These photos
should help you identify Prunus Spinosa, or the
Blackthorn bush.
Best to seek
local knowledge if you remain unsure about where to find sloes.
Ask a friend, or your milkman, or raise the subject in your pub
or in the 'bus queue! Raising the subject of sloe gin amongst
strangers is actually a very sociable experience, and the response
is always friendly!
In
April white blossom covers the otherwise bare sloe bushes
even before most other hedgerow plants have any leaves.
In
August, the fruits are well formed but partially hidden
by the dense leaves all around. Note the characteristic 'bloom'
on the sloes. Avoid the temptation to pick in August as these
notoriously bitter little berries need as much time as possible
to fully ripen (hence the folklore about picking 'after the first
frosts').
By the time
the sloes are ready for picking, the branches will once again
be bare of leaves, and the clumps of sloes will stand-out clearly
against the sky. Picking late, in October or November, means the
sloes will reach their maximum ripeness - and flavour. |
