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I made rowan jelly last year around October time and I know it is generally muchy later in the year and also ye olde days thing of being ok after the first frost...but...they look lovely red,. ripe and ready now. Would it be ok to make now?

I must admit I wouldn't be thinking about doing it yet myself but I guess what you could do is simulate a frost by freezing your harvest before you make your jelly. Have you tried the squeeze test? If they're like bullets I'd give it a bit, but if they're fleshy and juicy and give when pinched it might work.

Only one way to find out!

I'll probably wait a bit. I thought the freezing wasn't necessary if you were cooking them (as in making jelly).

True, although I seem to remember someone telling me that the frost thing does something for the sugars in the fruit although that may have been in reference to rowan vodka.

Mine are already orange (don't think they go red or if they do the birds eat them before that happens!) but it is starting to look scarily like autumn already with all the leaves all over the ground from the yellowing parched trees.

Ours are very early this year - they're bright red and the birds are having a go at them as I type. If you want to do anything with your berries, I'd seriously think about doing it now - there'll be none left come October.

Mike

I have just been on my first ever foraging excursion. Me, th hubby and the kids went to pick elderflowers and my hubby spotted rowanberries. There are several trees and they are ready to pick now. Any suggestions on what to make?
Elle