In article ,
says...

In article ,
"Sue" writes:
|
| Might damsons trees in a hedgerow have the odd thorn or two? This morning we
| picked what we think are fruits -too -big to- be -sloes but there were a few
| long thorns on some of the branches. I plan to jam them but if they are
| sloes they may not yet be sweet enough so they may have to be "ginned"
| instead!

Yes, but I am afraid that you are confused. They are likely to be
bullaces - the 'wild' damson (and ancestor of modern plums) - probably
introduced by the neolithic farmers. But there is no need for fruit
to be sweet to be good for jam - both sloes and Chaenomeles make very
good jam, and you can make good jam with unripe fruit.

Equally well, you can make a good gin cordial with bullaces and
suitable damsons, though I haven't done it myself.

Or cheese, which I have, and chutney, which my wife has :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.


Nick - are these sloes? I've had a look at some images on Google and
think they are. We've got several of these shrubs in the hedgerow around
our property, laden with fruit. I'd like to have a go at a jam recipe
but a second opinion would be good before discovering I've made woody
nightshade jam or some such poison!

Photos:

A sloe bush?

http://www.avisoft.co.uk/Hpim5809a.jpg

Close up including my hand for scale:

http://www.avisoft.co.uk/Hpim5810b.jpg

--
David in Normandy.
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