sloe or damson

u751904

So we went blackberry picking today. An area of common land which has a lot of apple streets, blackberries , cherries etc. A few bush / trees which to me looked like sloe's my husband is convinced they are damsons. The fruit is far too small for damsons - he says they are wild damsons? I'd like to try and identify them so I can work out whether they are edible etc. Any advice please? thanks

STOCKWIRE

easy Sloes = Thorns ~ Damsons = No Thorns

u751904

so you can have small damsons these were about 1/2 inch?

Mojisola

As it's been such a dry summer, the damsons will be smaller than usual this year.

STOCKWIRE

u751904 wrote: »

so you can have small damsons these were about 1/2 inch?

Yes same size as sloes. why don't you taste them !.

splodger_seedswapper

the simplest way to distinguish a sloe from other wild plum types is the plant itself - a sloe grows on the blackthorn bush - so is more shrub like than a tree - damsons and wild plums grow on trees

although it could be a bullace - which is (i think) where the damson originates from - fruits are bigger than sloes but smaller than damsons

to the poster who said that damson trees don't have thorns - some wild varieties do actually - and i was picking from some of those trees yesterday and have a few scratches to prove it - along with 20 kg of damsons

re hedgerow fruit - there are a number of "wild plum" type varieties to be found - some have red cherry sized fruit - and these are lovely for jam and wine etc - but i can't remember the proper name for them

there is also a small yellow plum - again about cherry sized - these are a type of mirabelle plum

u751904

I'll do some further investigation. thanks

STOCKWIRE

splodger_seedswapper wrote: »

the simplest way to distinguish a sloe from other wild plum types is the plant itself - a sloe grows on the blackthorn bush - so is more shrub like than a tree - damsons and wild plums grow on trees

although it could be a bullace - which is (i think) where the damson originates from - fruits are bigger than sloes but smaller than damsons

to the poster who said that damson trees don't have thorns - some wild varieties do actually - and i was picking from some of those trees yesterday and have a few scratches to prove it - along with 20 kg of damsons

re hedgerow fruit - there are a number of "wild plum" type varieties to be found - some have red cherry sized fruit - and these are lovely for jam and wine etc - but i can't remember the proper name for them

there is also a small yellow plum - again about cherry sized - these are a type of mirabelle plum

Very true. but it tends to be sharp pointed twigs on suckers, as oppose
to thorns on the actual tree, and at the same time you often find thorn-less black thorn (doesn't sound right !). Easiest way to identify is again by taste as nothing will make your mouth go dry like a sloe. Both can also go in gin !!

TonyMMM

If they are sloes, don't pick them yet ......much too early.

tilly_willow

Just don't do what I heard about a while ago which is to confuse sloe with deadly nightshade. There is a big difference in the plant and fruit but most importantly in the effect on humans. I know of a couple who were very ill after getting it wrong.

STOCKWIRE

tilly_willow wrote: »

Just don't do what I heard about a while ago which is to confuse sloe with deadly nightshade. There is a big difference in the plant and fruit but most importantly in the effect on humans. I know of a couple who were very ill after getting it wrong.

It just shows that a good hand book on the subject is the best thing to carry when picking anything "wild" if you have any doubts !.