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Blackberrying

(63 Posts)
CountessFosco Sat 02-Aug-25 11:53:48

Blackberry season has just started around here. But why do the juiciest, most succulent berries grow behind massive stinging nettles? smile

TwiceAsNice Sun 03-Aug-25 20:45:04

We are lucky enough to have masses at the bottom of our garden

Allira Sun 03-Aug-25 21:53:31

Jaxjacky

I love them, MrJ not bothered, daughter found a maggot one year picking, so won’t touch them.
Blackberry vodka it is then!

They're larvae of fruit flies, usually found later in the season. Wash in salty water, then rinse!

cc Mon 04-Aug-25 14:13:30

I picked a couple of mugfuls last week, lovely big plump ones. These did seem to be very early, though there are loads more still small and unripe.

Qwerty Mon 04-Aug-25 14:24:02

We went blackberrying with one of our grandsons and he and his Mum made Blackberry and Apple Crumble for his friend's visit. Our share went in our freezer. We might have another blackberrying session with him this week. I've found a recipe for Blackberry and Coconut Squares, a cross between a cake and flapjacks, that I might try as well as Blackberry Jam.

GolferGrandma Mon 04-Aug-25 14:33:13

My husband has been picking along the golf course, filling small tubs each time he plays. I used to cook and then freeze them, but he’s been eating them (after washing) with ice cream.

Greenfinch Mon 04-Aug-25 15:15:23

Blackberry and coconut squares sound delicious Qwerty ( a good choice of name!)May we have the recipe please.

madeleine45 Mon 04-Aug-25 15:47:45

years ago we used to go canalling. So it was great that if you had a towpath along the side of the canal they would be all picked but we could go across to the other side of the canal, where there was no path and with the aid of cagoule worn to cover body and stop getting scratches but we used to have a walking stick to reach up to branches. Wonderful loads of berries and easy to pick.

TiggyW Mon 04-Aug-25 15:49:49

Here in the North West blackberries don’t ripen until the end of August/beginning of September.

Gwyllt Mon 04-Aug-25 16:08:03

Blackberries here in north wales are much sweeter this year and have more flavour interestingly the dog is enjoying them too Although as a youngster he ate them when it was a good year. The last two years the blackberries have been somewhat lacking and the dog has turned his nose up at them

Qwerty Mon 04-Aug-25 16:14:14

Greenfinch - I don't know how to forward the recipe here but it's on:
bbcgoodfood.com
I like that website as lots of the recipes suit me: they don't take too long (I can't stand for ages and sometimes make things with grandchildren, and they don't have too many ingredients and aren't complicated).

Greenfinch Mon 04-Aug-25 17:14:45

Thanks Gwerty , I will certainly have a look. They sound like my sort of recipes too.

Milest0ne Mon 04-Aug-25 17:53:01

Iam64

I’m north west. Blackberries usually end August into September. They’re early here

My favorites are whinberries native blue berries called bleaberries in Cumberland. They were very small in size and crop this year. Probably due to the dry spring.