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Earlier in the year I discovered clumps of blackthorn which were covered in white blossom. I made a mental note to return in the autumn and collect lots of sloe berries and make sloe gin. Yesterday I returned to the location and was disappointed to find one single berry and two others which were wrinkled. Are these wrinkled berries a clue that I had arrived too late? Had I missed the crop even though it is only late September. I could find no evidence of fallen berries on the ground and I can rule out someone picking them before me as I could see there were no berries higher up and within the clumps which would be impossible to access by human hand. Have birds scoffed the lot already? Or did virtually no fruit form? Has anyone any thoughts?
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Very possible no fruit formed. Black thorn often puts on a spect ulnar show of flowers and then no fruit. If you find a plant that fruits well remember where it was as it will probably fruit well each year.Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet -
Thx. Roitelet that's possibly what has happened. Thought there are lots of individual bushes in numerous clumps. I'm thinking could ALL bushes be poor fruit bearers? My error was not checking throughout the summer. If I had regularly checked I would know if much fruit was or was not was forming. I'll keep an eye out next season. It's a nice walk for my dog anyway.Comment
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I've found sloes fruit in alternate years. No idea why!Comment
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I don't think birds eat sloe berries. You can see why they wouldn't if you taste one raw. The plant suckers very freely so doesn't need its fruits distributed. I assume as it blossoms so early in the year the crop is lost to frost quite often.Originally posted by cheops View PostComment
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Birds do eat sloes, I leave the berries on the hedge along my plot for their winter snacking, together with the ivy berries, hips & haws. My lot aren't hugely productive, nor are the huge ones along the river but the ones along the field near Mum's are usually laden. You just need to find the ones that are keen on fruiting.
http://mudandgluts.com - growing fruit and veg in suburbiaComment
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Sloes don't fruit every year, I find I have to seek different sources most years to get a heavy crop. This year they do seem to be plentiful on some bushes but are already falling in some cases. It is said the fruit are better picked after a frost but if you are using them in Sloe Gin just freeze and thaw them at home and the hard skins will split letting the flavour out.Comment
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Yes you are quite right, as a google of "do birds eat sloe berries" shows.Originally posted by sparrow100 View PostBirds do eat sloes, I leave the berries on the hedge along my plot for their winter snacking, together with the ivy berries, hips & haws. My lot aren't hugely productive, nor are the huge ones along the river but the ones along the field near Mum's are usually laden. You just need to find the ones that are keen on fruiting.Comment
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This year seems to have been a really bad year for sloes in the parks and hedgerows near me. I saw they had blight (mis-shapen elongated fruits) earlier in the year and now nothing. Fortunately the Damson crop was good so I am using them instead - with less sugar in the recipe
Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?Comment
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birds are not bothered by sour fruit as they have no tongue as we know it, that was why I used to dust the bird feed with paprika, to stop the squirrels pinching it, they only did it once, the sloes round here have been poor this year, probably as summer gave us a miss again..Comment
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