It is a beautiful autumn day and the Cosmos planted in a metal pail several months ago is now flowering joyously-
It is a vivid and cheering sight as we leave or return to the house, I only hope that it doesn’t suffer with a hard frost while it is this magnificent!

Behind the pail of Cosmos is a greenhouse bursting with tomatoes of every description- large ones, small ones and very attractive stripy “tiger” ones.
Some came from village plant stands locally and some from the wonderful Sarah Raven website.

I feel the smell of Chutney on the wind and am about to try this recipe

6lbs (3kg) green tomatoes sliced
3 red peppers, seeded and chopped
1 1/2lb (675 grms) onions sliced
1 1/2lbs (675grms) apples weighed when peeled cored and sliced
12oz (350 grms0 sultanas
1 ½ oz (40 grms) mustard seed
1 ½ oz (40 grms) salt
1 large root ginger bruised
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 ½ lbs (675) soft brown sugar
1 ¼ pints (750ml) malt vinegar

Put all the ingredients into a large pan. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring frequently. Remove the lid and bring back to the boil then simmer until the mixture is thick and all the liquid has reduced. Remove the root ginger and pot in clean warm jars.