malkiserow Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Tbh last year by the time first frost hit most the sloes were stripped by what i'm assuming is birds or possibly deer if deer eat them. All i know is last year I waited till first frost and got very little hence why i'm asking if there's any other tips/tricks to checking readiness. I waited for the first frost last year and they were all gone ...... I felt a right idiot as there were loads last year but the frosts came late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 They are still mostly green here. Fair enough get them before the end of September maybe but it isn't the end of August yet. I've got 25 acres of apples but I can't pick them before they are ready, even if a hurricane was forecast for tomorrow. They are not ready. Makes no difference to me but your sloe gin will taste and look a whole lot nicer if you leave them a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 I think I'll give mine frost at home in the freezer this year !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitehackle Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Dont know about sloes. But there are no acorns around here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 I picked some today - nicely ripe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 They are big and early again - Take them now, freeze them and they'll be fine. i picked bundles in Kent three or four years ago in August and the gin was gorgeous. The first frost bit is, i fear, a thing of the past. I agree. I've never frozen mine nor pricked them. Just pick them when they are ready or some other ****** will nab them, give them a quick wash then roughly dry making sure you pull out all the stalks. Never had any issues with flavour imparting. Ratios I use 400g sugar with 800g of sloes to a litre of gin or vodka. Personally I prefer using gin over vodka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 ive never seen sloes in the wild before, well never looked really... but this year was determined to get out and find some, i had been told of a tree not to far away but this morning went out with a guy who lives at the end of my street not only did he show me where laods of rabbits are and get me permission just 15 minutes walk from the house after mentioning sloe gin he showed me loads ond loads of trees jammed with sloes also within yards nut trees and crab apple trees and no one goes where they are so fingers crossed in a couple of weeks i get tons up there... i cant believe it just 15 minutes walk from my house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 A few people on here are mentioning Sloe "Trees". I thought that Sloe's were bushes and Damson and Bullaces were trees?? Is there an easy way, without tasting, of telling Sloe's from Bullace's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 my easy way... a few months ago i bought a plant from a nursery for the garden, its grown well and is almost three foot tall now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dessyb Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 (edited) went for a stroll yest wi outher half loads of sloes above weir at east stoke. Edited August 29, 2015 by dessyb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Is there an easy way, without tasting, of telling Sloe's from Bullace's? i may be wrong and if i am i hope someone can correct me so i know what im doing whem im picking, but isnt a bullace tree thorn free? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted August 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Having looked at the leaves in my second picture I am not convinced they were sloes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Having looked at the leaves in my second picture I am not convinced they were sloes? They aren't, they look far more like damsons. Best way is to taste them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derbyduck Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Having looked at the leaves in my second picture I am not convinced they were sloes?+1 bullaces DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 A few people on here are mentioning Sloe "Trees". I thought that Sloe's were bushes and Damson and Bullaces were trees?? Is there an easy way, without tasting, of telling Sloe's from Bullace's? Damsons look like small purple plums and bullaces look like small damsons. That's about as good a description I can give you fella. Sloes are round and are the fruit of the blackthorn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pond digger 007 Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 We went for a walk with the dog yesterday and the hedge rows are loaded with sloes. Only managed a kilo as the only bags we had were for the dog.. Back for more tomorrow night though, Hell, if you can get your dog in the bags, surely you'll get loads of sloes in! Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pond digger 007 Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 A few people on here are mentioning Sloe "Trees". I thought that Sloe's were bushes and Damson and Bullaces were trees?? Is there an easy way, without tasting, of telling Sloe's from Bullace's? The plants can all look a bit similar, but a Sloe bush will never get to the same size as a Damson or Bullace. Sloe bushes are more spikey. As for the fruit; Sloes are smaller than Bullaces but are the same shape. Damsons are plum shaped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 And they all taste reasonably similar - Although damsons will need less sugar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pond digger 007 Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 And they all taste reasonably similar - Although damsons will need less sugar You must have some horrible Damsons! As for the Bullace- fairly tasteless/innocuous. And they all taste reasonably similar - Although damsons will need less sugar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 Hope to get a pile of sloes on Sunday, I do not want to miss this years crop! Decanted my sloe sherry last Sunday, so the demi john is washed and ready for sloe gin! Cheers Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlistairB Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 We've picked and made up our sloe gin already, the sloes were falling off the bush and someone had already been and stripped the lower branches. The frost thing is ,IMHO, a bit of an old wives tale, when they are soft and ready , pick them. We did it about a week earlier last year and the gin is fantastic. AB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony G Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 Sloes ready and soft here aswell One demijohn with whiskey one with gin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxfordfowler Posted September 11, 2015 Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 3 litres of Sloe Gin and 1 of Damson on the go. Never ready soon enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 Just back from my sloe pick.. Got 4 kilos, a kilo of haws to make some jelly with and a pile if hazel nuts..., a cracking morning and sweated my hangover off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 sorted my sloes and made two demijons with 2 lires of gin in each, gow 1.6kg left over so im going back up tomorrow and collect some crab apples and make sloe & crab apple jelly, also going to make some haw & crab apple jelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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