Fruit identification

balmerjoshua · September 2020

Hi,

Could anyone help with identification of the fruit in the attached pictures? I believe they are sloes but the Woodland Trust app is suggesting a few cherries as well as sloe.

Thanks

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/5u/v17qolfjo1cq.jpg

Josh

KP1 · September 2020

Not sloes. Sloes grow on Blackthorn bushes which have mahussive big old thorns, as big as your arm. Almost.

Silver surfer · September 2020

De ja vu..!!!!

Birds would have eaten any cherries by now.

It is Prunus spinosa..... common name blackthorn or sloe.
Your Pic 5 shows a thorn.
Blackthorn branches are normally very prickly with sharp thorns.
The fruits are held very close to the branch...cherries have long stalks.
The fruits or sloes start green and ripen black...with a single stone inside.
They taste really sharp...but can be used to make sloe gin.
Pick after 1st frost.

Sloe fruits are like grapes they have a white bloom on the outside.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sloes&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-vcrdnuvrAhVznVwKHU51BD4Q_AUoAXoECBwQAw&biw=1280&bih=579

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/9u/fdybkmp4lhcc.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6f/g4s02twzg22u.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ls/mimaihmnfoqb.jpg

balmerjoshua · September 2020

Thanks Silver surfer. There is a glut of them on one of my walks so I may take a small amount and give the gin a try.

BobTheGardener · September 2020

If they are ripe but you can't wait for the frosts, you can freeze then thaw them yourself, which will get the best flavour out of them.

balmerjoshua · September 2020

Cheers Bob, should be ready just in time for Christmas!

Fruit identification

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