this seems early?

[lindyloo]

today i have picked and scoffed blackberries!! only the 9th august- it seems really early; does that mean we might have another winter similar to last year? i've noticed loads of elderberry, and plums this year too; my grandfather swore that a lot of fruit and berries was natures way of storing up for a hard winter.....please, not again!!!

[rustylady]

Blackberries are just starting to ripen on the allotment (we have a hedge of them alongside one of the paths), but the elderberries and plums are still green.

[Two_Sheds]

I've picked 3 lb of big fat blackberries in the last week: however, most of the hedgerows are only just starting to turn.

There's loads of cherry plums falling now too, about the same time as last year.

[Nicos]

We've had blackberries for the past 2 weeks...I thought that was rediculously early- til I got out a pot of last years bramble jelly dated 27/7/09.

Funny how you can forget these things!

[jackie j]

I picked some from the front garden yesterday, we didnt plant them so they are hedgerow ones and very sweet.

[SarzWix]

Blackberries are usually beginning to ripen before the end of the kids school holidays - we always have a big pick in the last week or so of August Another wave comes through in September/October.

[Comfreyfan]

Picked some fantastic hedgerow blackberries this weekend - enormous and sweet, thought it was a bit early though.

I'm sure I've read somewhere that it's more to do with what's happened since last season rather than what's going to happen next!

[binley100]

The Mail said that blackberries were two weeks behind..........maybe their reporters ought to actually go out and check some hedgerows.

[mrscorpio]

Wild Blackberries Ripe Yet???

The blackberries by my house seem to be behind this year or is it me being early.

Has anyone picked any yet.

[toastie]

Have been picking the wild blackberries on the allotment site for about 10 days now. Most of them have been frozen but hopefully the weather will be a bit warmer next week (we've had more rain this week) as would like to pick them and use them to start making wine from (plus add the frozen ones).

[rana]

Yes - blackberries are already ripening, along with wild plums and even sloes.

[zazen999]

Have been picking the wild blackberries on the allotment site for about 10 days now. Most of them have been frozen but hopefully the weather will be a bit warmer next week (we've had more rain this week) as would like to pick them and use them to start making wine from (plus add the frozen ones).

My first vat of wine from hedgerows and my own rasps is already brewing; made it a week and a half ago.