Blackberries - Not very appetising

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by clueless1, Sep 1, 2013.

Page 1 of 2
  1. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2008
    Messages:
    17,778
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Here
    Ratings:
    +19,596
    Morning all.

    Some of our brambles are ready. They are blackberries of a cultivated kind, supposed to be twice the size of wild ones and very juicy.

    They are battered, burst, nibbled, discoloured and in some cases deformed.

    What might have caused this please? Lack of water perhaps? The heat? Pests?
     
    clueless1, Sep 1, 2013
    #1 Quote in Conversation
  2. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2008
    Messages:
    17,778
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Here
    Ratings:
    +19,596
    No ideas?
     
    clueless1, Sep 1, 2013
    #2 Quote in Conversation
  3. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    I was just looking up when Michaelmas is, 29th sept, can't eat em after that. Otherwise, i'd guess at lack of water.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
      Phil A, Sep 1, 2013
      #3 Quote in Conversation
    • Marley Farley

      Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

      Joined:
      May 11, 2005
      Messages:
      30,588
      Occupation:
      Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
      Location:
      Under the Edge Zone 8b
      Ratings:
      +14,126
      I think it is the weather & water.. Clue..
      Everything had a late start due to the late frosts.. Then really it has been very dry with the odd bursts of rain on parched ground..
      Once the berries started forming hot & dry weather was here which encourages Berry Mites which do make the fruits look horrid & a bit deformed & not ripen properly..
      They are also susceptible to Downy Mildew too..
       
      • Informative Informative x 1
        Marley Farley, Sep 1, 2013
        #4 Quote in Conversation
      • rosietutu

        rosietutu Gardener

        Joined:
        Feb 12, 2005
        Messages:
        941
        Gender:
        Female
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Poole Dorset
        Ratings:
        +434
        I looked at my cultivated blackberry bush in its 2nd year thought what a load of rubbish So got the secateurs took the plant down to 3ft removed all the laterals, shall feed it next spring and hope it will do better,Whilst out collecting Rowan berries for my relish noticed the wild black berries were rubbish as well.
        Raspberries look better but the plants that really surprised me were a few loganberries plants bought in the super market, just wished I had bought more, lotsa big juicy berries . Just made some chilli jam still coughing from the fumes....but it looks good hope it tastes good. a new venture, along with Sage /Crab apple. now to have a sleep. The Damson jam turned out really well nice with cream on scones cannot see me with a trim figure any more but who at 82 cares any way....:ccheers:
         
        • Like Like x 2
          rosietutu, Sep 2, 2013
          #5 Quote in Conversation
        • Marley Farley

          Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

          Joined:
          May 11, 2005
          Messages:
          30,588
          Occupation:
          Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
          Location:
          Under the Edge Zone 8b
          Ratings:
          +14,126
          :blue thumb: Go for it rosietutu & enjoy.... :biggrin:
           
          Marley Farley, Sep 2, 2013
          #6 Quote in Conversation
        • Ellen

          Ellen Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jun 20, 2013
          Messages:
          2,562
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          Volunteer at Cats Protection
          Location:
          Bakewell
          Ratings:
          +1,984
          I've seen similar with wild blackberries when being out and about on walks
           
          Ellen, Sep 2, 2013
          #7 Quote in Conversation
        • clueless1

          clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

          Joined:
          Jan 8, 2008
          Messages:
          17,778
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Here
          Ratings:
          +19,596
          Right outside my new work, in somebody's totally neglected but amazing garden, there is a jungle of the biggest, juiciest brambles (blackberries) I've ever seen. There are also three massive out of control apple trees that must be carrying about a couple of tonnes of apples between them.
           
          clueless1, Sep 2, 2013
          #8 Quote in Conversation
        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

          Joined:
          May 5, 2012
          Messages:
          27,607
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Public Transport
          Location:
          At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
          Ratings:
          +51,884
          :please: Why? Do they start to turn or something @Zigs?
           
          Fat Controller, Sep 2, 2013
          #9 Quote in Conversation
        • Phil A

          Phil A Guest

          Ratings:
          +0
          Nothing so simple.

          Aftet Michaelmas, The Devil's Peed on them :yikes::runforhills::sofa::stirpot::yikes:
           
          Phil A, Sep 2, 2013
          #10 Quote in Conversation
        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

          Joined:
          May 5, 2012
          Messages:
          27,607
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Public Transport
          Location:
          At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
          Ratings:
          +51,884
          As opposed to foxes etc peeing on them for the rest of the year :heehee:
           
          • Agree Agree x 2
            Fat Controller, Sep 2, 2013
            #11 Quote in Conversation
          • Phil A

            Phil A Guest

            Ratings:
            +0
            Yep, fox wee is ok, devil has a different agenda.
             
            Phil A, Sep 2, 2013
            #12 Quote in Conversation
          • Phil A

            Phil A Guest

            Ratings:
            +0
            or was it due to a chemical change that makes the berries less palatable?
             
            Phil A, Sep 2, 2013
            #13 Quote in Conversation
          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

            Joined:
            May 5, 2012
            Messages:
            27,607
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Public Transport
            Location:
            At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
            Ratings:
            +51,884
            I can't say that I have any desire to taste test fox wee to see if it is OK - I'll have to take your word for it :heehee:

            I think that is the more likely explanation
             
            Fat Controller, Sep 2, 2013
            #14 Quote in Conversation
          • rosietutu

            rosietutu Gardener

            Joined:
            Feb 12, 2005
            Messages:
            941
            Gender:
            Female
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            Poole Dorset
            Ratings:
            +434
            Aha and I thought it was witches ! I knew it was folklore. Foxes can't pee that high ....
             
            rosietutu, Sep 3, 2013
            #15 Quote in Conversation
          Page 1 of 2
          Loading...
          Similar Threads - Blackberries very appetising
          1. Paul Blackburn

            Brambles or Blackberries

            Paul Blackburn, Sep 18, 2016, in forum: Edible Gardening
            Replies:
            3
            Views:
            800
            shiney
            Sep 18, 2016
          2. kindredspirit

            Two old ladies have a fight picking blackberries.

            kindredspirit, Sep 3, 2016, in forum: Off-Topic Discussion
            Replies:
            20
            Views:
            1,751
            HarryS
            Sep 5, 2016
          3. wiseowl

            Woos Blackberries

            wiseowl, Aug 6, 2016, in forum: Edible Gardening
            Replies:
            5
            Views:
            755
            Thomas2525
            Aug 23, 2016
          4. Scrungee

            First Blackberries

            Scrungee, Feb 2, 2014, in forum: Edible Gardening
            Replies:
            1
            Views:
            411
            Phil A
            Feb 2, 2014
          5. clueless1

            Blackberries - How to prune/train?

            clueless1, Aug 17, 2013, in forum: Edible Gardening
            Replies:
            8
            Views:
            1,429
            Madahhlia
            Sep 8, 2013

          Share This Page

          1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
            By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
            Accept Learn More...
            Dismiss Notice