Blackberries (fruit)- some effort required.

Minnie26

We have loads in the car park of our flat they are obviously from a neighbours garden which has overgrown into our car park (when I say car park there are a few garages and about 4 cars parked there). In the 7 years I've lived there nobody has ever picked them and the gardener usually justs hacks them down, do you think they would be ok to pick? I guess the just need a good wash under the tap?

Also not sure if they are blackberries or rasberries. Can both be frozen for use later? I know the gardener is due this weekend so I want to fill my boots before they disappear lol.
Thanks

mcgrow

aarrgghh wrote: »

Can you be more specific please. Exactly what will traffic fumes do to the fruit apart from make them dirty, which would be true in any urban environment. Are there toxins from traffic fumes which can be absorbed by the berries? If so, which ones?

The soil is the main problem. Small amounts of lead and other poisonous metals gradually dripping from exhausts, which are then flushed into the soil by the rain. Over decades, those metals build up and the plants absorb them. The plants try their best to avoid the lead and the levels in the fruit aren't that high (that is, they are within safe limits), but on average, you'll get five times more lead in roadside blackberries than those in the countryside.

parsonswife8

Don't pick any of the berries lower down as the doggies may have lifted their legs on them.
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Minnie26

Ha ha great tip, thanks I'll remember that! Dont want any added water to my fruit lol!!