Sloes

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Sloes

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lorrayne

Joined: 17 Dec 2004
Posts: 239
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 17 7:51 am Post subject: Sloes
Is it too early to pick - they are dark blue but I'm afraid if I leave it too long the farmer will cut the hedge? Can I pick and freeze then make sloe gin a bit later on ? L

gythagirl

Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Posts: 1467
Location: Somerset

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 17 8:08 am Post subject:
Definitely yes to the latter question - it is said that if you use frozen sloes they will burst on thawing and you don't need to prick them 10 million times...I always freeze sloes! The sloes close to us aren't ready yet - have they got that 'bloom' on them?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46245
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 17 10:15 am Post subject:
ditto to questions and they are about 6 wks from ready round here. as mentioned the whiteish bloom on a fat sloe is a good indication of them being ready. good year for sloes here as the blossom managed to set fruit before the 5 minute hailstorm that halved the apple and devastated most of the pear crops

lorrayne

Joined: 17 Dec 2004
Posts: 239
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 17 10:45 am Post subject:
They do have the bloom however these are the ones facing west the ones on the other side of the lane facing north are still green. I'm off to pick! L

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 17 2:07 pm Post subject:
What do you mean by "the bloom"?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 17 7:23 pm Post subject:
They get a sort of powdery coating. Like plums.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15993

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 17 6:44 am Post subject:
I also find they give slightly when they are ripe. Haven't been down to the usual place, but it is in a hollow, so usually rather late. I also need to find all the ones I have in the freezer. Definitely freezer overhaul time.

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 17 9:46 am Post subject:
Ahhhhh yes I know what you mean, seen them before like that. Thanks WW. What causes it do you know?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46245
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 17 1:23 pm Post subject:
waxy

gythagirl

Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Posts: 1467
Location: Somerset

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 17 11:01 am Post subject:
Homegrown blueberries have the same bloom when ready to pick. I have sloes leftover from last year in the freezer, was a good year round here.

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