Is it just up here in the north or is there a nationwide shortage of sloe's this year , there also seem to be a lack of acorn's which is down to the bad ie: small amout of sunshine. So even the beech mast might be in short supplyPoor Crop - Sloe's
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Is it just up here in the north or is there a nationwide shortage of sloe's this year , there also seem to be a lack of acorn's which is down to the bad ie: small amout of sunshine. So even the beech mast might be in short supply
It's all a bit poo here too, I took a walk through the woods yesterday, none of the sweet chestnuts trees have any sign of fruit, and many of the other fruiting plants seem to be lacking.
I also noted a distinct lack in birdsong. Time to dust off the feeding tables for me, it's going to be a hard winter for our feathered friends I think.
I also noted a distinct lack in birdsong. Time to dust off the feeding tables for me, it's going to be a hard winter for our feathered friends I think.
Bleaberries that too was another dismall crop but as for field mushrooms it be a very good crop since we have been having plenty of rain and the temp is still quite warm . Yum yum mushies stewed in milk or fried within an hour of picking
but as for field mushrooms it be a very good crop since we have been having plenty of rain and the temp is still quite warm . Yum yum mushies stewed in milk or fried within an hour of picking 
Sorry you're having a bad year for them but (touch wood) ours are doing all right up here. Small crop of sloes, but they are there.
Acorns look beautiful they've only 'just' started coming down; big, fat and creamy. I've already got some roasted and stored for coffee.
I've been gathering brambles as they ripen, and freezing them (well apart from those we've been munching in cranachan for pudding ) to make jams and jellies when I've got time. I'm up to 4 kgs so far, and I've hardly touched the bushes. Same with the rowans, elderberries and rosehaws. The beechmast is 'just' thinking about coming down, last year was a brilliant crop so I'm not expecting so much this time round.
Huge crop of apples, too many to use. Same with the blackcurrants........one bush and I made over 2dozen jars of jams and jelly and then left the fruits for the birds and visiting children
cheers,
Toddy
Acorns look beautiful
they've only 'just' started coming down; big, fat and creamy. I've already got some roasted and stored for coffee.I've been gathering brambles as they ripen, and freezing them (well apart from those we've been munching in cranachan for pudding ) to make jams and jellies when I've got time. I'm up to 4 kgs so far, and I've hardly touched the bushes. Same with the rowans, elderberries and rosehaws. The beechmast is 'just' thinking about coming down, last year was a brilliant crop so I'm not expecting so much this time round.
Huge crop of apples, too many to use. Same with the blackcurrants........one bush and I made over 2dozen jars of jams and jelly and then left the fruits for the birds and visiting children
cheers,
Toddy
I agree, its a very poor year for sloes, and most other berries. However, its a mighty fine year for fungi. Not too great for hazel nuts, although last year was fab, so I didn't expect much around here this year.
Kris
Kris
I'm unsure if it's a bad year or not. Had a walk today and while there were very few sloes by the path, there seemed to be plenty in the inaccessible and hard to reach places. I think I may have just been to slow to pick them. There were plenty of blackberries though and my 3yo son has developed quite a taste for them.
Very poor year for sloes alright , but I've just picked 4 lbs of elderberies in about 15 minutes, tomorrow i'm going to a place where I know are wild crab apples then it'll be elderberry and apple jelly time!
The sloes here are much less than usual and the blackberry crop is dismal. I've never seen it so bad. There are entire rows of bushes the length of a medium size field with almost nothing on them. This is true of bushes facing in every direction and in different fields. Strangely a wild bramble bush growing by the side of my allotment that I've been cultivating has a reasonable harvest on it.
hiya...
I'm having real trouble finding any sloes this year to make my gin
Its a real tradition to take a bottle on our anual fishing trip in the spring and at this rate I wont have any sloes to make it!
Would any members be willing to sell some to me for a decent price?
PM me if you can help me out and I will get back in touch straight away..
thnx
I'm having real trouble finding any sloes this year to make my gin
Its a real tradition to take a bottle on our anual fishing trip in the spring and at this rate I wont have any sloes to make it!
Would any members be willing to sell some to me for a decent price?
PM me if you can help me out and I will get back in touch straight away..
thnx
Well, I'm glad it's not just me that's been thinking this.
It has been a poor year for sloes, blackberries and damsons. There's a blackthorn bush near where I live and that has some sloes on it (not after tomorrow - I'm going to pick them on my way home from work), but there's not many and they don't look that impressive.
Haven't looked at chestnuts or cobnuts yet (still a bit early).
That said, it's been quite the opposite for haws this year - can't move for the little bleeders! They seem to be everywhere. Masses and masses of them. And rowan berries. Elder berries seem to be doing alright as well. We've also done well with wild hops - I thought the wet summer would ruin them but there's been a good supply.
It has been a poor year for sloes, blackberries and damsons. There's a blackthorn bush near where I live and that has some sloes on it (not after tomorrow - I'm going to pick them on my way home from work), but there's not many and they don't look that impressive.
Haven't looked at chestnuts or cobnuts yet (still a bit early).
That said, it's been quite the opposite for haws this year - can't move for the little bleeders! They seem to be everywhere. Masses and masses of them. And rowan berries. Elder berries seem to be doing alright as well. We've also done well with wild hops - I thought the wet summer would ruin them but there's been a good supply.
We managed to get a big tubfull of sloes this afternoon. Really had to search and it took a few hours. Loads of blackberries, haws and rosehips about though.
Andy >>>>>----------------------------------<>
Andy >>>>>----------------------------------<>
Just weighed them and it came out at three and a half pounds. If anyones in the area the place i picked mine is called Whiteshute Ridge.
went for a nice long walk yesterday, saw oodles of blackthorn and not one sloe. Also saw loads of hazel and managed to forage the grand total of 2. Saw (and got) loads of elderberries, so we'll be sorted from the wine POV, but chrimbo won't be the same without sloe gin .
.After failing with all the usual places we came across some sloes yesterday, 1.7kg collected so hopefully there'll be enough to hand round some friends at Christmas. Also picked about 800g of blackberries and one, yes one, hazelnut.
Yesterday I spent 2 hours picking sloes, blackberries, apples, and the like and came home with about 60 sloes, (but no bullaces) about enough for maybe one bottle of sloe gin. Not a cob-nut to be had, I did find an apple tree stuffed full of cooking apples (growing wild) and a smaller tree well hidden with enough eating apples for fill a tesco shopping bag. Blackberries seem to have produced a late glut. a couple of Kg picking in next to no time, and more left to ripen on the bush for later if we are spared a frost.
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