harrycatcat1 Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 I went up to my mothers grave last night and had a suprise with all the blackberries that were ripe and ready to pick. I am sure they are early, are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 Yes .. along with lost of other stuff!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 I surprised that there are any given how dry it's been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 I had the same thought yesterday, I remember picking them with the sloes last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureBoy Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 Very early in mid Suffolk to. NB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 hello, wet spring and hot summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 I thought they would be late given the dry spell, but some ripe around here last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 Picked a few this morning because they looked so good , surprised given the lack of rain .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 We've got loads this year but they're still green at the minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangbangman Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 Ripe and sweet here in S Wales. Raspberries, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted July 25, 2018 Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 Seen a few here in Essex, lots coming on as well and we've got a lot of sloes. They must all have very deep roots to keep alive through this heat. I pity the veg growers, and any farmers with livestock that would normally be munching away on lush green grass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted July 26, 2018 Report Share Posted July 26, 2018 Not seen any worth picking here in Sth Norfolk although all other soft fruits early and surprisingly good. Massive amount of black and white currents but a couple of families of blackbirds stripped the red currents the day they became ripe. It was facinating to watch the little beggars feasting, so much so we didn't bother to try to protect them and ended up removing the nets as this was easier than having to release those caught up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted July 26, 2018 Report Share Posted July 26, 2018 All of those around my wood (West Leicestershire) are still small and green but all other fruits are struggling a bit other than my walnut trees and cob nuts which are hanging on the floor with nuts this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted July 26, 2018 Report Share Posted July 26, 2018 lots around in hedgerows and some are still only just flowering so hopefully a long harvest of them this year, seem to me to be around a month early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted July 26, 2018 Report Share Posted July 26, 2018 Mulberries are very early this year, a month early at least Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted July 26, 2018 Report Share Posted July 26, 2018 loads by me. only said yeaterday how early they were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted July 26, 2018 Report Share Posted July 26, 2018 Dorset has a few, not loads. What is taking my fancy is how full the sloe trees are. Rammed with fruit. Not ready yet ( months away) but it will be a good harvest this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoolinDalton Posted July 26, 2018 Report Share Posted July 26, 2018 The odd one or two ready in my allotment here in Hartlepool and there's gonna be another great crop this year, same as last year! Loganberries at my house are ready now also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 I've actually welcomed the blackberries into my garden from next door this year , it's a bumper crop and l intend making blackberry whisky, and then using the fruit from the whiskey to make chocolate. I've been fighting to keep them out for years,but this year I've loved watching them take over a small patch of garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besty57 Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 Yeah a few starting to show up here, What there has been for at least 5weeks, are bumper crops of wild cherries which I have been gorging on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockySpears Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 (edited) Walk round Skippers lane, Middlesbrough, 2 distinct types: 1) Big, fat and ripe/ripening fast, picking next week on lunch break, couple of Kg at a time. 2) Small, green weeks to go yet Strangely, the fields/hedgerows are a lot slower than Skippers lane, 12 hours ago, mel b3 said: blackberry whisky Distilled ones self or doing the "Gin" thing and flavouring? " fruit from the whiskey to make chocolate. " do tell, please? RS Edited July 27, 2018 by RockySpears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 37 minutes ago, RockySpears said: Walk round Skippers lane, Middlesbrough, 2 distinct types: 1) Big, fat and ripe/ripening fast, picking next week on lunch break, couple of Kg at a time. 2) Small, green weeks to go yet Strangely, the fields/hedgerows are a lot slower than Skippers lane, Distilled ones self or doing the "Gin" thing and flavouring? " fruit from the whiskey to make chocolate. " do tell, please? RS It's just half fill a demiJon with blackberries, then fill up with cheap Asda scotch , just add a little bit of sugar if needed. In a few months time , strain the scotch from the mushy fruit , then mix the fruit into melted chocolate of your choice , and pour onto a baking tray lined with grease proof paper , and allow to set . It's unbelievably fattening and unbelievably delicious, the blackberry seeds make the chocolate sort of nutty too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockySpears Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 31 minutes ago, mel b3 said: It's just half fill a demiJon with blackberries, then fill up with cheap Asda scotch , just add a little bit of sugar if needed. Off the top of my head, but going to look it up for sure: A Demi-john is 4.7L, call it 5. 2.5L scotch @40%, 3Kg of BB in 2.5L = 240g of sugar = ~ 5% alcohol fermented out, but the scotch will kill the yeast. 2.5L@40% + 2.5L@5% = 5L @ 22.5%, So, "Let's Play": Ferment 3.00Kg of BB Ferment out the BB with 220g sugar/Kg added and a high alc. yeast (£1 for 5L @Boyes or where-ever) =15% (ignoring the sugar volume for all the winemakers out there) 660g sugar in total of 3Kg BB. Now: 2.5L @40% + 2.5L @15% = 5L @27.5% Strain out (after fermentation) and add to scotch or woosh it around a bigger pot than 5L to get scotch in your chocolate Leave this at least 6 months (you won't, but Hey-Ho, make more than you can drink) Warm chocolate and add mushed, fermented BB. Do not leave around, "For the Children". All numbers provisional and author reserves the right to be completely wrong. Yours, RS PS I may spend some time trying whiskey instead of Gin, more worming and keeps the BB darkness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 That's waaaay too technical for me , but it sounds about right . I've made a few batches over the years , and something that will make me sound mad , but I swear to god is the truth , when you smell and taste the blackberry whisky, you can taste the day that the blackberries were picked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 Not seeing any here abouts, but cherries and blackcurrants are 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule, and hopefully the rain over last night and into the WE will keep them coming! Looks like the walnuts are going to be ahead of schedule, but there seems to be a bit of dropping going on, so numbers may be down but size up (hopefully) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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