how long till I get sloes

[janzbro]

Hi all, sick of spending time looking for sloes only to find they have all been taken, peeps are taking them in September now, way to early.

Anyhow Im thinking of growing a few in the corner of the paddock but how long before the blackthorns start to produce sloes to a reasonable amount, say a kilo or 2

[marchogaeth]

Nothing I've got seems to produce fruit under 1.5m tall.

[Kleftiwallah]

I cannot believe you don't want to stroll round the highways and byways tracking down your blackthorn bushes! I have mine all staked out. Far enough away from roads so (hopefully) no fumes and a bit of a bother to get to so very little in the way of competitors!

Cheers, Tony.

[janzbro]

Finding them is the problem and is usually a case of luck as nobody will give up the location of any, not near me anyhow, but I do have a couple of very large mature tree location under my hat. wink

I have spent many days spotting them with early spring flowers only to find no sloes on them in autumn /winter. so wanted to grow my own.

[veggiechicken]

Sloe bushes seem to be a bit temperamental - not fruiting every year. One year laden, the next year nothing. If you can find some seedlings to start you off, grow a hedge. You've nothing to lose

[sparrow100]

I have a 20m blackthorn hedge running along my plot and my neighbours. We trim it each year back to 6ft and there are regularly berries below, just not that many because we prune the thing during the year.

Now's definitely the time to spot the bushes. Where I pick mine is now in full bloom.