Gluts in the Garden

comping_cat

http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=48498857/PictureID=1479102073/a=46776352_46776352/t_=46776352
Hopefully this one will work!!!!

comping_cat

Dont think it has, will try again!!!!

comping_cat

Its worked!!! not sure if its clear enough in this little picture tho, hope someone can help!!!!

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, Cat! Yes, it's a bit blurry, but looks pretty close, to me. Sloe is also known as blackthorn - it has this thorns on the main stems. Does yours?

Have a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackthorn

Can you take a clearer photo of the leaves?

Penny. x

comping_cat

They look very similar to the balckthorns in your link Pen, although the leaves on my tree are bigger than the ones on the blackthorns!!!! Got to go to the post office now, so will have a look at the tree for the little thorns on the way up the road!!!! Thank xx

Penelope_Penguin

catowen wrote:

They look very similar to the balckthorns in your link Pen, although the leaves on my tree are bigger than the ones on the blackthorns!!!! Got to go to the post office now, so will have a look at the tree for the little thorns on the way up the road!!!! Thank xx

In that case you may have a bullace - try here: oh, no, can't get link to paste. Try googling "Big Little Fruit"

They're all from the plum (prunus) family, but bullace is closer to the plum and damson, and may be edible as fruit directly?!?!? Indeed, it may be a damson.

Sloes are about 1cm long. Much longer and they're more likely damson or bullace. Come October, will you be brave enough to bite them? They're not poisonous, but sloes, have that teeth drying effect, IYKWIM!

Penny. x

comping_cat

Thanks Penny, the fruit look just like the picture in the news section in little big fruit, so i would guess they are bullaces then, although they are only small at the moment, but maybe they will get bigger as summer goes on!!!! They are still a pale blue, whereas in the bullaces section, they are a lot darker, but again, maybe they will darken as they grow!!!
No sloe gin for me this year then!!!

Penelope_Penguin

catowen wrote:

Thanks Penny, the fruit look just like the picture in the news section in little big fruit, so i would guess they are bullaces then, although they are only small at the moment, but maybe they will get bigger as summer goes on!!!! They are still a pale blue, whereas in the bullaces section, they are a lot darker, but again, maybe they will darken as they grow!!!
No sloe gin for me this year then!!!

Oh, no, don't give up, yet! Keep an eye on them, it may just be a big-leaved sloe! The size of the fruit may well be a clue, and they may not grow much more. My plums and damsons (which are the same family) are now at their final size, all they'll do now is ripen.

That pale "bloom" is also indicative of sloe.

Sorry to be confusing. I bet bullace gin will be just as nice! Keep us informed.

Penny. x

Gingham_Ribbon

re the glut of fennel: this is one of my favourite recipes. from delia and is very easy.

Penelope_Penguin

Hello! Lots of us have a bumper crop of damsons (in our gardens or the hedgerow ), so a recipe for jam.

Simmer 1.3kg fruit in 425ml water. The damsons will then give up their stones, and they can be easily removed (I count in the fruit and count out the stones so that I don't miss any). Add 1kg sugar, and simmer until it's dissolved. Boil rapidly until set (put a drop of jam onto a cold saucer. Push the side of your little finger against this, and if it wrinkles, it's set. If not, boil for another 10 mins), and pot into warm, sterilised jars.

Penny. x