Whitebeam ready to pick

Bump !

It's that whitebeam time of year again - they're earlier than 2006 (or 2005). Been a few frosts here already.

Trees are laden, bletting nicely on the branches, birds are at them. I've got 4 carrier bagfuls to deal with.

I'll take and post a pic if I remember.

Go forage ! But wrap up warm - there was a raw, cold All Souls wind today, and my hands were freezing by dusk.
The wine is well worth making.

Edited to add :
Here's last year's thread

Jamanda

I don't think the ones here have had as much frost as yours probably have, but is plenty of it. Does it need to be really soft and mushy?

gil

Easiest to pick whole bunches of fruit, in which case you get a mix of very soft, not so soft and still hard. That mix works fine in wine. The mushier, the more 'tropical' and apricotty it will taste, at least to start with; the less ripe, the more pome-like (like crabapple but a lot mellower).

See last year's thread for wine recipe and more comments on bletting. I'd destalk and wash them and put them in the freezer for a day or so.

Ideally you want then when they start to look glassy/shiny, but the birds will also want them. Pragmatism...

Jamanda

Gil, did we try any whitebeam wine at yours? Embarassed

It was the rowan that was sherryish wasn't it?

gil

Jamanda wrote:

Gil, did we try any whitebeam wine at yours? Embarassed

It was the rowan that was sherryish wasn't it?

Yes, the rowan was sherryish, and no I don't think we did open a whitebeam. Well worth putting a gallon on and 3-4lb will take no time to pick.

edited to add : a carrier bagful (without leaves, but still on stalks) weighs between 10 and 12lbs. With leaves, 6-8lbs. As I said, it takes very little time to pick enough for a gallon of wine. Scissors can be useful for harvesting.

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