To think that this year’s blackberry crop is poor?

[ThanksItHasPockets]

We usually do really well for blackberries from late August onwards but this year they are all small and sour. I thought that the hot weather might have brought them out early but they’re just a bit bobbins. Are they like this anywhere else? We’re in Warwickshire.

Conversely the elder tree next to our house is groaning with berries. If only I liked them.

I'm in Ireland. I've never seen so many blackberries in my life. The only thing is, when you fill 3 giant tubs in about 6 minutes it kind of takes some of the fun out of it. My freezer is heaving with them.

No decent crop here (SW London). They were all small and shrivelled.

I have blackberry envy.

A massive abundance here in Leeds from end July and through August.

Think it's pretty much over now

Most crops have struggled this year.

Don't eat more than a few elderberries raw. They contain a substance which converts to cyanide.

I agree. We have brumbles behind the fence and this year there was few really poorly looking ones.

Don't eat more than a few elderberries raw.

Oh gosh no. I made syrup in a fit of enthusiasm when we first moved in. Never again. A monumental faff and really not worth it; the polar opposite of damson gin, really.

The photo upthread was taken bank holiday Monday at my mums, she says she’s still picking them now, but they’re so ripe and prolific they’re just going to rot on the bush

Hundreds just starting to get ripe here in Northern Ireland 😊

Small shrivelled blackberries may actually be brambles... Kind of a flatter taste? But still okay if cooked with apples.

Our crop was great but mainly early. Late July early August.

Very variable around here (East Midlands) but where there's been a decent water supply i.e. Near rivers, canals etc the crop is plentiful

Berries need water, it’s been a dry summer so crap for berries and other fruits.

We've got loads here in mid-Wales. They usually don't start ripening until early September here but we've been picking for weeks and many had already fallen off onto the ground as they were over-ripe. There's still some little green ones but I doubt they'll ripen now and lots of little mouldy ones but we're still picking.

Usually our summer's are so awful we get really poor crops so I'm delighted - as is DD2 who's probably eaten her body-weight's worth straight off the bush this year .

A bramble- a Scottish term - is the same as an English blackberry, so not a 'small shrivelled blackberry'

I'm in Norfolk and we've got the best BlackBerry crop in years. We have lots growing along the edge if our field, spent half and hour yesterday and filled 3 punnet while ds ate his own bodyweight in them

Oh a d ours have been right for picking just this week really. There are lots yet to come.

Actually bramble covers any similar looking thorny fruiting plant. Some of them are not as good to eat as the specific blackberry one.

Sounds like there’s a bit of an east / west divide.

We have wonderfully growing brambles. In the drought months it was the only thing in the garden that was green.
Unfortunately they didn't even produce a flower.

They're great where I am! Loads of them and lovely too

@WhirlwindHugs oh. Sorry! Didn't know it can be a different thing.
Last year we had plenty of blackberries in there. We kept munching on them and they were so juicy. Nothing like that this year

Been amazing here. But they are getting past there best now. Were super early this year.

Ours are fabulous better than usual - North Yorkshire but when we were in Devon the other week theirs were terrible in comparison