BeckyBoo Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 ...hi there, me being a thicky again, I've noticed a few people talking about recipes with wild plums - where do you find them? Driving into town the other day there in the gutter in LOADS of places were hundreds of small round red, or orange fruit all from overhanging trees. It's such a busy road I couldn't stop to collect any to have a proper look, but is this likely to be them? Or are all wild plums the normal purple? Cos if they ARE wild plums I know where I'LL be stopping on my way back from nights tomorrow!! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I'm so glad you asked this because I'm driving past lots of similar trees. But I didn't want to poison everybody by making jam with them without being sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 My thinking exactly! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 someone must know. Funny thing is, this is the first year I've noticed them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Could it be rowan berries you are seeing? They are very ripe and plentiful around here at the moment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Wild plums are small round and reddish in colour (about the size of a cherry tomato).....they are other wise known as cherry plums.We had a wild plum tree in the garden when I was little. They make lovely jam (and bite sized snacks). In fact there is a tree just round the corner from my house..............maybe I should pay it a visit. http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/cherry-plum-jam-recipe#more-642 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 My mum calls them 'bullus' (which may be the name in latin!) there are loads around here in a range of colours from golden yellow (related I guess to a greegage) to bright red to a more traditional plummy purple. They taste lovely and make a really nice crumble or jam. Food for free - perhaps not next to a busy road, but definitley worth a try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Aaah! That sounds right. They are like small plums. They are certainly not rowan berries. I'll go foraging this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I am glad this topic has come up as we have two plum trees in our garden. I wasn't sure they were plum trees as the fruit looks more like a cherry and didn't know you could get wild plums. I have just googled and the are definately wild plums. The trees must be as old as the Cottage, so about about 100 years old. They are laden with fruit this year (none last year). We are not sure how we are going to harvest the fruit at the top of the trees as the trees are about 40 feet tall. We also have dozens of self seeded plum tree saplings and small plum trees all over the place, I wonder if anyone would want them, freecycle maybe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 7, 2009 Author Share Posted August 7, 2009 No, they're def not rowan berries. I'm 7-4 nights tonight so will stop on my way home when there's not much traffic and get a load, that way I can Google them at home to make sure. And as for harvesting the ones at the top, with my friends crab apple tree we stand underneath with a double sheet and someone shook the tree really hard - we all got rained on with crab-apples! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 No they are plums- friend has one in her garden and asked if I wanted some cherries, she left some on doorstep and I rang and thanked her for them and she said they are plums not cherries. very yummy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Aha! So that's what the plum tree in my garden is, a wild plum tree. It appeared all by itself and this year has fruit on it for the first time. The kids and the chooks are loving it! Poppy has quickly learnt that instead of joining the charge of the light brigade to the feeders first thing in the morning it's better to just head straight for the tree to collect the fallen fruit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffordmum Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I have just discoverd these on a piece of land adjacent to the end of our front drive. I left it a lil' too long before raiding what was left on the tree but made some delicious plum and marrow jam this week Enjoy everyone! Rgds, Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 We have some wild plum trees in our garden and I've never seen so much fruit on them. Some years there's hardly any. This year has evidentially been perfect plum weather I think this is why we're noticing roadside plum trees we've not previously noticed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 The proper name for them is bullace - and they make excellent wine as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 We have one of these in our garden, we bought it as a sapling and were told it was a cherry maple, but we discovered, after mucho research, that it's a cherry plum. The fruits on ours are bright yellow when ripe and they make fabulous jam. Mr Barkisland says they are properly called Myrobalan (as opposed to Bullace - which are purple). They don't crop well every year though, and the last good crop was in 2006. This year is looking very promising, but ours are a long way from ripe yet. http://www.buckingham-nurseries.co.uk/acatalog/product_10262.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 Well, in about 40 minutes on my way home from work I've collect eleven and a half pounds of them! Some yellow some a beautiful red, sadly as it was still quite dark I got a few green ones but I'll chuck them in anyway. And I shall be back for more after work tonight / tomorrow morning too!! There were TONNES! Mind you, my apple tree is groaning under the weight of fruit this year, all that rain early on then the hot spell must have brought everything on - I picked a pound and a half of blackberries on the dog walk last Sunday (going again this weekend) and the elderberries are also virtually ready! Happy days, I LOVE foraging for stuff! - It was 4.30 am when I started picking this morning and I got to hear the dawn chorus and see dawn break across the sky - very uplifting BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Mr Barkisland says they are properly called Myrobalan (as opposed to Bullace - which are purple). Yes, I didn't make it very clear - Bullace are the wild plum.....and they are purple. The cherry plum is red and, I think, is a more cultivated variety but is now growing in hedgerows in a similar way to the wild plum. What a lovely time to go foraging Becky - you'll be busy later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I've picked a load of yellow ones this morning. We aren't much into jam so has anyone got a good plum chutney recipe to hand? Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Cancel that request. I've just scrolled down and found Lesley's recipe.... Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 (edited) Plum Chutney 1lb Cooking apples, peeled & cored, 1lb Shallots or onions, peeled & chopped, 2lb stoned Plums, 1lb raisins, 6oz brown sugar, 1 tsp each,; ground ginger, ground allspice 1/4 tsp each: ground cloves, nutmeg, cayenne pepper & mustard powder, 1oz salt 1 pint vinegar Mix together the apples, onions & plums in a large saucepan. Stir in all the other ingredients. Heat until boiling, then simmer until thickened. Makes approx 4 1/2 lbs. oops too late! Edited August 8, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Thanks Barkisland - now I'm spoiled for choice. Just weighed them - 4lbs picked in less than 10 mins whilst walking the dog! And that is one tree in the hedgerow. Food for free! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Cor! 4lbs will make a load of chutney, that's for sure! These 'Cherples', as my husband likes to call them, do make a fabulous, slightly tart, golden coloured jam if you fancy trying it. I just used my normal plum jam recipe and it worked a treat. Can't wait for mine to ripen now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Been shopping, just about to start. It's the stoning bit I'm not looking forward too... Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 re stoning - I've got 10 1/2 lb to do and I am NOT stoning that lot. Just boil them down slowly and gently in a little water until they go to mush, let them go completely cold then stick your hand into the goo and squeeze out all the stones which should be MUCH easier to find! That's my cunning plan anyway! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
