bit sweeter.

Haven't a clue about your kangaroo apple. Might be worth a trip to a zoo or wildlife park if you need a volunteer :lollol:

Some fresh juicy figs and apricots just that morning picked by a friend in Greece. They were absolutely gorgeous.
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Thanks Dave, I also get the feeling that brown turkey is probably not the greatest when it comes to flavour.
A nice tray of fruit there.:thumb:

 

I've got Brown Turkey and I think it's called a turkey for good reason . Yuck! As you say, the fruit is insipid and altogether unpleasant. Like you, Pete, I grow the plant mainly for the leaves so I'm not too bothered. I haven't got much space and I'm continually chopping mine back - so I never have a bumper crop anyway. But if anyone can suggest what I can do with the ghastly fruit (sensible suggestions only, please) I'd be most grateful.

 

So I'm sure I really need to get a different variety of fig, whats available that would fruit outside in the UK and taste good?
What variety is yours Marley?

I've kept the physalis for a long time in the husk, up until christmas and it tastes very sweet by then.
Is this what you mean by drying?
Or is there an actual drying process that you can put them through.

So you have eaten Kangaroo apple and survived Marley?:D

I might try one some time as I've always been a bit wary of trying them.

 

Pete

What do you mean by Kangaroo Apple? I don't know Solanum aviculare, but I am growing Solanum lactiniatum and I was under the impression that these were poisonous. Mine are currently deep green - but if you are showing S. lactiniatum then I presume mine will go orange as well. But it could be blue if autumn gets here too quick. :D

I am also growing Solanum sisymbriifolium, whose fruits I believe are edible - but I am a bit wary of the Solanum family.

Marley - what were you doing out in Jamaica and for how long? That really is another chapter in the plant book.

 

I think its laciniatum Peter, yes they ripen and self seed.
I've not grown aviculare.

Thanks for pointing out the common names appear to apply to both plants.

Hence my hesitance at trying them.

 

But isn't S. lactiniatum fruit poisonous?

 

I dont know, thats why I've never eaten any.

 

We use an electric dehydrator Pete (toms, apples,strawberries, peas, beans etc,etc). You can get away with a fan-assisted oven on low heat though, but it isn't quite as easy or efficient.

 

So do you end up with a kind of Physalis "Raisen" Dave?

What I mean is, just like dried fruit you buy at the supermarket.

 

I've not tried dehydrating physalis Pete, but going by what we have dried I'd guess the results would be pretty much the same as supermarket dried fruit.
They'll almost certainly taste sweeter as the sugar content is more concentrated than when fresh and full of water.