Is this a Bumper Year for Sloes?

[The Cumbrian]

I've been based near Leicester for the last few months, and I found a load of blackthorn trees lining a bridleway. I don't know whether it's a north / south thing (as I've only collected sloes in Cumbria prior to this), but I've never seen as many sloes in my life. In places they're almost clustered like grapes, and I've been able to wander along just taking the easy pickings. I've got four bags full in the freezer now, and a busy weekend ahead making sloe gin.

 

[bobnewboy]

There are plenty about down here in the south west, possibly more than last year, but no frosts to sweeten them up naturally. Well none so far, the weather has been quite mild. We already have some sloe gin and raspberry gin ready for the festival of the merchants , but I might try making some test pots of sloe jelly, following Hugh’s video on YouTube. I might gather some and freeze them to kick off the sweetening process.

 

[punkrockcaveman]

Seeing loads in Yorkshire, and on visits to the lakes and Galloway, loads there too

 

[demographic]

Loads along the river Eden near Carlisle last Sunday as well.
Just a bumper crop year I guess.

 

[Kadushu]

My sloe hedge is pretty well laden.

 

[baggins]

It's one of the best years I've seen for a good few years in the west mids. And after last week's frosts, now have several ltrs of very sloe gin on the go ( leave it for at least a year. Last years just about ready). Plus some sloe and crab apple jelly.

 

[SCOMAN]

I’ve never seen them as good as this and I’ve been up here 13 years next month

 

[CLEM]

I hope to find some, love me a bit of Sloe Gin.

 

[Broch]

I hope to find some, love me a bit of Sloe Gin.

- this is 5L ready to bottle!

 

[CLEM]

- this is 5L ready to bottle!

View attachment 70854

Look at the colour of that sloe’y Gin lovely-ness there mmmmmmmm

 

[Robson Valley]

Bumper crop all over as you all describe yet I hear nothing about fermentation. Bump up the sugar to S.G. 1.095, fix the tannin and yeast nutrient levels, maybe a nice burgundy yeast and let 'er rip. No? Let the yeasty-beasties prepare your Solstice quaff.

 

[Broch]

Well, bottling the 2021 Sloe Gin I just had to taste it of course - very nice.

However, I have two bottles of 2020 Sloe Gin left (we made quite a bit last year). Purely in the interest of science, I decided to compare.

First the colour - 2021 - bright and deep red; 2020 - tawny, almost amber.

Taste - 2021 fruity sharp with distinct sloe taste; 2020 - rounded, no edge at all, only a slight sloe taste, delicious.

Conclusion: I shall definitely be putting some of the 2021 away for Christmas next year I suspect we shall not have any 2020 left by the end of the celebrations.

 

[Broch]

It's a wrap

 

[Bathtub]

Warwickshire here, we have Blackthorn around the field hedges, poor harvest last winter, this year it's mental, bumper crops of fat sloes all over the place. Good year for brambles as well.

 

[British Red]

For those who have never done it, here is our super simple Sloe Gin

 

[British Red]

But if you've been doing this for years, it's fun to step up the sloe game

 

[TeeDee]

Noticed ALOT of sloes this year on a little early morning walk.

I've heard the 'leave until the 1st Frost' , but do people find that best ?

Need to get some on the brew for Xmas

 

[Broch]

Seems a good year for a lot of fruit especially the plums. I do think the sloes are better left until later; they're almost edible (but frosts are late these days). The problem I've got is the farmers have already started flaying the hedges so if I don't go picking them soon I won't get any

 

[Pattree]

Only yesterday we noticed the same.
They are ripe but tiny. The skins have their bloom so I can’t see them getting any bigger.

If we don’t pick them soon we won’t get any and in these times I doubt they will get a frost until November.

 

[TeeDee]

Seems a good year for a lot of fruit especially the plums. I do think the sloes are better left until later; they're almost edible (but frosts are late these days). The problem I've got is the farmers have already started flaying the hedges so if I don't go picking them soon I won't get any

So would you potentially harvest soon?