Rubbish year for blackberries

[Penny Lane]

Picked 1 and a half pounds yesterday and made a crumble today
There really are no more to pick round here now

[flying squirrel]

I went blackberry hunting for the first time today and there seems to be a ton that just haven't ripened. Bushes full of hard, pink berries. Though there was a lot of good ones in various places.

No-one seems to pick them here.

[ina]

No-one seems to pick them here.

Where is "here"?

Hiya Flying squirrel, welcome.


I picked enough yesterday for jam - but most of the ones around here are small, hard and green, and don't look like they'll ripen before it gets too cold.

[clare]

I have wild brambles in the garden that have done well but the ones in the lane were ok a week ago as I picked 3lbs for jam but when I went back for more for wine the next round are still red or going brown so I'll either have to raid the freezer for my pie and crumble stash or forget blackberry wine.
Clare

[Annpan]

We went picking today and only got a handful, I was hoping there might be more ready by the end of the week (fingers crossed)

[invisiblepiper]

Got four pounds yesterday - round the edge of the rugby field. Quite a bit of mildew in the shady areas though, and why do nettles always grow along side? great day - but ouch h!

[Bubblette]

I got enough for 6lbs jam within about a 5 foot stretch of brambles a couple of weeks ago - yum! The first time I made jam that didn't turn runny - the answer was to use your grandma's recipe Keep meaning to go again but haven't got round to it - only a 5 min walk from my house as well. As people have been saying though, rubbish year for sloes and damsons. Haven't had much dealings with damsons, but was going to put my newfound jam making skills to further use I've yet to go and see how my best hazelnut tree is doing this year as well - I wouldn't have known a hazelnut tree even if I fell over one two years ago but now we're best mates

[clare]

Hi All,just had to say I persevered with looking for Blackberries and stoppped just a mile from home and picked 6lbs for wine and jam so it must depend on being in the right place at the right time!!
clare

[teraivyyr]

We had another bash yesterday, on an area of the sand dunes we know well, and got quite a good bagful.
Damsons seem to be nonexistent this year, but we still have hopes of the sloes for sloe gin. There is a footpath where they all grow way above my head and everyone else's, so my partner (who is 6 ft 11) does well there!!

[Anne A]

Sloes!!!
Where are the sloes? its been a rubish year for them here in sunny Birkenhead

[MKG]

Sloes had the same problem as the plums - they flowered too early for the insects.