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Fruit Id

Graham LettsGraham Letts Posts: 13
in Fruit & veg
Good evening,
Would anyone be able to confirm what this fruit is?
I’ve found this large shrub growing along the side of my house.
From what I’ve read it sounds like a sloe, as the shrub is extremely spiky! Really spiky! In particular when it goes straight through the sole of your shoe into your foot.
I just thought it would be better to get the experts opinion, before picking anything that I’m not 100% on. Thanks

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    blackthorn?
    Devon.
  • Graham LettsGraham Letts Posts: 13
    I think so, but thought I’d check first, thank you
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    edited August 2020
    Maybe Damson. Damson have spiky trees too. Difficult to see the size. Try cutting it in half to see what the stone looks like. Damsons are tart when raw, but make good pies and jam, and wonderful damson cheese to have with cheese. If they are sloes, they are good for sloe gin, but pick after the first frost.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Whether they be damsons or sloes, or the fat sloes we called Blackjacks, you can use them all to make a flavoured gin liqueur. If you wait for the frosts to sweeten them you might find the birds beat you to them. Picking and freezing them before steeping them in the gin does the same thing. 🍷 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Graham LettsGraham Letts Posts: 13
    Perfect, thanks very much. Sounds like it’s win, win whatever they are, thank you
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Enjoy 🍷 🍷 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    If the thorns grow leaves, it's like our sloes.  After freezing them to get rid of the bitterness they make excellent sloe gin. If you would like a recipe I'll search for mine. The plants grow underground stems and can spread alarmingly if they get the right conditions.  The thorns are vicious and can penetrate through the thick treds of wellies! My husband didn't believe me until they went through his as well! Sloe makes a good animal proof barrier.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Sipsmith the gin brand has a recipe for making your own sloe gin. Basically pick sloes when ripe and freeze first. Don't wait till first frost as they may be past their best by then. Don't add any sugar at the maceration stage, use sugar syrup to sweeten at the end when you will probably find you need to use only half as much sugar as most recipes. It work's!
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Here we call them bullace...a wild damson. This year has been really bad for them even though the flowers in the spring were brilliant. Make great wine!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Bullaces are common in the hedgerows and cottage gardens of Suffolk ... but they’re different to sloes and damsons 


    A bottle of Bullace wine from the kitchen of a local farmers wife was a prized gift indeed in our village. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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