Charlottechicken Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 Just thought I would start this thread so we don't miss the sloe harvest, as last years was so erratic (well, it was here anyway!) Here in Birmingham there appear to be plenty of unripe sloes around so I am hoping for a bumper harvest . Also a good idea to identify any bushes you may want supplies from now, as the green sloes are visible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 Yep, I have my eye on a bush down the road already. In fact I thought about tying a reserved tag onto it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 I can't believe the amount of fruit appearing in teh hedgerows - our fields are dripping with sloes, blackberries, rosehips and elderberries. Just hope it all ripens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 26, 2007 Author Share Posted July 26, 2007 I can't believe the amount of fruit appearing in teh hedgerows - our fields are dripping with sloes, blackberries, rosehips and elderberries. Just hope it all ripens! Ooh yes! Elderberries! I forgot about those, I froze lots of home made elderberry cordial last year, and as there has been a shortage of Rocks organic blackcurrant for some reason, I have been taking a bottle of diluted elderberry cordial to work each day Elderberries are so prolific too, it is quite easy to get several carrier bags of fruit off one bush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 i dont think we have any sloes around here. gutted. i keep a look out but never seem to see any. damson gin it is. still nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 I think Phil will be putting in his order again for sloe gin and raspbery vodka! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 i dont think we have any sloes around here. gutted. i keep a look out but never seem to see any. damson gin it is. still nice. You can buy Sloes on Ebay laura, if you really want to make some Gin. I bought some last year & they were wonderful & really ripe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 I find that they are best if you freeze them first, then they are softer and don't need pricking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Here in Birmingham there appear to be plenty of unripe sloes around so I am hoping for a bumper harvest . Also a good idea to identify any bushes you may want supplies from now, as the green sloes are visible Where oh where are the sloes???!!! I would love to make sloe gin this year but cant find any sloe bushes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 27, 2007 Author Share Posted July 27, 2007 Where oh where are the sloes???!!! I would love to make sloe gin this year but cant find any sloe bushes Not telling Seriously, have you tried a bridal path or lane or even a park? Once you get out into common land you start finding loads of foragers food. Just today on a walk I identified enough Elderberry bushes to sink a small ship, Hazel bushes with unripe nuts, blackberries already dropping off onto the floor and the sloes of course That's not to say someone in my area won't get to them first, as last year there was a pretty poor crop And if you can't find any, you can buy loads of damsons (from a farmers market) and make damson gin, which I believe predates sloe gin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 We get ours from Phils folks, who have loads growing up on the farm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 They are apparantly dead easy to grow too, & are nice & spikey to deter people coming into your garden. I am thinking about planting 4 bushes at the end of the garden in the Autumn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 my friend is taking me on a sloe hunt when they are ready (I dont know what they look like ) Im already in the process of making raspberry vodka going to go looking for elderflowers soon - are they ready yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 um........ I think you may be better looking for elderberries Cathy - the flowers have finished now. You may still find a few as you are further north than we are. but doubtful. The berries aren't ready down here yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 i dont think we have any sloes around here. gutted. i keep a look out but never seem to see any. damson gin it is. still nice. You can buy Sloes on Ebay laura, if you really want to make some Gin. I bought some last year & they were wonderful & really ripe i may have to investegate the ebay idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 28, 2007 Author Share Posted July 28, 2007 um........ I think you may be better looking for elderberries Cathy - the flowers have finished now. You may still find a few as you are further north than we are. but doubtful. The berries aren't ready down here yet. Much better to wait for the berries anyway I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 um........ I think you may be better looking for elderberries Cathy - the flowers have finished now. You may still find a few as you are further north than we are. but doubtful. The berries aren't ready down here yet. ooooops thats what I meant im still blonde at heart (even though my hair is going a lot darker thanks to a nice hairdresser ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 At least Blonde Moments are better than Senior Moments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 I have those aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 I only have Senior moments since I stopped having highlights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...