Sloe berries

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The Golden Heap

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Sloe berries
« on: October 06, 2013, 19:32 »
Has anyone noticed how early the sloes are this year?

I know the old wife's tale says to wait till first frost, am I usually do, but theses lots of berries and large ones! It was a case of pick now or loose out.  What could that mean weather wise for winter being so early and large?

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rowan57

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2013, 20:27 »
The sloes are bl**dy marvellous this year, picked about 12lbs myself. Always freeze after picking anyway, the frosts/cold just sweeten them a bit.

Not sure you can follow winter weather by the size of a sloe  :happy:

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bravemurphy

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2013, 21:38 »
I was talking to an older lady in the week and she told me it was going to be a hard winter.

I asked her how she new that and she replied " have you seen all the berries on the trees".

I thought to myself that lots of berries could mean we have had a good summer.

Well time will tell but I am not convinced yet.

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Willow_Warren

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2013, 16:03 »
I've heard the berries/hard winter thing before... (although I thought that related to holly - when does holly get it's berries???)

I've been picking sloes - found some really fat juicy ones :)

Think I have about 2-3kg, but apart from 1 batch of sloe gin I don't know what I'm going to do with them!

H :)

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surbie100

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2013, 16:51 »
I've heard the berries/hard winter thing before... (although I thought that related to holly - when does holly get it's berries???)

I've been picking sloes - found some really fat juicy ones :)

Think I have about 2-3kg, but apart from 1 batch of sloe gin I don't know what I'm going to do with them!

H :)

sloe jelly or hedgerow jam? I can't think of anything else...

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Steveharford

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2013, 17:09 »
Freeze em till next year when there will be none about  ;-)

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Aled

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2013, 12:56 »
Off to pick a pint and a quarter after work whilst taking the dog for a walk, combined with some sugar and a bottle of cheap vodka i hope it will help keep out the winter chill..... ;)
Cheers
Aled

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Kristen

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2013, 16:24 »
Sadly the plants have no idea what the winter is going to be - they are producing well simply because they had a good growing season.

Parsnips are the same, in terms of being sweeter lifted once there has been a frost, and bunging them in the in the freezer for a bit simulates the frost nicely :)

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captainhastings

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2013, 20:33 »
Any one have a recipe for a good sloe jam ?

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Aled

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2013, 11:40 »
Well there were very few on the plants last night! Either the birds have a field day somebody else got them first,or which appears most likely i'm too late.
Sadly...
Cheers
Aled

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Yorkshire Lass

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2013, 08:54 »
I picked a couple of pounds last weekend and popped them in the freezer.  It worked for me a couple of years ago, fingers crossed it works again.  :blink:

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sneezer

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2013, 16:08 »
Oh yes my oh and I quickly picked them when we saw them early! If you wait til the first frost where I live it will be late November!
Has any one else made sloe gin then after you have strained the sloes off, put them with sherry and made another drink? A friend recently told us about it.

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Aled

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2013, 17:13 »
Yep sherry and sloes did it last year.
 :)Lovely.
Aled

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Steveharford

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #13 on: October 15, 2013, 20:10 »
Nope but did it after the damson gin last year. Very nice too !

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Yorkshire Lass

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Re: Sloe berries
« Reply #14 on: October 15, 2013, 22:42 »
Yep sherry and sloes did it last year.
 :)Lovely.
Aled

Is there a particular sherry you need to use?  Would love to try this for my partner this year  8)



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