Damson advice

Frugalista

gailey wrote: »

these plums in hedge on very busy main road.

I wouldn't recommend using fruits from the side of a very busy main road because of all the exhaust emissions they will have been exposed to and absorbed as they grew :eek:. If you are adamant about using them I would be sure to wash them very, very thoroughly. Personally, I wouldn't touch them. Sorry .

gailey_2

mmm never thourght of that as they deepinside hedge. will give good wash and taste and see , will probably try jam as least if its disaster not wasted too much.

Emm-in-a-pickle

We found some yellow frruit like you describe, ages ago in a derelict farmhouse garden (that later got buldozed) but we gathered the fruit, assumed it was some sort of greengage, and made jam. It was a fantastic `one-off` in my jam-making adventures. Lucky you! Damsons, should you have them as well, or find them...jam is gorgeous, but also makes a brilliant wine. Damson wine can be on the dry side, and elderberry wine tends to be more sweet. SO, if you do make some of each, find one too dry and the other too sweet, don`t give up onm either, try blending them and you`ll have a unique blend that rivals the best port, save for Christmas!

gailey_2

oh good news found more polum trees off main road

found yellow ones
pink ones a
and purple ones they all quite small but looked ripe collected whole tub full.

can i clean and freeze until ready to make jam.

Justamum

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Damsons are purple, and aren't usually ready yet They might be some sort of plum. Can you post a picture?

When are damsons ready? I need to make sure I've got enough jars ready for making jam

gailey_2

Well dad thourght what I found was damsons but they come out late aug/septemebr time mine appear to be greengages within plum family which drop in july.

Primrose

This does rather sound like a member of the greengage family. They are greeny yellow when they're ripe. Damsons don't normally ripen until September. Yes, you can wash and freeze all of these until you're ready to make jam. They will go a little quishy when thawed out but they do that anyway once they're cooked. If you want to save freezer space, you can just simmer them down first until they're squishy and then freeze.

gailey_2

Thanks primrose as im planning to cook wit them dont matter if they go mushy.
They definatly greengages most yellow some pink and smaller than average plum.
picked 2tubs yesterday off to pick more today will freeze and might not get round to making plum jam until sept as will have more time.
Cherries nearly finished with here and think august a free month until blackberries, sloes and elderberries.

Might stew a few in sugar and freeze as thats half a crumble done then.

craftlady

I thought I might try some wine making with them - and ideas on recipe.

Purpleclutterbuck

They are probably Cherry plums if they ripen to a plum/purple colour - they taste like a cross between a cherry and a plum !!! and ripen in early July - they are really sweet and mine are just going into some jam and some are to be drenched in brandy ready for christmas!