Where are all the sloes?

[Ifailed]

I've been out foraging for sloes for the past few days, apart from the odd branch, most bushes are barren - even my 'go to' ones hidden away in a remote field.
Anyone else having this problem - I'm in Kent?

Bit early - the ones we have are still too small. But, last year was a ridiculous crop and I'm sure I read that the blackthorn have a bit of a feast and famine approach to keep wildlife numbers sustainable, so if true would make sense that this is a poor year after last year.

I don't know about Kent specifically, but in the NW we had frosts every night for about three weeks in April which killed off all the early blossoming stuff, followed by about three weeks of pissing rain in May which did for almost everything else.

It has been widely reported that French wine yields are going to be disastrous for the same reason.

Haven't done a sloe forage yet as seems very early but I can report that my 3 blueberry bushes only produced one berry this year. I think it was the cold and late spring.

I think a lot are missing this year. I was in Dorset a month ago, and I know from years of experience in the same places at the same time of year that there are usually loads of unripe sloes around that I shouldn’t pick yet. But there were just empty bushes, with just one or two little berries and nothing else. Normally they’re all there but ripening slowly. The campsite I was staying on had whole fields surrounded by empty blackthorn bushes, and coastal walks had the same. I don’t think they had all been picked as it was in multiple places, too many bushes were empty and they wouldn’t have been ripe yet anyway.
I think the spring frosts might have killed them off this year. V interested to know if anyone’s seen good sloes anywhere!

It is far too early for sloes.

Blackberries are only just ripening and sloes are normally later. Traditionally you shouldn't harvest sloes until after the first frost.

Traditionally you shouldn't harvest sloes until after the first frost.

That's a bit of an old-spouse tale, rather like having to prick them with a thorn from the bush you picked them

I've ben picking them in late August for over 10 years, but then being in the SE things maybe a bit earlier than elsewhere.

I think the weather in March/April may be the problem, at least down here, but interested to read from others around the countries.

@RaininSummer

Haven't done a sloe forage yet as seems very early but I can report that my 3 blueberry bushes only produced one berry this year. I think it was the cold and late spring.

We've actually had a bumper crop of blueberries this year (SW).

None in Kent yet. Everything here in my garden about 3 weeks behind so try mid Sept.

My lavender is still blooming and buzzing with bumbles which is unheard of foe this time in August usually.

Plenty on North Yorkshire currently!

Not a lot of sloes here, and no blackberries yet either. However, we have several wild plum trees in the garden and there are absolutely loads and loads of plums - the branches are literally about to break under the weight.

No sloes here (Essex) - everything is late here

Cornwall south facing lanes on north coast far west the sloes we’re suddenly abundant last week along with blackberries for several weeks - ripe ones thin on the ground but still worth a picking walk. Noticed a usual sloe slot on south facing coast was still not out a few days ago.

DH - the gardener and sloe consumer in our household - says we have a good crop in the garden (London) but still ripening.

I feel quite short changed about my blueberry bushes now then.

Plenty in the NE, but my blackcurrants were a bust this year 🙁

Its not an old wife's tale. The freezing process is to burst the cell walls releasing the sugars and to pierce the skin to increase the surface area when cooking.

Plenty here (Cheshire) but not ripe yet, I'm guessing they'll be another month at least here.

Just picked two large freezer bags full, in SW . Bring on the sloe for Christmas

I have seen some in the South Norwood Country Park - but maybe too far?

Not checked recently but there were some good sloes in Scadbury (Chislehurst) - I think that’s classed as Kent?

@ElaineMarieBenes,
Thanks for that. I think what happened was many bushes were hit by frost when the blossoms were out, I did note that that was a lot of it and was hoping for a bumper crop later on. As I've said, I've found the odd branch here and there and can only assume they were protected somehow from the cold. Anything in a sunny open position is barren, at least in my corner of Kent.

It is a bit of an old wives' tale. Yes, it may well burst the skin but in the south east, the first frost is usually so late that all the sloes will be long gone, devoured by the birds, by the time the first frost arrives so it's daft to wait that long.

I agree (Herts). Meagre fare here. The Woodland Trust has a public orchard with plums, apples, quince and medlar and cob nuts. The field is edged with sloes... very little this year. My reliable wild damson though was looking good and I picked enough for damson gin (I now prefer it to sloe). So sad though - the quince had died. Everything else looking a bit poor after the bumper year of 2020.

Plenty seen on the Cliff path in Pembrokeshire yesterday.

You can stick the sloes in the freezer overnight instead of waiting for a frost

I’ve been despairing about the blackberry harvest but they seem to be coming through now which seems really late.

We've got quite a few sloes and blackberries out side York.
Just been blackberry picking and got loads! Going back in a couple of weeks for more to make gin