I'm sorry but at the mo I have nothing to offer.
Those pesky housing estate developers have torn down about 200 yards of healthy hedgerow. There was everything in it.
Huge and ladened Brambles. Masses of Blackthorns. Elderberry. It would have been rich pickings beyond Hugh Fearnley-Whitingstall's wildest dreams.
What is there instead - Absolutely nothing!!!
I have found a suitable source for everything but the Sloes. If anyone could send me a couple of young plants I'd be eternally grateful as can put these somewhere out the back.
GF.
P.S. I found some old photos the other day of this place I'm talking about and it's now unrecognisable.
I do not have any young plants but the hedges round here are mostly blackthorn, if you could tell me how to take a cutting / propogate them I will more than happily give it a go for you.
Tinkie_Bear
Sorry, I have none either, but the housing developers did the same to me! Glad to say I know of another good stash, but it isn't as convenient! :-[
Thanks Tinkie_Bear.
I would assume that it is possible to take softwood cuttings in spring or autumn. I'll see what I can find out.
Greenie.
Not really a swap, but this might be of interest...
Before I realised I could transplant some saplings, I looked into bare-root hedging plants for the front of my plot - there are a number of tree/shrub nurseries who will sell you 60cm tall bare-root plants for £2-50 at most. If you can justify buying over 20 plants then you should get them at about 45p each. I believe the advice for blackthorn hedging is to plant a staggered double row, about 2 foot appart, 18" between rows.
Downside is that you won't get any before November and need to have them planted by March.
Hope this helps.
GFF, if you were thinking of a trip to Alton Towers later on (when the sloes are ripe), I can show you loads of places to pick them (and damsons)!!
I've never tried sloe gin, but have often made damson gin. I have been told that the sloe version is superior to the damson. I must say the damson is 'very acceptable'!!
Someone has trimmed an oergrown hedge on our site and a crop of sloes has come into the open... I will be sowing some! Done both Gins but more Damsons as we took on an allotment with three huge old trees... one was blown down a couple of years ago but there are still thousands! Damsons that is!
;D
Valmarg
I only live about 20 mins away from Alton Towers - is it easy to find the Sloes and Damsons as I haven't been able to find any closer to home yet.