henry d Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 I have just spent another hour in the countryside as I had spotted some trees, that appeared to be damsons, and were heavily laden with fruit. I know it would be late for Damsons but the trees were up to 20ft tall and the fruit size is about the size of your thumb end. Anyhoo I tried one of them when I turned up and immediately my cheeks puckered in and all moisture in my mouth seemed to dry up.............. mmmm sloes then ! I picked away at them and ended up with just over a gallon and still it looks as if no-one has picked there. Incidently I also got a fruit picker from Lidl`s a while back and as some trees had fruit hanging in bunches this tool was the easiest way to gather it and well worth the money I paid, less than a fiver IIRC. So how goes it around the country ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 (edited) Pretty good in Norfolk and Suffolk henryd, but not the best ever. The last couple of years have been pants, so it was good to see them back. I picked some very nice wild bullaces as well as the sloes. The main crop finished the best part of three weeks ago i'd say. Edited November 4, 2009 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 More than last year that is for sure, but I picked some from a new plantation which were quite small - just loads of them and at the perfect height! So being a bit lazy I just grabbed 2 kilo's of those. I am not sure how different sized berries taste, I guess I will find out this time next year. What's this fruit picker look like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 (edited) bumper crop of biggies around us this year. and this is the fruit picker - takes all the hard work out of it, Henry just stands back and watches... Edited November 4, 2009 by nickbeardo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted November 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Similar to this but with a twist lock handle that extends to about 9-10ft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyp Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 great here in the midlands too. Done Gin & Vodka. I was going to do wine but i think it could be to dry, any other ideas what to do with them all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 That's interesting, can't work out how it works myself from looking at that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 great here in the midlands too. Done Gin & Vodka. I was going to do wine but i think it could be to dry, any other ideas what to do with them all? When you've finished dunking them in gin/vodka. Put them in cider and make sloe cider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted November 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 That's interesting, can't work out how it works myself from looking at that Drag it along the branch and it "combs" the fruit into the bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Sounds interesting if I see a cheap one I'll give it a go next year :blink: Had a taste of my gin the other day and I think it needs a few more weeks but coming on well. Don't really know what it's supposed to taste like to be honest Drag it along the branch and it "combs" the fruit into the bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Sloes have been good this year in N Wales. I haven't made any gin as we still have some left from last year, but I have made a load of blackberry vodka. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mez75 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Excellent crops here in south cumbria also, much better than last year when it took me over 2hrs to pick a kilo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Best year ever H :blink: I have had to give most of them away as the the amount of Vodka needed to convert them all will cost way too much! LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Plenty here to, the small sloe 's are colouring up the gin better though . Will see if they taste any different at drinking time :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Good here as well collected enough for 1 litre of sloe gin less than 50yards from my house, worth noting that i live on an estate! Bottoms up. :blink: Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryantidgwell Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 i got 23 LB of sloes sat in my freezer aint got the money for 23 litres of gin yet :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Bloody hell, where do you keep your berry picking slave locked up? Good here as well collected enough for 1 litre of sloe gin less than 50yards from my house, worth noting that i live on an estate!Bottoms up. :blink: Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul@Ribchester Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Lots of berries on the trees everywhere it seems, that suggests we could be in for a hard winter??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Strange year for some fruit though, sloes, blackberries, damsons, great but most people complained that they had a bad year for apples, our trees were full. If we have a similar crop next year i fancy having a go at making some cider. Anybody got any advice? Chin Chin Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 here is the 3rd batch this year two weeks old and a nice colour already KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuey Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Brilliant year in Northumberland. They are hanging like bunches of grapes!! Got 7 1/2 l of Sloe gin on the go and 1 1/5 l of sloe vodka. Made my mix quite strong - 1 1/2 l of spirit to 2 1/4 lb of sloes. Might need to water it down a bit with more Gin!!! All looking good so far though!! cheers stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mez75 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Picked myself another 5lb yesterday whilst walking the dogs, Just made a berrie picker for them hard to reach sloes from some rectangular pvc ducting that came with a cooker hood, cut several slots in one end to make fingers, fasten a bag to the other end & simply comb the berries from the bush, they should fall down the ducting & into the bag or at least thats the idea will have to go try it out later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snipe Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Got my batch made up and taking colour nicely already. Made a small batch of damson vodka this year too. Excellent year for them, as has been said - some branches were drooping under the weight! When you've finished dunking them in gin/vodka. Put them in cider and make sloe cider. Love that idea, Whitebridges. I take it that you put them in traditional scrumpy? rather than the modern day fizzy ****? Do you add any sugar? or do you find there's sufficient sugar in the cider to cope? Thanks, Snipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babka3487 Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Really good year in my picking grounds this year, gave blackberry vodka a go as well. Made raspberry vodka last year and it is fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Bloody hell, where do you keep your berry picking slave locked up? Just realised what i said, English is my second language! I live on a "housing estate" WOT a wally u r Aled Cheers Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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