Foragers - Is Autumn coming early?

carrotcruncher

Hi,

Just watching BBC news saying that conkers are here early this year, they flowered two weeks earlier, so are ready earlier.

Does this mean other things you can forage will be ready earlier???

I'm new to this and whilst out walking the dogs I have seen sloes, walnuts, pears, apples, damsons etc but am wondering the best times to harvest?

Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks

Carrotcruncher

avantra

carrotcruncher wrote: »

Hi,

Just watching BBC news saying that conkers are here early this year, they flowered two weeks earlier, so are ready earlier.

Does this mean other things you can forage will be ready earlier???

I'm new to this and whilst out walking the dogs I have seen sloes, walnuts, pears, apples, damsons etc' but am wondering the best times to harvest?

Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks

Carrotcruncher

Absolutely!

I reckon about two to three weeks here in the south-west, harvest as much as you need as all of this fruits will be rotten by mid September.

Blackberries are at their best at the moment, if you like damson and crab apples (not my cup of tea tho) it's also only a week or so before they are fully ripe.

P.S
I have noticed a lot of the autumn edible mushrooms are out in the forests around us.

MunnyBoiler

I was thinking that things such as apples, blackberries and damsons were ripe earlier this year by a few weeks. Usually it is September when we pick everything but we are picking our apples and damsons this weekend plus we'll go to the local park to pick blackberries.

Next week will be busy making lots & lots of jam........

ALIBOBSY

We have picked Damsons, pears sloes and blackberries this week. The damsons are purple but a bit sour so will make good Jam and wine.
The trees in the hedgerows are dripping with fruit so will go back again when they are a bit sweeter for crumbles and pies to freeze.

ali x

buxtonrabbitgreen

You all just reminded me that I noticed a crab apple tree in the park a couple of weeks ago. Off to have a look tomorrow now. I am not bothering with blacberries this year as we have all decided we don't actually like them.