2010 Sloe Berry harvest report

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angeleyes
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2010 Sloe Berry harvest report

Post by angeleyes »

A recent trip of four of us to Pollard's Hill, Norbury, London S.W. realised a harvest of 32lb of sloe berries - a record harvest (last year's was half that amount I believe). They were perhaps picked slightly early in the season as many were barely ripe; however ripe berries were still plentiful. It was interesting to note the different varieties of blackthorn bushes by the way the berries grew. Some grew individually along the branches and others grew in bunches, like grapes.

After a few hours of washing, sorting and de-leafing the berries into 1lb bags, they were placed in the freezer. We rewarded ourselves by drinking a bottle of last year's Sloe Gin (very good). A large quantity of gin, sugar and spare bottles now require procurement for the next stage.
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JacobH
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Re: 2010 Sloe Berry harvest report

Post by JacobH »

Picking sloes before the first frost?!? :wink:

I’m still yet to find somewhere good to pick them that is nearish to Hackney (or N.E. London in general). I suppose I ought to figure somewhere out before I have to buy them again this year... :(
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DRT
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Re: 2010 Sloe Berry harvest report

Post by DRT »

When does the Bunberry season start?
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JacobH
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Re: 2010 Sloe Berry harvest report

Post by JacobH »

I believe it depends on where it is grown. I think notably later in the states than over here... Any signs of them up North?
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DRT
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Re: 2010 Sloe Berry harvest report

Post by DRT »

Not yet. They don't ripen until after the haggis have gone into hibernation, usually in mid November.
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: 2010 Sloe Berry harvest report

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

DRT wrote:When does the Bunberry season start?
I thought it depended on whether they were country or city grown bunberries.
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JacobH
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Re: 2010 Sloe Berry harvest report

Post by JacobH »

I've been enjoying some fantastic damson gin recently. Perhaps a touch on the sweet-side (I need to dilute it with equal parts of soda), it reminds me of Japanese Umeshu in taste and is a striking luminous purple in the glass.
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Re: 2010 Sloe Berry harvest report

Post by darlingfrog »

Hi angeleyes,

whereabouts in Pollard's Hill did you find the sloes? I'm trying to find large quantities to make sloe gin for a friend's wedding in July & finding it tough going in SW London!
Otherwise JacobH where did you manage to buy sloes?
so many thanks
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