Thunderbird Posted September 14, 2012 Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 Are you seeing many about yet? A few of the local places haven't got a berry to be seen yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stokie Posted September 14, 2012 Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 I found 2 large bushes last year that were covered in berries . I gathered about 3 kilos last year . This year there is about 20 berries on them . So will have to find some more bushes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 Yeah me too, and last year they were ripe very early. I have just checked and I made my sloe gin on the 10th September 2011 and it was gorgeous. Made half using local berries (Cotswolds) and half using some 'old vine' stuff from the Gower. The old vine stuff won hands down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landyboy Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 i had a look around yesterday, last year some big bushes that produced loads are very sparce but another that produced well last year is also full of berries this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 Many of my usual shrubs are looking very bare. Last year I collected some monsters, this year a handful of pea sized ones on the same bushes :(. Gonna have to look further afield this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry31 Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 I've never managed to find any up here in lancs can you buy sloes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 I went for a walk round one of my shoots today and saw one sloe berry. Loads of blackberries on the plus side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 Plenty around me BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 Where i usually go to pick them, you could pick 20kg+, this year there is not a single berry to be seen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zab10 Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 i only started picking them last year and found plenty , been looking at the same places this weekend and not a single berry on the bushes . lesson learned keep a stock in the freezer in future . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 Well, I'm up at my usual berry-picking spot and I've counted half a dozen berries! The bushes are very thin too. Bear in mind it was in the kilner jars by this time last year. Hmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlistairB Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 Last year i picked them in November and was bottled between Christmas and New Year, but they were all very small, peanut sized berries. Only seen 1 bush with any on this year, again very small, unfortunately that was in someone’s garden! AB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 I've never managed to find any up here in lancs can you buy sloes? Yes - I bought some about 5 years ago off the bidding website - Quite reasonable too! Don't forget that this time last year we were all going mad saying how early the berries were. I've got bundles where i shoot in Kent, but they ain't big yet - I reckon mid October will be the time and you might manage to force some through in time for this Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPARKIE Posted September 21, 2012 Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 I picked a fair few last week and have found a real big bush with loads on at work. i'm going to attack it on nights next week......A lot of the fields i shoot are lined with the bushes but they tend to be bare. the ones that are in a shaded area out of wind and elements seem to be the only bushes with fruits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brown Sauce Posted September 22, 2012 Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 My usual spot down Pwll Du, is looking good this year. Thinking about picking and freezing rather than waiting for the first frost! Thunderbird, if you're lucky we'll pop down there next week after a spot of fowling!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 Nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 I've got a handfull off my usual spot. Thankfully a guy at work with has shared a couple of local spots that he is not using this year due to him having enough sloe gin to last a few years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Last year we got tonnes from just by the village, this tear the same bush is almost bare so trying to look further afield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Noticed a load tonight down on the marsh, might get some to make up for the ducks I didn't shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonblasterian Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Found a lot on a couple of bushes last week.Only trouble is a lot of them are shrivelled up and wrinkly for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majordisorder Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Got tons around here in Northampton big fat and juicy, much better than last year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Not many on my bushes. I found some I froze last in a freezer clear out and am going to try them! Can't do too much harm on bog standard gin? Lampwick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Well i found some, 1.5kg roughly. Just under half have been put in with 750ml of gin i had in the house already. Got the rest to sort out tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 There are hundreds of bushes groaning with loads of huge sloes over herein the Charente. I don't bother with them though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gadge-it Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 Up in the northeast,in my usual places theres none Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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