Kitchen Garden Forum

I have noticed that all this years crop of sloes have died, they are all about the size of a one penny piece and have all gone brown, I also notice that they are not the normal ball shape but are slightly oval. Any ideas.

Hi Shallot man

Interesting query. I have noticed that some of the sloes in our field have shown the same problem. Never seen it before, though I did post a link to pocket plum in THIS THREAD.
Until that problem came up I had never heard of pocket plum. That said, there are plenty of sloes here which look normal. Hope so as last year's sloe gin is running out

I've noticed that too. The ones in the fields across the road (that we have to fight the neighbours for - we all like sloe gin!) have gone large and oval shaped, and pale yellow. Some are still OK though. I wonder if it is due to weather conditions (which seem to have been ideal for other stone fruits judging by the plums and greengages) or some sort of disease, which must be quite widespread - quite a long way from Basildon to Worcester via Wales.....