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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: dandelion on July 23, 2007, 15:34:12

Title: MMM blackberries
Post by: dandelion on July 23, 2007, 15:34:12
1st picking of wild blackberries today. Only about 1 lb and not very sweet yet; I intend to simmer the berries with some sugar to serve on Greek yoghurt. We'll move on to blackberry cobbler, blackberry muffins and blackberry sorbet in the next few weeks.
Oh, and I'd better finish off the last jar of jam from last season  ;D!
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: Mrs Ava on July 23, 2007, 16:52:44
Wow that is early dandelion.  The ones on my plot are only just in flowers.  I don't go picking until the urchins are back at school in September.  mmmmm, that first taste of blackberries.  I always think they have a slightly metalic taste.  mmmmmmm
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: Irish-Digger on July 23, 2007, 17:28:43
Hi,

Any suggestions for Blackcurrants,  I have loads and not sure what to do with them other than make Jam.

Irish

Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: Columbus on July 23, 2007, 18:04:02
Hi Dandelion, hi all,

I`ve been eating crumble for three days  ;D.

The brambles that border my plot have been fussed over for five years now and that makes for very nice fruit but as EJ writes .. it is very early this year.

I`m planning on making blackberry vinegar, I saved all my bottles from pickling
last year. (Talk about planning ahead  ::) )

Col
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: tim on July 23, 2007, 18:16:53
Global warming??
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: carolinej on July 23, 2007, 18:35:46
QuoteAny suggestions for Blackcurrants

Wine?

cj :)
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: Tin Shed on July 23, 2007, 20:11:09
Picked my first blackberries today in the pooring rain! Cooked with apple, added to a mixture of  creme frais and natural yogurt and then served layered with flapjack. The recipe was initially for gooseberries- trying it tonight with the blackberry and apple mixture.
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 24, 2007, 09:19:16
I picked a couple of blackberries coming up the lane today. I do wonder what the crop will be like this year; they depend on insect pollination, and with such open flowers, rain washes the nectar straight out. It's going to be interesting to see whether they're affected by this. They're my main honey source, and I'm not expecting much of a crop at this rate.
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: adrianhumph on July 24, 2007, 09:26:47
Hi all,
          I have a thornless blackberry called Waldo on my plot. I have been picking berries from it for 2 weeks ;D It is sold as an early variety & it certainly is! The fruit are large , up to 1.5 inches long & they taste a little different than a normal blackberry, that is they seem fruitier & less sharp. From 1 plant that is now 3 years old I expect to pick about 10 to 12lb of fruit. When this one is finished it will be time to pick the wild ones ;D . I brought it from buckingham nurseries, easily found on your search engine.

                                      Adrian.
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: saddad on July 24, 2007, 10:03:35
I found Sylvan always gave a good crop by mid July... but my plant finally died after @15 years...
:-[
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: Tora on July 24, 2007, 15:16:10
I started picking blackberries last week. Really sweet and delicious! I do think it's far earlier than usual.
I made blackberry jerry, 3 jars from 1kg of berries. Also made a blackberry crumble cake. :P
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: Smileyk on July 24, 2007, 19:46:26
Well my thornless ones in the garden are still green but we've now got 5 boxes of blackberries in the freezer that we picked from around the allotment.  They vary between about 300 and 500g in each box so we're doing pretty well!

Good job really as I've already made two crumbles with last years blackberries from the freezer!!!  ;D

Our allotment has TONS of blackberries at the side (in the bit that we can move into if we want to clear it) and I don't think the public come in and pick there - they stick to the field at the other side.

Recipes needed soon methinks as I'll get bored of crumble and pies!
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: dtw on July 26, 2007, 00:53:29
I've had a few from my thornless one in my garden.
I always wait until they are almost dropping off before picking them.
They are at their sweetest then.

Leave them in a bowl of water for a while so any creepy crawlies will come out,
if any berries float, they get chucked.
Title: Re: MMM blackberries
Post by: robkb on July 26, 2007, 09:58:16
We picked our first bagful this week - roughly 1.5 kg. And by the looks of it, loads more to come over the next few weeks. Think I'll try making jam for the first time this year!

Cheers,
Rob ;)