I have 4 small apple trees (two Stark "Colonnade" and two "other"😉 that are producing an abundant supply this year, but I expect the squirrels/birds/generic varmints will win again. For assorted reasons I don't want to go the netting route, and I've been told the green (unripe) apples can't be ripened indoors.
Last year I used a few for pomanders but how many pomanders can you give out for Christmas the second year?
All I can find googling are a handful of conserves. Does anyone have any recipes that would allow me to cheat the varmints out of my fruit? Barb, any unripe apple jellies?
I have 4 small apple trees (two Stark "Colonnade" and two "other"😉 that are producing an abundant supply this year, but I expect the squirrels/birds/generic varmints will win again. For assorted reasons I don't want to go the netting route, and I've been told the green (unripe) apples can't be ripened indoors.
Last year I used a few for pomanders but how many pomanders can you give out for Christmas the second year?
All I can find googling are a handful of conserves. Does anyone have any recipes that would allow me to cheat the varmints out of my fruit? Barb, any unripe apple jellies?
Unripe apples are very high in pectin, so if you remove the pectin you can use it to make jams and jellies... sorta redundant. Why can't you net your trees? Perhaps if they were properly pruned they be more manageable.
You might try putrting up squirrel feeders around and give them something that they like better than apples. It worked for keeping them out of my bird feeder. You might also try putting up a bird bath and feeder, but the birds will still get into your fruit.
Dwayne
"Felice Friese" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Can I do anything with them?
I have 4 small apple trees (two Stark "Colonnade" and two "other"😉 that are producing an abundant supply this year, but I expect the squirrels/birds/generic varmints will win again. For assorted reasons I don't want to go the netting route, and I've been told the green (unripe) apples can't be ripened indoors.
Last year I used a few for pomanders but how many pomanders can you give out for Christmas the second year?
All I can find googling are a handful of conserves. Does anyone have any recipes that would allow me to cheat the varmints out of my fruit? Barb, any unripe apple jellies?
Sounds like a good ingredient for a chutney. Also, high pectin content might help with other fruit that is reluctant to jel without help. Barb could tell you, of course.
You might try putrting up squirrel feeders around and give them something that they like better than apples. It worked for keeping them out of my bird feeder. You might also try putting up a bird bath and feeder, but the birds will still get into your fruit.
Dwayne
OK. Off to the pet store for squirrel snacks.
Frogleg said:
Sounds like a good ingredient for a chutney. Also, high pectin content might help with other fruit that is reluctant to jel without help. Barb could tell you, of course.
I'll just bet she could, but she's away from the Jam Kitchen for a bit so I'm about to follow Gloria P's suggestion and post to rec.food.preserving.
