Selfsufficientish.com

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?GJZUW 5 August 2010 Blackberry. Picking Today.

Blackberry plants (2) are producing well. I stand up between the net and the bushes when picking. The staggered ripening is convenient, since I pick about every three days. There is little wastage.

Wow, that is a lot of jam!!
I have seen one or two ripe ones over here, but we are a month or so away yet. I am not sure whether I will bother this year or not - I had a rather unpleasant experience last year when I noticed hundreds of little worms poking their heads out of the fruit after I had picked. YUK!!

I drove past a few people picking some at the side of the road the other day, I was surprised they were ripe enough. The worms don't sound good

Blackberries ripening very fast here! Have picked about 2kg so far for jam. I did find a few wrigglies, I think they're some sort of caterpillar, I keep seeing white moths around the brambles... I have noticed more wasps this year, I hate wasps!

Much to my surprise, here in Lincolnshire some blackberries are ready for picking. I am of the age when I remember they were always ready for picking in September. We grow thornless blackberries in the garden which, incidentally at not yet ripe, yet the wild ones are.

Glad to be back.
Sue :flower

I've been picking mine on the allotment for about 6 weeks, couldn't believe how early they were. Wild ones are getting there, where they've been in the sun, or going nowhere if they haven't.