Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Homebrew => Topic started by: Ropster on June 18, 2009, 12:57

Title: sloe's
Post by: Ropster on June 18, 2009, 12:57
I want to make some sloe gin, when will the sloes be ready? Im in surrey
Title: Re: sloe's
Post by: 8doubles on June 18, 2009, 14:14
The `Old Timers' standard answer is after the first frost of autumn.
Title: Re: sloe's
Post by: poultrygeist on June 23, 2009, 17:44
If you have sloes in your garden, you might be best to net them against the birds because they tend to take them just before you or the frosts get to them. ::)

If they are in the wild, i think you can pick them as late as you dare before they are all gone and then freeze them for a bit before using them. I've also read you can prick the skin before use to make up for a lack of frost.

Lovely stuff though. :)

Rob 8)
Title: Re: sloe's
Post by: sunshineband on June 23, 2009, 21:34
We pick sloes for sloe gin in September, a couple of weeks after the children have come back to school. Poke holes in them with a needle before putting them in.

Never had a problem with birds eating them at all. Always assumed this was because they aer so sour  :ohmy:
Title: Re: sloe's
Post by: 8doubles on June 23, 2009, 22:14
We pick sloes for sloe gin in September, a couple of weeks after the children have come back to school. Poke holes in them with a needle before putting them in.

Never had a problem with birds eating them at all. Always assumed this was because they aer so sour  :ohmy:

Don`t think the word sour is adequate ,  :D

Nothing dries the mouth like a sloe  :tongue2:

But you still have to try one when picking them .
Title: Re: sloe's
Post by: sunshineband on June 24, 2009, 19:29
But you still have to try one when picking them  .

Oh no I don't  :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: sloe's
Post by: Lastcast on June 28, 2009, 12:16
Always been told to wait for the first frosts, however I normally can't wait that long, early October onwards should be fine. If you pick more than you need, they are ok to freeze for later use. Definitely try one  :tongue2: or suggest it to anyone with you. As it happens I checked a couple of my !! bushes this morning and there are plenty of Sloes at the moment  :D, last year was a disaster there were none worth picking, fortunately I found a lb or two in the bottom of the freezer.