After inheriting a couple of old blackcurrant bushes on my allotment it soon became clear they would become a firm family favourite. This quick and easy to follow blackcurrant jam recipe is just the perfect way to preserve a little bit of summer, it’s cheap to make and so welcome in the coldest months of winter. Whether you use it on toast, to sweeten porridge, or as gifts for friends and family at Christmas, at only 15p a jar you can’t go wrong.
Easy Blackcurrant Jam | Quick Allotment Recipe Ideas 15p A Jar
Ingredients
- 1 kg blackcurrants washed with no stalks
- 800 g sugar
- 100 ml water
- 1 juice of a lemon
Instructions
- Sterilise the jars you will be using.
- If you don't have a cooking thermometer put a saucer in the freezer.
- Add the blackcurrants and water to saucepan, bring the boil and simmer for around 5 minutes until all the fruit is lovely and mushy.
- Turn the heat off and stir in the lemon juice.
- Slowly stir the sugar in, letting it disolve gently.
- Turn the heat back on and bring back to the boil, once boiling leave on the heat to rapid boil for 10 minutes or untill it reaches 105C, do not give in to temptation and stir while it is boiling. As soon as the 10 minutes is up turn the heat off.
- At this stage If you don't have a cooking thermometer, remove the plate from the freezer and add a dollop of jam onto it. After two minutes push yoir finger slowly through the jam, if it wrinkles you know it's ready, if not, bring it back to the boil for two minutes, and then re-test it.
- Take of the heat, skin off any froth, give it a quick stir and then landle into your steilised jars.
- Place in a cool dry cupboard and enjoy at your pleasure.
Learn How To Take Fruit Bush Cuttings In Autumn & Winter
Step 1
Indetify your healthiest looking stem from this years growth, follow it to the base of the plant and snip it off.
Step 2
Remove any leaves from the stem and cut them into lengths about 15-20cms long, making sure you discard any dead or damaged stem.
Step 3
If you are rooting the cuttings directly in the ground, select a sunny free draining area and create a slit in the earth. If you are rooting these in plant pots fill these with homemade compost, garden topsoil, or bought in peat free compost.
Step 4
If you are using rooting hormone to help the cuttings root quicker (not required) apply this to the base of each cutting.
Step 5
Insert each cutting into the ground or pot to halfway and firm the soil around them. If using a pot place a few cuttings to each pot around the edge to allow for good drainage. If you have a greenhouse or cold frame place the potted cuttings in there, making sure the cuttings are kept moist in dry conditions. By early spring these will have rooted and can be potted on or planted out.
If you have found these instructions helpful I would love to hear from you, so make sure you get in touch!