are there any sloes about this year?

mrs_baggins

went to the place I normally go to see how they were going and there is nothing! not a single sloe. Dont think they have been got at but just think they havent prodeuced any this year. has anyone seen any this year or is it just in this one place that there are none?

reverie

I haven't seen any either, might go on a proper hunt at the weekend!

oliveoyl

mrs_baggins wrote: »

went to the place I normally go to see how they were going and there is nothing! not a single sloe. Dont think they have been got at but just think they havent prodeuced any this year. has anyone seen any this year or is it just in this one place that there are none?

I recently discovered a big patch of Sloe bushes near me, and there was a grand total of 3 berries on them... so looks like they are having a bad year... unless we're both looking at the same bushes lol.

TKM

Don't know where you're located but I found lots last weekend in outer London (Lee Valley Park), picked about 2 pints but am worried they weren't ripe enough and we were picking them too early (somebody mentioned waiting for the first frost).
Lots of blackberries there too.
hth

[Deleted User]

maybe there aren`t so many local bees to pollinate

lindadykes

There seems to be a lack of sloes where I live too, but it's not just sloes it's all the usual autumn fruits, while ther are some blackberries they are mostly still green and very small poor looking things, again there are some elderberries but no where near as many as usual.

We did have some very late spring frosts this year and a poster on another thread said that this will cause the flowers to die off before setting seed, so I think that's probably why.

Frugalista

I've been keeping a lookout for damsons but haven't seen any this year. They are normally all over the road at the bottom of our lane but haven't spotted a single one! My sister reckons I have missed them..... surely not?

Darlingtonian

Sadly, there are reports of bad damson crops all over the country this year - see this link for example. Since sloes are related to damsons it may be that the sloes have been hit too.

Ishtar

Could be. I've been looking but have found the grand total of 2 sloes. Was going to make sloe gin as pressies for people, but sadly they'll have to wait until next year.

Loads of hawthorn and rosehips though.

D.

reverie

TKM wrote: »

am worried they weren't ripe enough and we were picking them too early (somebody mentioned waiting for the first frost).
Lots of blackberries there too.
hth

You should wait until after the first frost to pick them, as it takes away some of the bitterness I think. BUT if you freeze the berries, then thaw them before pricking and adding to gin, it has the same effect apparently

oldMcDonald

We are in Hampshire and I have had a couple of bags of sloes from my usual trees. Last year I had over 10 bags full of plums and made wine and jam - this year I found none:( All the trees I usually go to were bare:( We have had quite a good crop of apples and blackberries, and the rosehips are starting to turn bright red and so are showing up well.

The nuts don't seem to have done so well, either. The sweet chestnuts don't look very fat (I haven't picked them yet), and the walnut trees don't appear to have any nuts on them.

We certainly don't seem to have as much to forage as usual.