Blackthorn - Sloes

[pammosley]

Hi, I have been looking for Sloes on the Blackthorn bushes to make my Sloe gin The bushes I found & used last year do not have any on Do the bushes only give fruit every other year or was the weather to blame at the start of this year?
Pam

[juliejam]

Originally Posted by pammosley

Hi, I have been looking for Sloes on the Blackthorn bushes to make my Sloe gin The bushes I found & used last year do not have any on Do the bushes only give fruit every other year or was the weather to blame at the start of this year?
Pam

Last year there were plenty near me..so far they are still very green....

Julie

[Rob T]

Hi Pam, walked past a bush in the New Forest on Saturday and commented on how It must be a good year as the branches were jamed full of ripe sloes and have been for a couple of weeks.

So its probably not the weather.

Regards

Rob

[LynM]

Last year was exceptionally good around here and I made about 6 litres of the stuff! However, I was only commenting to my OH this morning that I'd not seen many about this year. However, I've not checked out my usual spot yet, so will report back later.

They should fruit every year, but the weather earlier in the year will determine what you get in the autumn. The worst culprit is late frosts which kill off the flowers before they are able to set fruits, but beyond that, I've no idea what problems they face.

[Hobjob]

Sems a poor year in coastal Suffolk too - Bullous also poor.

Last year was bumper crop.

Nature goes in cycles, but a late frost can upset the sloes as they
are the first to flower. For commercial fruit -4 deg C destroys the blossom.
Some fruit farmers spray their crops with water which sets as ice on the
blossum, but doesn't go low enough to kill it.

[leifus]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Sems a poor year in coastal Suffolk too - Bullous also poor.

Last year was bumper crop.

Nature goes in cycles, but a late frost can upset the sloes as they
are the first to flower. For commercial fruit -4 deg C destroys the blossom.
Some fruit farmers spray their crops with water which sets as ice on the
blossum, but doesn't go low enough to kill it.

its a poor year for sloes and damsons here this year. Last year was a bumper crop like with you.

[naturegirl]

6 litres of the stuff!!!

I'm off to visit LynM!!!!!

I think Kayleigh should come too!!!!

Naturegirl

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by naturegirl

6 litres of the stuff!!!

I'm off to visit LynM!!!!!

I think Kayleigh should come too!!!!

Naturegirl

Don't tempt me..

[Dan Salter]

I make jam every year and something odd has happened this year with damsons (not sloes)

I went to my usual patch which is a small scrubby shaw of about 30 damson trees....was loaded last year came away with carrier bags full...this year?...not a single damson even at the tops of the trees (so i know no one has beaten me too it and they are in a real hidden location)...however the damson trees on the village green last year were empty and this year are full???

so i will still make my jam but my supply area has switched!

I also feel it has been a bumper year for elder berries...they are more plentiful and biiger/fatter in my patch which i add to my blackberry jam.

[naturegirl]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

I make jam every year and something odd has happened this year with damsons (not sloes)

I went to my usual patch which is a small scrubby shaw of about 30 damson trees....was loaded last year came away with carrier bags full...this year?...not a single damson even at the tops of the trees (so i know no one has beaten me too it and they are in a real hidden location)...however the damson trees on the village green last year were empty and this year are full???

so i will still make my jam but my supply area has switched!

I also feel it has been a bumper year for elder berries...they are more plentiful and biiger/fatter in my patch which i add to my blackberry jam.

You make JAM Dan!!!

That is very unusual for a young guy like you!!!!

You add Elderberries to it as well!!

Had you ever considered making wine???? Hic!

Nature has her secrets and will make some species really good this year and nothing the next...

You just have to 'go with the flow'!!

Naturegirl