when are damsons ready to pick?

oldtractor

my damson tree has a few fruits on it. they are slightly soft just about edible not very sweet and not a lot of flavour. Should i pick now or wait a few days until they are squashier and riper? I dont want them to fall off the tree and get spoiled.

roosterpotatoes

It depends what you want to do with them, I picked some last week and some more today to make jam as the more ripe the fruit, the less natural pectin for it to set
I would say now

ladylouise62

I picked a load a couple of weeks ago (in the Home Counties), and they were absolutely ready. They will never be sweet, but they should have flavour, so can't be ready yet.

splodger_seedswapper

if they are firm - they are under-ripe but can still be picked and left to ripen indoors (but better left on the tree to ripen if you want to make jam)

if they are soft to touch - they will be ok to pick - but beware very soft ones - as they might have maggots in them (always best to cut a few open to see if ought is inside)

oldtractor

Thanks everyone. I picked some today but will leave the rest til the weekend.

Jnelhams

I must live in the tropics (Hertfordshire), mine were finished back in early August!