Sloe time

[DSMSMR]

Noticed a shedload of sloes growing during the summer.....as its been a bumper crop of fruit overall anyway. I usually leave it until october but I noticed that they were getting plump and soft so went out today and picked 2 lbs. Most of that came from my sloe tree in the orchard...my usual spots along my hedges were almost empty....weird. Out again tomorrow between the monsoon rains and get the rest.

[Turtle Shed]

Just harvested a couple of kilos from my garden, they're lovely and ripe as a good shake made them just fall from the branch.

Will be making sloe gin of course.

[zbc]

Have we skipped the principle of waiting for the first frost or am I just old fashioned and you just put them in a freezer or don't care?

[randlemarcus]

zbc said:

Have we skipped the principle of waiting for the first frost or am I just old fashioned and you just put them in a freezer or don't care?

There's a wonderful patch of massive sloes on the playing field near me, and am sure some bugger is going to get there first, so if we are all fine with the freezer cheat, I shall crack on

[POIDH]

mmmm, sloe gin. I have not made it in a few years, perhaps time to try again...

[GT6k]

The first frost has been so late the last couple of years that the sloes had mostly fallen off. The first frost is only needed to burst the skins but you get that anyway if you freeze them first.

[zbc]

randlemarcus said:

zbc said:

Have we skipped the principle of waiting for the first frost or am I just old fashioned and you just put them in a freezer or don't care?

There's a wonderful patch of massive sloes on the playing field near me, and am sure some bugger is going to get there first, so if we are all fine with the freezer cheat, I shall crack on

Fair enough. I live in rural France where Sloes are abundant and basically a weed. Only bugger that will get them around here are deer.

[dhutch]

We picked our crab apples about a month ago now, they where all dropping off the tree, and joining all the brown leaves from the other trees. Made a batch of crab apple jelly but likely wont have time make more.

I bottle of sloe/damson gin would be lovely but some reason our damson basically didnt fruit at all this year, and about six in total!

[Simpo Two]

randlemarcus said:

There's a wonderful patch of massive sloes on the playing field near me

They might be damsons. I thought I was making sloe gin a few years ago from very big sloes with no bloom. To my surprise the resultant liquor didn't need filtering, and I found out that's characteristic of damsons. It was also absolutely delicious!

[DSMSMR]

Theres a huge diff between a damson and a sloe btw. Mt sloes this year have been almost 25-50% bigger than usually. And yes we pick them way before the first frost as they get eaten quickly....like gooseberries. A few blackbirds can strip a bush in a day!

2 lbs picked , out again tomorrow.

As others have also posted elsewhere, its been a heck of a year for fruit in general....especially apples.

[Simpo Two]

DSMSMR said:

As others have also posted elsewhere, its been a heck of a year for fruit in general....especially apples.

Yep, my crab apple tree is groaning under the weight. Just a pity I don't like crab apples! A friend came and collected a bagful for chutney but it didn't scratch the surface.

[Mr Magooagain]

I’m part way through sawing literally thousands of sloe trees (blackthorn?).
I bought a wood last year and it’s infested with them and brambles growing through them. I’m ripped to shreads!

[Simpo Two]

Mr Magooagain said:

I m part way through sawing literally thousands of sloe trees (blackthorn?).
I bought a wood last year and it s infested with them and brambles growing through them. I m ripped to shreads!

Could you do a PYO operation? Seems a pity to waste them.

[OutInTheShed]

POIDH said:

mmmm, sloe gin. I have not made it in a few years, perhaps time to try again...

I haven't forgotten that my last attempt was a waste of gin yet.

[TT86]

Loooooooads of sloes down here in Sussex. Last year I struggled to find 1kg worth.

Are they quite ripe enough yet? I can't remember how soft they need to feel to be ready!

[Mr Magooagain]

Simpo Two said:

Mr Magooagain said:

I m part way through sawing literally thousands of sloe trees (blackthorn?).
I bought a wood last year and it s infested with them and brambles growing through them. I m ripped to shreads!

Could you do a PYO operation? Seems a pity to waste them.

I’m out in the wilds of the French countryside and the French would think I’ve gone totally mad. Crazy hot summer has been had here, lots of sloe’s but very small. Even the birds don’t want em as hey are feasting on my fig tree!

[Tango13]

OutInTheShed said:

I haven't forgotten that my last attempt was a waste of gin yet.

Make sloe jam instead?

[The Three D Mucketeer]

I prefer the taste of Damson Gin rather than Wild Sloes , it's less bitter and less woody (or maybe I got bored of removing all the stalks )... Also prefer "Nouveau Damson Gin" more fruity than the 5 year old stuff that goes like sherry

[Sford]

Our sloe's this year were really early so I skipped waiting for the devil to get in them and froze them. Will be making a big crop of sloe gin again, go a few vintages ticking away and looking forward to an evening with a glass!

[markymarkthree]

Never seen so many sloes up on the Mendips but they are a bit small. I shall keep an eye on them and hopefully with all the rain we have had, they will plump up a little.
Last time i saw this many sloes, mother said we will be in for a harsh winter. She was right, it was 1962.