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How are the blackberries around your way?

83 replies

Time40 · 17/08/2024 21:28

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?

OP posts:
EasilyDisturbed · 17/08/2024 21:48

Hanpshire - excellent, been picking big tubs of them every 2 or 3 days for the last fortnight or so

GrandesRandonnees · 17/08/2024 21:48

Hit and miss in the far south west. Found some really good ones yesterday but most on my walk today were nowhere near ripe.

Flatbellyfella · 17/08/2024 21:49

Lots in my garden, picking them every day, also big juicy ones in hedgerows near me in Colchester.

TheDogsMother · 17/08/2024 21:50

In West Sussex. They are plentiful and pretty plump but not as tasty as usual.

rosieandjack · 17/08/2024 21:50

We tried some today. Langstone near Hayling Island just outside Portsmouth. Were disappointed after last years being so lovely!

FuckThePoPo · 17/08/2024 21:50

I think these posts are akin to just stop oil

atiaofthejulii · 17/08/2024 21:52

Good in Berkshire! Yesterday I parked by an amazing stretch of brambles hanging over a high garden wall - if I'd had a suitable container in the car I'd have started picking 😄

Berrynamechange · 17/08/2024 21:53

Looking good in the North East! We've had blackberry and apple tart for tea.

How are the blackberries around your way?
Thurien · 17/08/2024 21:58

Best I can remember for several decades. Large, plump, exceptional taste. Quantity also the highest I have seen. Literally dripping off.
South Midlands.

NoWordForFluffy · 17/08/2024 21:59

Loads here, but small. They don't look appetising! (NW coast.)

ArabellaScott · 17/08/2024 21:59

Bloody amazing this year in Argyll - big and fat and taste like sweeties.

HighlandCowbag · 17/08/2024 22:03

South Yorks, very near West Yorkshire and pretty impressive tbf. Loads from our allotment and plenty down the lane where the ponies live.

Also, less happily, loads of acorns on the oak trees. Which I have to section off then scoop up so the ponies don't eat them.

L1ttledrummergirl · 17/08/2024 22:04

I have a freezer full, and have already made 2 loads of jam with some.

Shan5474 · 17/08/2024 22:06

They are great in East Sussex! Lots very juicy and fall into your hand but many are still ripening and I’ve seen a few patches of mouldy ones today so actually maybe a bit hit and miss. But my boyfriend brought me some from his garden, they went into Tupperware in the fridge and when I went to eat them soo many worms/larvae had come out of them 😭. So now I will only eat them off bushes because worms don’t exist if you can’t see them

chouxchoux · 17/08/2024 22:11

Plump and juicy in Derbyshire - making apple and blackberry crumble tomorrow!

eurochick · 17/08/2024 22:22

We picked our first batch today - London/Surrey border. They are really small compared to previous years.

Titsywoo · 17/08/2024 22:35

The ones I have seen are very small (Surrey) but luckily I found a load of boxes in the reduced section at Sainsburys down from £2.20 to 20p so I bought a load and froze them 😁

Time40 · 17/08/2024 22:40

I think these posts are akin to just stop oil

Ummm ... what does that mean?

OP posts:
Time40 · 17/08/2024 22:43

The ones I have seen are very small (Surrey) but luckily I found a load of boxes in the reduced section at Sainsburys down from £2.20 to 20p so I bought a load and froze them

My god - they sell blackberries in Sainsbury's? Gosh. I shop there, but I've never seen them. I wonder how supermarkets get them? Are blackberries are actually farmed?

OP posts:
Morwenscapacioussleeves · 17/08/2024 22:48

Bit early for Stirlingshire, there are still as many raspberries as there are brambles but the bramble plants are huge & the kids are excited for jam already! (We're on the last jar...)

NoWordForFluffy · 17/08/2024 22:48

They are. There's a machine to drive over them to get them (I know this because of Clarkson's Farm!).

worcesterpear · 17/08/2024 22:49

When I've seen blackberries in the supermarkets they are from Chile or somewhere in South America. They're massive but never as tasty as English ones.

mondaytosunday · 17/08/2024 22:55

Was down Isle of Wight end of July and they were t ripe yet but abundant! I'll remind my son to have a look before they all get eaten/picked!

Titsywoo · 17/08/2024 22:55

worcesterpear · 17/08/2024 22:49

When I've seen blackberries in the supermarkets they are from Chile or somewhere in South America. They're massive but never as tasty as English ones.

Nope these were grown in Berkshire!

NannyGythaOgg · 17/08/2024 22:55

loads in my garden, South Yorks

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