A Great Summer For Soft Fruit

[Anna]

It's not a sweeping statement - it is just, sadly, the truth for round here which is where I'm talking about!

In which case I apologise jean but you didn't say around here and I don't like all greengrocers being tarred with the same brush. Ours is turning into a National Treasure! He supports the very small independent growers and we in turn support him because if he goes then we'll have to buy fruit and vegs at the supermarkets .... unfortunately we no longer have a monthly farmers' market due to the County Council's heavy-handedness resulting in a major falling out and mega-sulks on both sides, nor do we any longer have the weekly W.I. stall. Pax?

[jean]

In which case I apologise jean but you didn't say around here...

Well maybe not, but I did say round here which is almost the same...

I'm very sorry for people round here who have no space to grow their own, because even the (very few) independent greengrocers don't stock currants or gooseberries or English cherries and won't be stocking English plums when the time comes

We used to have one independent greengrocer who had links with Cheshire apple growers, but they retired a few years ago - children not interested in taking on the business. There had been a time when they had employed staff, but they could no longer afford that.

[Anna]

I did!

And I should have gone to SpecSavers!!

[amateur51]

After singing the praises of the Simmer's crop of flat peaches, I was delighted to find today that there is now a bumper crop of white-fleshed flat nectarines from France or Italy (the stall-holder wasn't sure) and what a treat they are.

[gradus]

Re cherries, has anyone checked out the many wild cherries that are bearing wonderful crops of delicious fruit this year. They are of course not always available to be picked but round our way there are loads this year.

[amateur51]

Re cherries, has anyone checked out the many wild cherries that are bearing wonderful crops of delicious fruit this year. They are of course not always available to be picked but round our way there are loads this year.

Those in my area seem to have been scoffed by the local bird population - good for them!

[Nick Armstrong]

Those in my area seem to have been scoffed by the local bird population - good for them!

Local car owners unwise enough to park under trees will reap the whirlwind...

[David-G]

Can anyone tell me when we should be able to expect to harvest wild blackberries (in the South East)?

[pilamenon]

Re cherries, has anyone checked out the many wild cherries that are bearing wonderful crops of delicious fruit this year. They are of course not always available to be picked but round our way there are loads this year.

Definitely! Picked enough black and red cherries yesterday evening for two big bowls full.

All the fruit trees seem bounteous - and the walnuts look promising.

Blackberries will be in September this year - the traditional month (though they had been ripening as early as July in London when I lived there).

[gradus]

Blacberries in this part of S Suffolk will be a couple of weeks yet so I guess the South will be slightly earlier, the crop looks very heavy.

[amateur51]

Blacberries in this part of S Suffolk will be a couple of weeks yet so I guess the South will be slightly earlier, the crop looks very heavy.

Blackberry jelly then, and lots of apple & blackberry compote for the freezer, yum!

[teamsaint]

Looks as though the blackberries on Southampton Common will be extra good this year, but they need a few more weeks of sun.

best in the world, GI, best by a long way.
And the finest scenery.
Happy Days.
Enjoy.!!

[ahinton]

best in the world, GI, best by a long way.
And the finest scenery.
Happy Days.
Enjoy.!!

I'm waiting for my usually reliable local supplier to have the new crop of loganberries ready, which hopefully will be the case around now; there's simply nothing to touch these divine fruits!- and try finding them elsewhere and it immediately becomnes apparent that they're like gold-dust!

[amateur51]

I'm waiting for my usually reliable local supplier to have the new crop of loganberries ready, which hopefully will be the case around now; there's simply nothing to touch these divine fruits!- and try finding them elsewhere and it immediately becomnes apparent that they're like gold-dust!

I've not had/seen loganberries for several decades and I agree completely with your estimation ahinton.

Mind you, wouldn't mind the odd mulberry

[Anna]

On the fruit & veg stall in the market this morning was a box of red gooseberries (a fruit I seldom eat except very occasionally the dessert variety) 'Are they sweet?' I enquired of the stallholder, a man who is eternally gloomy. 'Far too sweet' he replied 'They'll go off as soon as you look at them' then he added 'People are making jam from them, but it'll be over-sweet jam. Nasty that is'

He really isn't cut out to be a market trader!!