Blackberries

Huh? Our blackberries here in the UK are just nicely ripe now.

Surely they're an early autumn/late summer fruit.

Or does 'blackberry' mean something different to you and me?

In article , snipped-for-privacy@isbd.co.uk writes

We have been picking blackberries, or brambles as some call them, for about two weeks now. I find that the earlier berries are better suited for fresh eating and freezing because they are firmer, and the later ones for wine-making as they tend to be softer by then. I shall either make the popular favourite blackberry and apple wine, or a blend of blackberry, elderberry, blackcurrant, and any other suitable red fruit available.

Here in Oregon we have three varieties. I don't know their names, but I do know their habits. One tends to grow closer to the ground and up over bushes and fences, and ripens around June. The other two varieties are the "bramble" type that mound up on top of themselves to make an impenetrable thicket and are ripe right now. We've been picking them for the last couple weeks. Not sure if I'll try to make wine from them this year, I've been disappointed by my past results. But my blackberry jelly recipe is pretty reliable.

--arne

You didn't check his email address; he's down-under!

Yes I did, that's exactly why I asked the question! Our blackberries in the UK are ripe now, I couldn't understand how they could also be just ripening in New Zealand unless they were something different.

I am with you Chris -- he seems to be out of season in the southern part of the southern hemisphere! Months to go I would have thought