How are the blackberries around your way?

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I've been in West Yorkshire recently ... terrible blackberries, tiny stunted half-grown things; they looked as though they hadn't formed properly - and the bit of Yorkshire I go to is usually awash with them. I've also been in Somerset - total lack of blackberries. I found my first blackberries of the year so far in the nature reserve next to South Mimms services, of all unlikely places - absolutely brilliant berries; so big and sweet that we're going to eat them just as berries tomorrow (I usually stew them up with apple). I've been to Cambridge today, but I forgot to check there. What is the blackberry situation like where you are?

Great round our way, Northants/Beds.

I had this conversation yesterday! End of July last year in my Dad's garden the blackberries were huge...big chunky juicy blackberries. I looked 2 weeks ago and some were only just ripening. Loomed yesterday and really very small and just okish 🤷‍♀️

Excellent. Fat and juicy. Way better than last year

Friend and I picked blackberries on a dog walk yesterday, plenty of ripe juicy ones, Cambridgeshire.

DP has picked plenty too, Essex.

A bit hit and miss in West Sussex, but gotten a good haul today - but maybe it’s not been sunny enough for long enough?

We've got tonnes of them in London!

They are starting to look beautiful near me, the best I've seen in recent years. Not massive just average sized. I tried one the other day and it was delicious, probably the best blackberry I've ever tasted. Sour but full of flavour.

We’re near W Yorks, ours aren’t ready yet. They’re only just growing as there’s not been much sun or warmth until the last few weeks.

We had hundreds of apples last year too. There’s probably about 20 this year.

East herts-they are cracking this year.loads of them, fat, juicy and sweet. Sorry op

Buckinghamshire - been picking the ones in the garden (which include proper cultivars planted by previous owners) for a fortnight or so, and they are decent size and juicy.
The ones in the woods over the road are all pretty small and only just starting to ripen.

We aren't that far from south mimms as the crow flies really. Maybe it just a very specific smashing blackberry corridor!

We had plenty of good ones, better than last year I would say. They are past their best now in London.

Lovely in Essex, we picked some today. Lots ripe and lots still to come.

Gorgeous in Worcestershire last weekend. Picked loads of fat, juicy ones.

Heaps of the things for weeks now. Home counties bordering on East Anglia. They have been good this year.

Not bad in central Scotland but it's still early for us. They will be at their best in a week or two.

Oh, this is very cheering! Lots of places with good berries, then - although the situation does sound as if it's feast or famine on the blackberry front.

Abundant and massive! Surrey.

Gloucestershire here and ours are ripe plump and delicious. Loads of them as well.

West Sussex - bountiful, plump & tasty.

Also tried some in the Cotswolds today - same as above.

A bumper blackberry year.

Lovely! West Midlands.

Agree!!!

Fabulous here in East Sussex - got another bag full on my dog walk tonight and just prepared this morning's haul for the freezer

@Roryno I'm in West Yorks and our blackberries are still growing too due to the lack of sun. My dad actually complained to me about them last week 😂

Our apples are the opposite though - none last year and hundreds this year.

Particularly good year round here. We've just come back from Sussex and they were amazing there too. We've been snacking on them on the way down to the beach.