Blackthorn - Sloes

pammosley · #1 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 10:36 PM

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 · #2 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

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 · #3 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 10:52 PM

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 · #4 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 10:54 PM

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 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:18 AM

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 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:43 AM

Quote:

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 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 12:23 AM

6 litres of the stuff!!!

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

I think Kayleigh should come too!!!!

Naturegirl

Kayleigh · #8 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 01:07 AM

Quote:

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 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 01:26 AM

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 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 01:33 AM

Quote:

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

Dan Salter · #11 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturegirl

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

Oh im a proper Hugh Fearnley wannabe...i can cook...i make jam...i bake bread (well i have once so far ha ha)....we are about to get chickens again!.

And i will venture into wines and cordials and elder flower champagne but probably post degree...i have enough hobbies and stuff right now.

im even desperate to have babies with someone...so no im not your normal guy ha ha

Kayleigh · #12 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Oh im a proper Hugh Fearnley wannabe...i can cook...i make jam...i bake bread (well i have once so far ha ha)....we are about to get chickens again!.

And i will venture into wines and cordials and elder flower champagne but probably post degree...i have enough hobbies and stuff right now.

im even desperate to have babies with someone...so no im not your normal guy ha ha

Wow..you sound a real catch Dan..

LynM · #13 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 09:28 AM

Re the damsons.....my friend has several trees in her garden and it would seem that it is alternate years when they have a heavy crop, pretty much regardless of the weather. We picked pounds and pounds last year and there's hardly anything to bother about this year.

Did I say that I'm still on the 2006 vintage of sloe gin?.......

pammosley · #14 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 12:40 PM

Hello, I made my first every batch of Sloe gin last year. Tried it with Vodka as well! Both nice but gin was better

I haven`t found any Sloes this year yet. Anyone any ideas what other wild fruit I could flavour the gin with ( I hate it normally!) Would blackberries work? there are plenty of them.
Pam

Dan Salter · #15 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pammosley

Hello, I made my first every batch of Sloe gin last year. Tried it with Vodka as well! Both nice but gin was better

I haven`t found any Sloes this year yet. Anyone any ideas what other wild fruit I could flavour the gin with ( I hate it normally!) Would blackberries work? there are plenty of them.
Pam

to be honest any kind of 'berry' can be used to flavour gin/vodka etc...

Dan Salter · #16 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LynM

Re the damsons.....my friend has several trees in her garden and it would seem that it is alternate years when they have a heavy crop, pretty much regardless of the weather. We picked pounds and pounds last year and there's hardly anything to bother about this year.

Did I say that I'm still on the 2006 vintage of sloe gin?.......

That would make total sense for my situation....the village green had none last year and is full this year and my patch i used last year is now empty...

naturegirl · #17 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 02:56 AM

Lynne, have you thought of using Damsons?

Some friends of mine used Damsons last year as they were more readily accessible than Sloes. I'm currently awaiting their request for my company soon!!!!!!

Dan, you sound a bit of a Sloe gin expert to me!!!!! Hic!

Naturegirl

Jean Farmer · #18 (**permalink**) 04-09-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

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 I had loads of damsons on my trees. I even had to prop them up to stop them snapping off. this year there are very few, in fact I,ve eaten them fresh as they ripened. Aren,t many sloes either. Last year the bullace weren,t ready to eat until after the damsons had shed their leaves about the end ofOctober.

LynM · #19 (**permalink**) 04-09-2008, 06:31 PM

Went on a recce for them this afternoon......

hardly any at all where last year there were thousands of them, all as big as cherries. I shall have to look further afield......I may be some time.....

JonSadler · #20 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 06:03 PM

All my local trees are devoid of fruit, even though they had lots of flowers. Last year there was tonnes of fruit, so much that some of it was still there this when the plants flowered.

What is going on?

Jon

ron1863 · #21 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 06:15 PM

No sloe berries up here where there were loads last year, possibly down to the wet summer.

tigger · #22 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 08:51 PM

Went on a country walk today in my village and there were loads of sloes... plump and ready for picking!

Jane

LynM · #23 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 10:33 PM

I'm on my way, Jane! There are just not any around this part of Dorset as far as I can tell. OH has had loads of people looking in loads of locations, but to no avail. Shall have to keep looking......