Sloes

[paddywak]

Could somebody please advise me as to where I can buy sloes, as I can't recall ever seeing them for sale in the local shops or markets. I spend quite a lot of time walking Max my trusty GSD and know where to get blackberries, elderberries etc as they come into season but I;ve never come across any sloe.

[Mortartube]

You will usually find sloes in the hedgerows where the blackberries, apples, elder amd damsons grow. They are a dark berry (blue, almost black with a dusty frosted appearance). Here's 2pictures, note the leaf shape too. They are often about head height and not up high on trees. They should be around now.

http://www.woodbridgefruittrees.com.au/images-large/Plum/sloe.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Closeup_of_blackthorn_aka_sloe_aka_prunus_spinosa_sweden_20050924.jpg

[paddywak]

Thanks for the pictures mortartube, the problem is not in identify the things it's finding them. The place where I used to get mine has been "Developed" as a result about 100yds of hedge including the only local blackthorn I knew about has been ripped up and as you might know wild fruit collectors can be quite secretive about their sources especially if they know the particular product is quite rare in the area

[paddywak]

I don't know whats up with the site at the moment but it's not "wrapping" sentences properly

[Mortartube]

Sorry, I misunderstood your post and thought that you had problems in identifying them. Where in the country are you? Is it feasible to drive to a wild area and give the dog a change of scenery as well as you a change of sloe gathering?

[Mortartube]

I have found dried ones on sale here online.

http://www.hamstead-brewing-centre.co.uk/itm00447.htm

[paddywak]

Thanks for the site with the dried sloes mortartube I may have to resort to that in the end. Unfortuntly since I suffered a stroke a few years ago I have to be carefull about the type of place I walk, which eliminates a lot of the places where sloes are liable to grow