Fruit picking thread 2013

[wurge]

I thought it might be nice to share fruit picking tips, success and information in one thread.

This year appears to be very good for the fruits I collect. An abundance of Blackberrys and Sloes, I've heard from an old dear, perhaps the best crop in 60 years!

I've put 7kg of Blackberries and a handful of elders into production already, this weekend is going to be a mammoth pickathon as I would like to put a 5 gallon batch of Blackberry/elder. I had high hopes of saving some for when the sloes are ready for a nice combo, but i'm doubtful of freezer space!

Also - is there a definitive guide to sloes, damsons and bullaces? I have read plenty, but havent come to a solid conclusion on a tree near me. Larger and more oval that small round sloes, but not as large as (what I think) are damsons I picked last night!

I intend to pick enough damson for 2 gals wine, then more sloes than I can carry for gin, vodka and sloe wine.

How's everyones picking going this year? I am already sick of stripping elderberrys off!

I have also never seen so many apples - must be a good year. Makes me want to build a press.

I have also found grapes growing, and wild hops, result!

 

[wurge]

More internet searching - bullaces or damsons, will I ever know?

 

[godfrey]

More internet searching - bullaces or damsons, will I ever know?

check the stones, the image below from Wikipedia

 

[wurge]

I see no picture

 

[godfrey]

I see no picture

working fine here :wha:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damson

look under characteristics

 

[wurge]

Cracking! Thanks

 

[Grumpy Jack]

I've seen an abundance of apples but already have about 10kg so cannot pick any more. I put a mix of some varieties into a cider and added a carton of apple juice to keep it from being too sour. Had cherries earlier in the year so have made a cherry TC to see how that comes out and also a rhu arb and cherry wine whizh is bulk aging now. Am off shift today so I have steeped an apple & cinnamon vodka and a white/redcurrant gin from recent pickings. Blackberries look good but to be honest, I'm getting serious looks from SWMBO and with beer am running out of room... Apparently...

 

[Crastney]

yes indeed a lot of fruit is giving bumper harvest this year - it's noticable how many newbies there are on this forum asking questions about plum wine, elderberries, pear and apple cider, blackberries, etc, etc.

a few years ago I purchased an extendable fruit picker, which goes up to 3m, and works wonderfuly with pears and apples, however on Tuesday night I attempted to use it to pick elderberries with complete failure. to start with I was getting more berries on the floor than in the bag. With a clump in the bag, and a yank the berries would slip through the tines in the bag rather than get pulled off the tree, then with a twist I was getting whole branches rather than just the bunch of berries. rather dissapointing. I intend to fashion some kind of army knife gaffa taped to the handle so that I can cut the stem of the bunch as I pull it into the bag. I managed about a quarter of a carrier bag of berries in an hour. My friend got some boards up on his garage roof, and went up the next day with scissors, and picked a whole large shopping bag of those remaining (which are now taking up one full freezer basket of mine).

next doors pear tree has nearly dropped all fruit, and if i want any more I'll have to go round and get windfalls, as even though I said I'd take any he's got, they're still all over his lawn. he's got apples too, which are due soon, so I have to keep him sweet with offering him a bottle or two of the finished cider...

My local pub has apple trees too so I'll be getting a load from there (6 big bags last time, two years ago - looks like it'll be more this time).

Blackberries also a bumper crop this year, already some wine going.

so all in all a good year.

 

[MadrikXIV]

Got around 10kg of blackberries in the freezer at the moment (Some have already been made into pies and added to whisky, looking to get them in a bucket Friday, as will free up a bucket from a kit white wine, so as to free up some freezer space.

Then back out to get a few more for some jam, and hoping to find a good crop of elderberries (i didn't pick all the flowers) to do a combination.

Check the prices in the shop, 200g Blackberries are £2 in Sainsbury

 

[iceo]

iv got a tip get someone else to pick it for you.

i have been given 1kg of blackberries, 2 kg of plums, 1kg of eating apples and 1/2kg of pears all for free. :grin: