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Talkback: Picking blackberries

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
Blackberrying in country hedgerows was an annual activity for the Pasco family when we were kids. The essential tool for anyone considering a few productive hours picking over the next few weeks is .... a walking stick. You really need something to reach out and up to hook onto those 'out of reach' branches which, as you say James, always carry the biggest, juiciest fruits!
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I remember picking brambles as a child next to my Gran's back garden and she made the most amazing bramble and plum jam - together with her famous vanilla cream and scones it was heavenly! Cream teas ever since have always been a major let down!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Before I moved house two year ago I had a blackberry which was really a wild one that I cultivated. It was vicious, but was a great cropper.and provided enough fruit to last more than one year.Pruning was great fun. The beast would fight back to the very end,but it's flavour was worth it.I had for 20 years. Now I am trying a thorn-less variety. I will have to be a little more patient before I have a home grown crumble
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    This is the first year I've been blackberry picking since I was about 8. I took my kids with me and they loved it! We have been a few times now and frozen them, we've made Jams and crumbles with what we've collected. We go for a couple of hours at a time, great to get out whilst we can.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have been out today, here near the North/East coast of Norfolk in the most glorious weather picking blackberries, with the sun on my back and the thorns in my hand (only joking) but it was wonderful. I thought I had only been out for an hour and it had been two hours. Still, I have four large jars of jam to show for my prickles.....
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I wonder if anyone can help me I have some August raspberries that have come blind this year,I did everything right by cutting them down to the ground in March and they have grown well but with no flowers on them can you advise what to do
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    please can i have the recipes for your wifes sponge puddings, I will try the jam as I do a lot of preserving, thanks for the inspiration
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I've made recent trips up Portsdown hill, to the scrub/chalk downland there blackberrying. It was lovely in the sun, listening to the crickets singing. What's more, I even found several wild-growing apple trees so didn't need to buy apples for our blackberry & apple crumble. Never seen anyone else up there blackberrying though.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I was picking blackberries last week near a playground when I heard a child ask her Mum what I was doing. Her Mum explained and the child asked if they could pick berries too. I was shocked to hear her Mum reply "we don't need to, we'll get some in Tesco". What's wrong with people today?!! It's lovely (free!) food!!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Is it possible to grow blackberries in pots as I don't have much garden. Oh and please please let us have the recipe for the sponge puddings. It's great going blackberry picking but I'm always stuck what to do with them so just eat what I can quickly!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I went out earlier this week and was rather disappointed, came back with only a handful:(
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