blackberry picking

beckstrous

Ah drat. I picked a bag and froze them. I am guessing I should have soaked them first to get the maggits out? I might throw this first bag away then!

Barneysmom

Beckstrous I've never found a single maggot in a blackberry.

But I have ruined my first attempt at jam and I'm sad
I was going to have some for breakfast but it tastes disgusting! it looks so good too.
I must have burnt it, cooked it too long trying to wait for the setting point. Too much water I think, it didn't thicken quick enough.

2cats1kid

Hey, Barneysmom, I can send you some of mine if you are feeling deprived.

Barneysmom

Oh, bless you xxxx
I hope yours tastes nicer than mine
it's neatly lined up on the window sill, tastes blinkin' poisonous - but hey! I'll go and pick some more on the weekend and try again

1sttimer_2

Sorry I haven't read all the posts but I would have thought it a little early for blackberries?

My mum used to say Wakes Week Bilberries/September break half term Blackberries. Now that school holidays have altered and I don't have children at school anymore, I forget the dates but it used to be 1st 2 weeks July and 2nd week September.

Still I'll be off looking now - ran out of Bramble jelly ages ago! As soon as I make them, my daughter calls round and 'Oh have you made some jam, can you spare a jar'! And so it goes down very quickly!

Love the sound of the ice cream though - will try that this year.

Barneysmom

Hi 1sttimer, I think the berries are quite early this year, the elders are just about ready in some areas too.


I spotted my mistake, I used 3/4 pint of water instead of 1/4 pint
It was never going to set without burning the blackberries.

A website sounds like a great idea, I'd probably be there a lot! :beer:

Icemaiden

1sttimer, I notice you're in west yorkshire, have you found any bilberries on them there moors yet??? I've either missed the boat or need glasses. There just doesn't seem to be any this year

Ice
x

2cats1kid

Yes, I always remembered September/October being blackberrying time when I was a kid, but I've been blackberrying here for 3 or 4 weeks now. They are hanging off the bushes hereabouts. And the elderberries are ripe I noticed today, so need to go out and get some of them.

1sttimer_2

Icemaiden wrote: »

1sttimer, I notice you're in west yorkshire, have you found any bilberries on them there moors yet??? I've either missed the boat or need glasses. There just doesn't seem to be any this year

Ice
x

Yes, we picked 1.5 lbs 3 weeks ago and a friend has picked loads (he doesn't work though!) last week (2/8) he said he had another 1.5 lbs!

We get them from local moor near Halifax. Don't know where abouts you are so not sure what they'll be like in your area.

meanmarie

Not sure that there will be any blackberry harvest for me this year....rain will mean that they will rot before they ripen...intend to use some elderberries for jelly, combined with some apples for a better set and will make some elderberry wine too, haven't done it in years but was nice.

We have torrential rain here to-day, easing off to a drizzle for a while and then coming back with a vengeance...getting sick of it....

Marie