[codheadred]

hi there

Has anyone any experience of growing sloe bushes or damsons? I want either some Sloe bushes or a damson tree, I am favouring the bushes due to space in my garden. I have a victoria plum which is a heavy cropper so I guess the gardens apect is fine for plums.

Are there any benefits other than space for the sloes - how soon would either crop?

Kind Regards Steven

[tosca100]

Interesting question! I must admit I have not known anyone plant sloes in the garden, there are masses in the hedgerows around here and they have horriffic thorns!

Have to admit I would rather have something I can't get for free if I was giving space to anything.

I'll be interested in other's answers though.

[mikem]

I would go for damsons as I think that they are more useful e.g. damson crumble  .  Can sloes be used for anything else than sloe gin, vodka etc?

[JaK]

I would say go for damsons too!
We have a sloe at the bottom of the garden, it fruits every other year and the thorns are evil! Other than alcaholic stuff I have no idea what use they have really. It would of been replaced with somthing else by now but it sits on the border of ours and next doors garden and they like sloe gin!!

[DD.]

Sloes are free and plentiful in the wild.

They are very slow (ha-ha) growing.

I know of nowhere where you can buy them and to dig one up would be illegal.

Therefore it's damsons.

[Salmo]

Any nursery that supplies native hedging plants should have blackthorn, which has sloes as the fruit. There may be varieties that have been bred for fruit but I have not come across them.

I would go for damsons.

[codheadred]

So Damsons it is - I have found a site that sells sloes bushes just out of interest

http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/fruit_and_nut_trees/sloe_bush/

I was under the impression i could have used the sloes for Jam making like Damsons, hopefully itll be quicker growing DD

Steven

 

[Swing Swang]

Sloes are also good for jelly.

The thorn sort of breaks off under your skin and will often go septic, so if you want some 'security' sloes oare good.

[mumofstig]

oooh that sounds nasty
I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy........or would I  

[solway cropper]

We have plenty of sloes in Cumbria and, as others say, the thorns are absolutely evil but they are worth picking and not just for making sloe gin. Last year I made a sloe and apple jam which was very 'dry' and probably more use as a meat accompaniment than something to spread on your toast. Pick the wild ones and grow a damson tree would be my advice.

[hightide]

hi there

Has anyone any experience of growing sloe bushes or damsons? I want either some Sloe bushes or a damson tree, I am favouring the bushes due to space in my garden. I have a victoria plum which is a heavy cropper so I guess the gardens apect is fine for plums.

Are there any benefits other than space for the sloes - how soon would either crop?

Kind Regards Steven

We have sloes along the edge of our allotment and I do appreciate a glass or two of Sloe Gin over winter, but their roots send up suckers all over the place. They are worse than Bindweed, twice as hard to pull up and you really do have to dig out the sprouting root. Maybe I am only observing wild plants here and bushes or trees sourced from a supplier would be grafted on dwarf rootstock, but I personally would spend the cash on something else - Apricot?   

 

[Swing Swang]

Sloes also make great walking sticks (if you're looking for a winter passtime)

[solway cropper]

Sloes also make great walking sticks (if you're looking for a winter passtime)

If you can find a straight enough one. Hazel is easier to cut and you don't need a suit of armour to get at them. 

[Swing Swang]

Sure - it's difficult to find a straight one - but if you're growing your own then you can train appropriately. There's something very nice about blackthorn walking sticks - I reacall seeing a photograph a few tears back of a group of veteran WW2 irish guards, all in matching berets, green jackets, and blackthorn walking sticks. Very, very smart indeed.

[tosca100]

Been to our local Wyevale and they have sloes for £2.50 at the moment, quite big plants, with quite big thorns!!!!!!