Grow Your Own Magazine

big fiona · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 03:54 PM

I have been given 6 lb of kiwi fruit and am looking for any recipes for jam or preserves. Can anyone help?

Mrs Dobby · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 04:24 PM

Hi Fiona,

Sorry I dont have any recipies myself, but I'm sure someone may be able to help with some knowledgeable advice!

How come you've such a glut? Are they from a Vine in your property, or several vines, or another source? All I've ever done with Kiwi is eat them raw!

Lesley Jay · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 04:40 PM

For Kiwi Fruit jam scope out the fruit pulp and weigh it. Then chop it finely. For every lb you need 1lb sugar and 1 tbs water. Give the pulp and juice a good stir with the water to extract more juice and then simmer the pulp for about 5 minutes. Add the sugar and dissolve over a low heat then boil rapidly until setting point is reached. Pot into warm jars. It is recommended to use jamming sugar with added pectin.

big fiona · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 04:58 PM

Hi Suzanne,

A friend grows them and he reckons he could give me another 30 lb if I could use them - hence the need for preserving recipes.

Fiona

big fiona · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 04:59 PM

Thanks Lesley, that's a great help.

Fiona

Alison · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big fiona

A friend grows them and he reckons he could give me another 30 lb if I could use them - hence the need for preserving recipes.

How is your friend managing to produce so many, is he up in Edinburgh too?

big fiona · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 05:54 PM

Hi Alison,

Yes, he's in Edinburgh too. He does nothing to them, he just lets them grow then picks the fruit. He was asking me how to prune them as the vines are taking over!

Fiona

Mrs Dobby · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 07:43 PM

Wow, that many Kiwi in Edinburgh, can you ask him for his secret?? And what variety it is he's growing??

My daughter loves Kiwi, so we are hoping to get a vine to put at the back of our house (we hope to grow it up trellis on a south facing wall), but all the advice we've been reading says it doesnt do well up here (Manchester), so hence why I'm surprised at the bumper crops a bit further north than we are!

Alice · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 09:17 PM

It's not all about latitude Mrs D. It's about pockets of micro climate. There are sub tropical gardens all over Scotland and SueA grows great grapes in Manchester (I think I'm right about that) I have a south facing slope which I think lets me get things going earlier than you can in Manchester. Of Kiwi fruit, I have none. I pass a house near here which has a plant but I don't know if they get fruit. Maybe I will be really bold and knock the door and ask.

big fiona · #10 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006, 05:43 PM

Hi Suzanne,

I will attempt to relieve him of his secrets and let you know......

Big Fiona

big fiona · #11 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006, 05:57 PM

Hi Lesley,

Kiwi-fruit jam in progress. It has the most wonderful aroma. I'll let you know later how it tastes.

Big Fiona

Mrs Dobby · #12 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice

It's not all about latitude Mrs D. It's about pockets of micro climate. There are sub tropical gardens all over Scotland and SueA grows great grapes in Manchester (I think I'm right about that) I have a south facing slope which I think lets me get things going earlier than you can in Manchester. Of Kiwi fruit, I have none. I pass a house near here which has a plant but I don't know if they get fruit. Maybe I will be really bold and knock the door and ask.

Hmm, Micro Climate, that sounds just like our back yard, its next to a corner plot, with houses to two sides, so very sheltered, and catches the sun from sunrise to about 4pm in the summer, so it may be just the right spot for a Kiwi!

Quote:

Originally Posted by big fiona

Hi Suzanne,

I will attempt to relieve him of his secrets and let you know......

Big Fiona

Excellent, that would be very much appreciated Fiona!

Quote:

Originally Posted by big fiona

Hi Lesley,

Kiwi-fruit jam in progress. It has the most wonderful aroma. I'll let you know later how it tastes.

Big Fiona

Sounds fab!

Crazy Chickie · #13 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006, 10:58 PM

Kiwi and Passionfruit Syrup

1kg Kiwi
8 Passionfruit
Sugar
Take the friut from its skins puree together and strain through double thickness of muslin. Give it a squeeze to get all the juice. For every 150ml juice use 225g of sugar, stick 'em in pan over a low heat dissolve the sugar and them boil n simmer for 5mins. Cool for 5 min and pour into sterilised bottles to within 3mm from top. Seal n keep in fridge.

Peppered Kiwi Fruit (sweet pickle, good with curries)

8 kiwi approx 675g
1tsp green peppercorns in brine
1tsp mustard seed
600ml unsweetened apple juice
150ml white wine vinegar
225g sugar
2 lrg crisp eating apples

Peel n chop kiwi. Rinse peppercorns pat dry and crush with mustard seed.
Pour apple juice n vinegar into pan n bring to boil. Reduce heat and add sugar stirring till dissolved. Simmer for further 10 to 15mins without stirring till syrup is slightly reduced. Peel core n chop apples to same size as kiwi. Add apple, crushed peppercorns n mustard to syrup. Bring to boil for 2mins, add kiwi n simmer for another 2mins or till fruit is soft but still holds shape. Spoon into hot sterile jars. Store for 1 week to allow flavours to develope.

Havn't tried either of these, but the peppered kiwi sounds really yum. If you try them let me know how you get on.
CC

big fiona · #14 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 03:40 PM

Hi CC,

Wow! Those recipes sound great! I've used up the 6 lb I already had making the jam (Mmm), but I can get plent more and I'll let you know how things turn out.

Big Fiona

roitelet · #15 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 09:10 PM

If you are going to try and grow them you will need a male and female vine unless you can find a self fretile variety. Good luck

Mrs Dobby · #16 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 09:31 PM

Thanks Roitelet, I'm sure I saw in one of the seed catalogues a self fertile variety that came as a year old vine for a reasonable price, cant remember which catalogue it was tho, must have another look! (As if any of us needs an excuse! lol!)

roitelet · #17 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 10:24 PM

Any excuse is better than none!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FoxHillGardener · #18 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 01:43 PM

That pickle sounds lovely! Might have to break my buying imported fruit rule and have a go at it. Oh, I already break it by buying bananas

Though I've seen several people have had them fruit in the UK this year!

Earthbabe · #19 (**permalink**) 09-12-2006, 08:22 AM

Mrs D I think there is one in the Dobies catalogue.

Mrs Dobby · #20 (**permalink**) 09-12-2006, 09:02 AM

Thanks EB, I have a feeling you may be right (hence I was leaving Dobies catalogue til last (so I get to look at them all again first! loL!)

big fiona · #21 (**permalink**) 18-12-2006, 08:50 PM

Hi Everyone, message for Mrs D. The variety of Kiwi-fruit is called Hayward and the aspect is West facing. It's not recommended to be grown in a greenhouse. Sorry it's taken so long to get the info but my friend has been in Berlin and Hamburg looking to buy a Steinway grand piano. Apparently you can save £10,000 by buying in Europe and importing it over here. Nice!

Big Fiona

Mrs Dobby · #22 (**permalink**) 18-12-2006, 10:05 PM

Many thanks Fiona, will have a look out for that variety!

Alison · #23 (**permalink**) 19-12-2006, 12:47 PM

Have done a Google search and note that you can get them on http://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/kiwi-fruit.asp 1 plant £ 13.55, 2 plants £26.40, 3 plants £38.65 - all the above are high quality pot grown plants. Don't know if they're any good but worth a look.

Mrs Dobby · #24 (**permalink**) 19-12-2006, 03:45 PM

Thanks Alison, may have to have a looksie and get some ordered for the end of Jan (when I next get paid and can afford them! lol!)