Olives

[Dr Bill]

We have a few olives on our tree. What do we do to prepare them to eat? They seem to be fattening up nicely

[Deleted]

Lucky you - I've got no idea what you need to do with them though - sorry

[beejay]

We've got olives too drbill, though the squirrel has a tendency to nick them. I have always undersood that in the UK we don't actually get the weather to ripen them properly. To do that the tree would have to be brought indoors over winter. May be wrong as I can't remember where that "info" came from.

[beejay]

drbill, I just read in The Guardian today that someone has planted an olive grove in Cornwall (I think) as they feel that soon the climate will support the production of olives in this country. So maybe we just need to wait a few years.

[Deleted]

Considering how permenatly damp Cornwall is I would have thought they'd have been better of planting them somewhere a bit dryer.

We've even had a lousy (almost non-existant) blackberry harvest this year, they all got grey mould before they were ready .

No-one should think this part of the country is a healthy place to live it makes arthritis so much worse, and chest complaints too,warmer it may be but so damp.

[Auricula]

I agree Dee. A neighbour of ours is moving back to the Midlands because of bronchitis and my OH is always clearing his throat and snuffling down here, but when we are visiting, back in dry old Essex he never does it - bizzare !!

I've heard that olives don't ripen here because of lack of heat and daylight, but I don't know if that's true!!
I do know that not only the blackberries, but my Autumn Bliss raspberries have been hit by mould very badly this year - and I thought I was being clever by having Autumn fruiting ones - forgot about the damp,mist and murk we get!!!

[Auricula]

P.S.
Where have all the smileys gone??

[Deleted]

Morning, Dr Bill. From what I've heard, home curing of olives is quite a lengthy process - life might be too short! I read something about it last year but just at the moment can't find the exact article, however, I've just found this which has some recipes.

members.tripod.com/beadcreation/homemade_olives_raw_olive_curing_curing_olives_olive_recipies_curring_recipies.htm

[Deleted]

Do you take the telegraph drbill?

If not, then have a look at this link.

www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2006/10/07/golive07.xml&sSheet=/gardening/2006/10/07/ixgmain.html