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Author Topic: Are these Sloes or what are they???  (Read 15037 times)

Dowser

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Are these Sloes or what are they???
« on: October 10, 2012 »
There was a bit of chat about Blackthorn Bushes and Sloes last week here and when I was out and about at the weekend with the kids I stumbled across what I thought was a Blackthorn Bush and I have collected 2 1/2 lb of the fruit to make Sloe Gin.

A family member, who shall remain nameless, saw pictures I posted on Facebook and reckons they are too big for Sloes.

So... Please have a look at the pics below and tell me what you reckon these are before I throw £25 of gin and a bag of sugar over them.

I know for a fact they are not Deadly Night Shade or Elderberries but could they be Wild Damsons or Minature Plums?

Sorry for the quality of the snaps... Only had my phone with me  :(

Oh, the bush was about 12 ft high, and the branches had half inch thorns sticking out.  The flesh of the fruit is extremely plum like and there is one stone in the centre.  They were not all that bitter to eat as I ate a few straight from the bush  ::)











Sloe Experts... Advice please!

8)
« Last Edit: October 10, 2012 by Dowser »
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Mourneman

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2012 »
No Dowser mate, think they're plums ;),just checking on my harvest today & they're ready to pick,let me know & i'll drop you off a bag or i can show you were they are  ;D
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whoRya

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2012 »
Anyone for some plum pudding?
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LennyJ1

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2012 »
Or plum vodka.  ;D
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Dowser

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2012 »
Quote from: LennyJ1 on October 11, 2012
Or plum vodka.  ;D

I'm liking the idea of this... They definitely won't go to waste. I got a wild rabbit a couple of weeks back and it might be getting served with a plum sauce on Saturday  ;)
« Last Edit: October 11, 2012 by Dowser »
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Dowser

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2012 »
I think this is what I've got:

American Plum
Also known as the wild plum, the American plum (Prunus americanus) is a winter-hardy tree that grows in thickets, or dense groupings of stems and branches. Some of the smaller branches or twigs of American plum trees culminate in sharp thorns, while others -- depending on the season -- display buds, flowers or fruits. According to North Carolina State University, the typical American plum tree blooms with fragrant flowers in early spring and will bear rounded, inch-wide fruits during the middle of summer. While the flowers have white petals with pink centres, the fruits can be either reddish-purple or yellowish-brown. People sometimes use these fruits for making jams and jellies, while wild animals feed on them regularly. Adult American plum trees can reach between 20 and 40 feet in height and form broad, rounded crowns of leaves at their tops.

Full Link: http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_7556631_plum-trees-thorns.html

Mourneman, I sent you a text but not sure if you got it.  I'd be mad keen to get out and pick a few Sloes.  I would only be looking enough for making a Litre so not too many required.  I promise to never pilfer your stash or let it's location be known  ;)
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Are we there yet?

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2012 »
They look a bit like Damsons..?
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Dowser

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2012 »
Quote from: AnnieAnne on October 11, 2012
They look a bit like Damsons..?

I had considered Damsons as a possible identity for these fruit but the tree/bush was covered in thorns.  Damson bushes don't have thorns apparently.  I'm totally Googled out on this one  :-\
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Are we there yet?

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2012 »
Quote from: Dowser on October 11, 2012
Quote from: AnnieAnne on October 11, 2012
They look a bit like Damsons..?

I had considered Damsons as a possible identity for these fruit but the tree/bush was covered in thorns.  Damson bushes don't have thorns apparently.  I'm totally Googled out on this one  :-\

Wild cherry plums maybe?
Check out this site.. it might help  :)

http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/a-quick-guide-to-identifying-some-hedgerow-fruit-3753/
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Matthew

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2012 »
Quote from: Dowser on October 11, 2012
won't go to waste. I got a wild rabbit a couple of weeks back and it might be getting served with a plum sauce on Saturday  ;)

We will have to get out and get some more mate.
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whoRya

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #10 on: November 04, 2012 »
Ok it took a bit of work to find them, is it a bad year for them?  I was picking single sloes of a branch.  I trust I have the right thing?







Mourneman I saw in another post of yours that you put them in an empty milk carton, did you keep them in that for the whole time?  Is there particular bottles produce a better result?  I don't want to have to go and buy some expensive stuff.
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Mourneman

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #11 on: November 04, 2012 »
Give them a good wash with cold water,then wrap them in a plastic bag & pop them in the freezer overnight this will cause them to expand & burst,or you could prick each one  :o which is mind numbing,anyway next thing buy yourself some smart-price gin ( not gordons ) so now you've got a litre bottle of gin,you've defrosted you're berries ;D,get yourself an empty 2 litre plastic milk carton,you want about pound and a half of sloes into the carton and a good cup of brown sugar,now pour on the sugar,and empty you gin onto the fruit  ::) pop the lid back on & shake for ten minutes,they give it a good shake every day for a week,after which add a little more sugar,if you start now you could have a brew ready for christmas  ;D ,theres a wee bit more at the end to bottle it but we can come back to that at a later stage  ;)
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Wolf_Larson

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Re: Are these Sloes or what are they???
« Reply #12 on: November 06, 2012 »
Where did you find them ???
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