Blackberries/sloes

I’ve just picked some hanging over from next door. It seems really early, but it’s silly not to pick when they are so ripe.

We were just discussing sloes the other night, (whilst some were savouring some sloe gin), apparently they are better picked after frost or failing that put in the freezer before using for slow gin.

We had a walk down the lane on Wednesday and there are masses of blackberries but we only found seven ripe ones (which GS ate!). Sloes are a bit thin on the ground and nowhere near ripe yet. However, I have never seen so many hazelnuts for years. Every tree is smothered in them, even ones I’ve never seen bearing nuts before.

Over the last couple of years sloes have been ripening earlier here in Oxfordshire. Last year at the end of August I went to my local sloe source to see how they were doing, and they been practically stripped bare. So try very end of August/beginning Sept for picking

Some varieties of blackberry might be ripe though most won’t be ready for another few weeks. Sloes are later- some suggest they’re better after a frost but certainly not till September.

Hadn't even started looking! Will check tomorrow and then buy the gin!!

Thanks, I’ll make the trek now and have a look here, hopefully...then can take the grandchildren tomorrow.

We have blackberrys ripe at several places near us on the golf course and footpaths.

The blackberries on DH allotment in Kent are just starting to ripen