Refreshing summer quenchers
Elderflower cordial
Elderflower cordial is a drink that I absolutely relish on a hot, sunny day. It does contain some sugar in order to preserve it successfully, but you can reduce the quantities for a sharper flavour, which I love.
Makes 1 litre
- 20 elderflower heads, freshly opened
- 5 lemons, peeled and chopped
- 5 litres boiling water
- 750g sugar
- 1-5 tsp citric acid, to taste
1 Place the elderflowers and lemon in a large bowl and pour over the boiling water. Cover and leave at room temperature overnight or in the fridge for a few days.
2 Strain through muslin into a large pan and discard the lemon and flowers.
3 Add the sugar and slowly bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
4 Taste the liquid and add citric acid until you are happy with the flavour. I like it quite sour.
5 Pour the liquid into sterilised bottles and store in a cool, dark place. It can keep for months or even a year or two, but look out for mould if you've had it for some time. If you spot mould, don't drink it.
TOP TIP
Try freezing edible flowers, such as borage, viola, calendula, day lily or nasturtium in an ice cube to add a touch of something colourful and personal to your daiquiri or designer G&T
Rosehip vodka
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2022 من Gardeners World.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2022 من Gardeners World.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
A new plot for tasty crops
Taking on a new allotment needn't be hard work. By simply following a few easy tips you can have bumper crops in no time, just like Alessandro Vitale
We love July
July is an island floating between the joy of June and the slightly fatigued month of August. It's a grown-up month: the year has shrugged off its adolescent exuberances, the weather is (hopefully) warm enough for ice cream to be one of your five a day, the sea should be swimmable without (too much) danger of hypothermia and thoughts will be of holiday shenanigans and family barbecues. School's out this month, the next tranche of glorious summer colour is washing across our borders and it's my birthday. Lots of reasons to give three rousing cheers for July!
YOUR PRUNING MONTH
Now, at the height of summer, Frances Tophill shows how to boost your plants' health and productivity with a timely cut
Hassle-free harvests
Flowers are out in abundance this month and for Jack Wallington, many of these blooms make delicious, low-effort pickings
Bite-sized bounties
Glorious doorstep harvests can easily turn into gluts, so let Rukmini Iyer's recipes help you savour every last bit
Upcycled outdoor living
Create unique and stylish garden features for minimal cost using reclaimed materials and simple DIY skills. Helen Riches shares four step-by-step projects and more inspiring eco tips
Secrets of a COLOURFUL GARDEN
Buildings and landscapes can play a vital role in supercharging your space, as Nick Bailey demonstrates
Greening up a city balcony
Looking for sustainable, small-space gardening ideas? Take inspiration from Oliver Hymans' transformed balcony garden in north-east London - now a lush, green haven for humans and wildlife
The dry and mighty garden
As we adapt our gardens to a more volatile climate, Alan Titchmarsh reveals how to create a drought-tolerant plot and picks his top plant performers
Nature knows best
Carol Klein explains how to choose plants for specific growing conditions, based on what has naturally adapted to thrive there