28th July, 2008 - Fruitless Tasks Each year we are reliant on Mother Nature to be kind so that we can enjoy a bountiful harvest.
If the weather conditions are too extreme or we suffer from too many bug infestations, then it will naturally affect both the quality and quantity of our produce.
This year's weather has affected the soft fruits and the pickings are not as good as previous years.
Currently we are picking around 750grams of raspberries every 2 days - which is more than enough for the 3 of us, but given that we have over 40 bushes it is quite a poor harvest.
It is around this time that we would expect to be seeing the sloes swelling in the hedgerows and plan our sloe gin making.
A walk around the boundary proved "fruitless" and we found just 4 sloes!
Friends and neighbours have all said the same of their sloe bushes. We've all come to the conclusion that it's as a result of a warm February followed by sharp frosts killing off the early blossom.
Whilst it might not be a good year for raspberries and sloes, it looks like being a record year for blackberries!
We have wild blackberries growing in the hedgerows and in previous years we have only ever picked enough to fill a few pies and crumbles.
Although they are not ready yet for picking, the number of blackberries forming far exceeds previous years...
...just as well that Tracey has a very good recipe for blackberry gin! View The Blog Read All Fruit Cage Stories | 