slow sloe quick quick sloe

wabbiter · Post by **wabbiter** » 24 Sep 2008, 18:54

where are all the sloe's this year :shock:

Post by **Mad Chick** » 24 Sep 2008, 19:11

Hi wabbiter

Our usual place to pick them has very slim pickings this year :cry: I thought someone had got to them before me but can't find any anywhere else confused>

Maybe they've all moved to sunnier climes! :-D

Lucy

juicylucy · Post by **juicylucy** » 24 Sep 2008, 21:11

Sloes are few and far between here too...must be a bad year for em!

Post by Mo » 25 Sep 2008, 08:41

No damsons and fewer plums than usual too. I think there was a frost at blossom time. We had 10 greengages from our tree so eat them all for one meal.
I was down in Bromyard last weekend, near Worcester, and they had no damsons either. Massive crop last year though, good job I made plenty of jam.

Nellie · Post by **Nellie** » 25 Sep 2008, 14:20

Same here - enormous crop last year of plums, greengages, damsons and sloes. This year, probably one handful in total.

However, pears are simply magnificent - best I've ever seen our conference pear tree in 15 years.

That's what is so fabulous about England - each year is different, so I just make the most of what is available, when it is available.

Post by **Mad Chick** » 25 Sep 2008, 17:22

The winter is going to be a very sad state of affairs in our house without our sloe gin :cry:

Lucy x

wabbiter · Post by **wabbiter** » 25 Sep 2008, 20:27

have you tried Blackberry gin absolutely brilliant )t'

....mack

Nellie · Post by **Nellie** » 25 Sep 2008, 20:41

I've made raspberry vodka also - but not a patch on sloe gin I'm afraid. :cry:

Post by **Mad Chick** » 25 Sep 2008, 23:22

wabbiter wrote:have you tried Blackberry gin absolutely brilliant ....mack

Good idea

I shall be out ransacking the hedgerows tomorrow. )t'

Lucy x

lorracash · Post by **lorracash** » 28 Sep 2008, 15:30

Hi, local farmer says there was a very late/very early frost a few months ago and thats why the sloes and damsons have not produced, says a farmer friend of his who has hundreds of damson trees hoping to produce for a jam manufacture has lost money due to this frost.
:shock:

Lorraine

Harry Flashman VC · Post by **Harry Flashman VC** » 03 Oct 2008, 06:14

Found quite a few so far up here in Cumbria we live on the coast so the frosts arn't as bad made 4lts of Sloe Gin so far.

Cathy · Post by **Cathy** » 12 Oct 2008, 08:55

We have lots of sloes in Sunny Staines and before you know it they will have gone as like my mum will make just about anything from them - sloe Gin last year!!!!

Post by **wendy** » 12 Oct 2008, 10:01

Don't know about sloe's but there are no Quince around here this year ?
Wendy

pinkstimpy · Post by **pinkstimpy** » 23 Oct 2008, 13:45

we have loads of sloes in selsey. its gonna be a good x mas here i feel. during the summer i did apple and strawberry vodka which was very good but didnt last long though. just chucked loads of apples and strawberryy in a big bucket poured the vodka over and stired it every day for a few months. finaly mashed the fruit and strained it then bottled it. mixed with a smidgen of lemonade it was lovely not to mention the pie i made with the fruit )t'

pinkstimpy · Post by **pinkstimpy** » 23 Oct 2008, 13:48

oh oh oh and forgot to tell you about the other vodka. bottle of voddy and a packet of pear drops put in it. leave it for and hour then shake till the sweets dissolve. you can have it on its own or with a bit of lemonade. it very dangerous though. :razz: