bad year for blackberries?

[Andy Hamilton]

Looks like it could be a bad year for blackberries- , it was my plan to make 20l of blackberry wine this year, ah well.

[Odsox]

Not down here I'm pleased to say, all the hedges are smothered in bloom at the moment.
Provided that we get decent weather when they ripen, it should be a bumper year thanks to the cool wet late spring/early summer.

There, I KNEW there was a reason for all that crap weather.

[wabbit955]

lots here in essex to even a few ripe ones

see lots in peterbrough last week to

[snapdragon]

railway embankment looks pretty well full of them - but I must go and have a closer check, and also check out the apple tree that sits on the railway line too (tresspassing ? moi?).

otoh the cherry-plum has had another bumper year and bigger than last years - if anyone wants any you may come and scrump to your hearts delight they're ready Now !!

[Andy Hamilton]

Cool and your in wiltshire, not far.... hmm. cherry plum wine.

[red]

it's going to be a bumper blackberry year for us .. loads of green ones set here already

[snapdragon]

Cool and your in wiltshire, not far.... hmm. cherry plum wine.

east wilts so not near as a near thing unfortunately, but you'd be welcome

[MuddyWitch]

Loads here in Leicestershire too

MW

[Millymollymandy]

They don't have a problem flowering in droughts - the problem in dry weather is the tiny not very juicy fruit. Last year was terrible and this year will probably be even worse.

I don't care though as I now have cultivated blackberries which are already producing and should produce masses by next year for jelly although I guess I won't be able to call it 'bramble' jelly any more!

[that_sarah_girl]

I don't know what this dry spell is that everyone keeps talking about....North-West England has had plenty of (too much in my opinion!) rain!
I've seen tonnes of blackberry bushes already with lots of little green blackberries on

[MuddyWitch]

Methinks you lot in the NW have had our share of rain too. We are begining to suspect there's a roof over the East Mids!

MW

[Shirley]

definitely had plenty rain here in Manchester and I saw some blackberries that were starting to ripen when I was walking home the other day.

[wabbit955]

yepo black berries very early picked 2 kg yeserday
yummy