Print Page - Plum, damson or bullace?

Title: Plum, damson or bullace?
Post by: Moggle on August 15, 2006, 23:08:51

Hi

Does anyone recognise this plum-type thing. I spotted it this afternoon while collecting blackberries on my way home from work.

Sorry for the blurriness!

(http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0VQAAAG4Z80OpbUUlZyLiz7RcMft71Bj6bTyhUQ0kJCDZeP2c1LhvoglgCG5IwMJ8vBzT9OikotpJuVmaht7l9Bhe0ZrPfYjm7Qi54HVCUd7SCNeOFWt6oxAYE74mVx9w/IMG_0002.JPG?dc=4675585322365168824)
Too chicken to taste, I'm worried there is a chance it is poisonous.

The fruits are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Fruit on the left is soft and ripe, fruit in the middle is still firm. On the right is what I think is a sloe (can anyone confirm from my blurry pic?)

Cheers all!

Title: Re: Plum, damson or bullace?
Post by: Tulipa on August 15, 2006, 23:33:43

Moggle, I have similar plums in my garden, they grow on a tree in an old mixed hedge but I have never been able to identify what type they are. They make wonderful plum jam and chutney though. The one on the right looks like a sloe to me too. Emma is the expert on those! Hope someone else more knowledgable can help you!

T.

Title: Re: Plum, damson or bullace?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 16, 2006, 09:55:21

Have you tasted them? They're obviously plums in the broad sense, and you could certainly make jam or use them for cooking, even if they aren't sweet.

Title: Re: Plum, damson or bullace?
Post by: saddad on August 16, 2006, 10:00:18

I would say the little one is def a sloe.. if that leaf came off the same branch as the fruit then they are undeniably in the plum family. We have a very old tree at theback of one plot which produces round fruit like that.. they are very sweet but like you don't know its name..
;D

Title: Re: Plum, damson or bullace?
Post by: Moggle on August 16, 2006, 12:05:07

Thanks guys, I will try tasting them now. Wanted to check what they were first.

Most of the fruit are really high up on the tree and not reachable, so I think I will try a small batch of wild plum and apple jam/jelly :)

Thanks also for the confirmation of the sloes!

Title: Re: Plum, damson or bullace?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 16, 2006, 15:10:15

if you can't reach them, wait till they drop off then cook them before the wildlife polish them off or they rot. You'll have to be quick.

Title: Re: Plum, damson or bullace?
Post by: Moggle on August 16, 2006, 15:39:52

Shouldn't be too hard, since the tree is right next to the gate in to my work :). The main 'wildlife' to worry about will be unruly 15/16 year olds that are due back in two and a half weeks!

Title: Re: Plum, damson or bullace?
Post by: saddad on August 16, 2006, 17:52:30

Don't you just hate them... I'll be back to doing my underpaid prison warden routine...
;D

Title: Re: Plum, damson or bullace?
Post by: Moggle on August 20, 2006, 18:21:44

Finally got the nerve to taste them, and they are definitely sour/tart so I think they must be bullaces.

I'm going to stew them up with a couple of apples to make jam/jelly

Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Moggle on August 15, 2006, 23:08:51