Blackberry season

[Ezra]

Don't know if it's just in my part of the world, W Yorks, but it seems to be a bumper season for Blackberrys. Not talking about in the garden, just growing wild in hedges etc. They're really sweet, huge, easy to pick - we've been picking when out walking over the past couple of weeks and there's about 5kg in the freezer now. Should keep us in crumble for a few months

[mcelliott]

Yes bonkers amounts down here in Guernsey, been picking for about three weeks, sloes and apples by the bucket load too

[Blib]

Here in NE Suffolk too. Everything is abundant and early.

[jmn]

I recall reading somewhere that abundant and early soft fruit may indicate an incoming harsh winter.

My old Apple Tree has produced a huge amount of fruit this year.

[Tango13]

I've harvested about 11kg from the blackberry bush in the back garden and I probably had to leave about 3~4kg on the bush as I couldn't reach them.

[Crumpet]

We’ve had so much fruit on the pear and apple trees that branches have come down. Never seen anything like it.

[DS129]

Yep, Essex/Suffolk borders here, very good blackberry crop, also apples, sloes and pears.

[netherfield]

Plums are looking good as well.

[eldar]

Huge, tasty crop until about a week ago, then lack of rain and flocks of starlings put the tin hat on them.

[thetapeworm]

They are much tastier than the store bought ones my wife still insists on buying despite me picking lots of ours. I'm instantly taken back to the apple and blackberry pies and crumbles my Gran used to make.

It's insane seeing £100s worth of them just sitting there but tiny punnets of them in the supermarkets for £2.50.

[The jiffle king]

We've got a lot of these and I'm collecting 1kg a day easily. They taste amazing freshly picked on breakfast

[8-P]

I’m on the south coast and it feels like they will be over soon!

[spikeyhead]

8-P said:

I’m on the south coast and it feels like they will be over soon!

I'm in Northants and mine are just about finished. Have had plenty, and currently supplementing them with elderberries

[Speed 3]

Surrey Downs here, never seen crops like this, ever. Gorgeous fruit and so satisfying knowing how much they normally are in the shops. We had great yields on our plums and blueberries in the garden too. Cherrys failed to leaf mites though, anyone got any tips for eliminating them ?

[StoutBench]

Sloes and Plums all gone a bit crazy round here in the South West.

[Simpo Two]

jmn said:

I recall reading somewhere that abundant and early soft fruit may indicate an incoming harsh winter.

My old Apple Tree has produced a huge amount of fruit this year.

As has my crab apple tree - groaning under the weight. The only problem is that I don't like crab apples and can't give them away. It seems like such a waste.

[OMITN]

A reasonable number of blackberries when Mrs OMITN went out this evening after work, but they’re all small.

This is West Lancashire, which is excellent for growing all sorts of things, but I suspect the lack of rain for so long hasn’t allowed them to grow as plump as previous years.

Still, we got enough for an apple and blackberry crumble and left plenty for the birds and other foragers.

[StoutBench]

Simpo Two said:

jmn said:

I recall reading somewhere that abundant and early soft fruit may indicate an incoming harsh winter.

My old Apple Tree has produced a huge amount of fruit this year.

As has my crab apple tree - groaning under the weight. The only problem is that I don't like crab apples and can't give them away. It seems like such a waste.

Have you tried listing them on Olio? Free to collector that's how we clear an abundance of fruit. Doesn't hang around for long.

[Simpo Two]

StoutBench said:

Have you tried listing them on Olio? Free to collector that's how we clear an abundance of fruit. Doesn't hang around for long.

I had to google that - 'neighbourhood sharing app' - not really my scene TBH, too much chatter I can't be bothered with. Plus I don't do apps.

[StoutBench]

Simpo Two said:

StoutBench said:

Have you tried listing them on Olio? Free to collector that's how we clear an abundance of fruit. Doesn't hang around for long.

I had to google that - 'neighbourhood sharing app' - not really my scene TBH, too much chatter I can't be bothered with. Plus I don't do apps.

There might be a forum but you don't need to use it. Basically you list something and people request it. It's like gumtree really. People can't comment on your offering so it's not like Facebook or similar it's all about preventing food waste.

Just list it and whack them outside for help yourself, bring a bag etc.