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1:25 pm
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Mon 9-Aug-10
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We have found loads and loads (and loads) of rowan trees that are laden down with berries and I want to make some jelly.
But I am not sure when they are ready - can anyone advise me? They are a rich orange colour at the moment and when I squeeze them hard a clear liquid oozes out.
Close by to these trees are (we think) loads of hawthorn berries but we aren't 100% sure. I have looked in my book (the new Hedgerow book by River Cottage - which incidentally I don't think is very good!!!) but I still can't work out if they are hawthorn berries or not. Does anyone know of a good website that I can look them up on to see if they are and also to find out when they are ready for picking.
Thanks.
6:37 pm
hi there
here are a few links to pics that might help. The leaves are small, about an eighth of the size of my palm, with wavy edges. The berries hang in clusters like the rowan berries
http://www.wildliferanger.co.uk/users/www.wildlife.....erry.JPG
http://www.favonius.com/furzefield/trees/hawthorn_leaf.gif
Both are ripe when squishy on being pressed fairly firmly
11:14 am
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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debih said:
I have looked in my book (the new Hedgerow book by River Cottage - which incidentally I don't think is very good!!!)
I wonder, Debbie, why you think that? Just interested, not wanting to pick a fight or anything but I've read lots of 'joyous' reports about the book.
I'll try that again!
12:37 pm
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Mon 9-Aug-10
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Toffeeapple said:
debih said:
I have looked in my book (the new Hedgerow book by River Cottage - which incidentally I don't think is very good!!!)
I think I am disapppointed with it as it doesn't tell you how to know when berries, etc are ready! It doesnt give you that many recipes or uses for the hedgerow fruits, etc either. I thought that if I got the book it would give me pictures (which it does), give me a good description of each tree, etc (which in the main it does), tell me when I know that thinks are ready (which I don't think it does) and lots of recipes (which I don't think there are enough of).
In saying that, hubby thinks that it is a great book.
I think I just love the other books too much - I have the preserves book, the vegetable book and the bread book and I love them. I think there are two new books due out next year - cakes and fruit and I will be ordering them as in general I think they are excellent books. Maybe the hedgerow book will grow on me. 
12:39 pm
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Mon 9-Aug-10
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shelley said:
hi there
here are a few links to pics that might help. The leaves are small, about an eighth of the size of my palm, with wavy edges. The berries hang in clusters like the rowan berries
http://www.wildliferanger.co.uk/users/www.wildlife.....0Berry.JPG
http://www.favonius.com/furzefield/trees/hawthorn_leaf.gif
http://www.housesparrow.org/images/house_sparrow_i.....n_bush.jpg
Both are ripe when squishy on being pressed fairly firmly
Thanks for that - they are definitely Hawthorn berries.
6:47 pm
Im off to see if my site for hawthorn berries is good to go on Wednesday; last year there were so many I could hardly haul them back to the car anf they were a variety that fruited huge. The ones in the local forest are pretty ok so..
Oh yes, don't worry if they are a little under ripe as I did this last year and simply found that there was less juiciness!
1:01 pm
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Thu 7-Jan-10
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Does anyone know if white rowan berries are edible, or fit for making jam with if it is safe to do so? I have a small rowan in my garden, and would like to use the berries if I can.
blog: Devon Garden
7:20 pm
sorry , no idea; you could try searching on google using wild harvest white rowan and see??
10:48 am
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Thu 7-Jan-10
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Thanks, Shelley.
The only vaguely useful google result was the first one, to CSH, to the quince cheese post. 
I don't have Food for Free but I don't think it would be in any of the foraging books since it is a garden tree, not a wild one. I will try gardening sites next, or see if anyone who sells trees mentions it.
blog: Devon Garden
11:45 am
sorry I can't be more helpful: if you have the latin name, I may be able to help using a french wild fruit guide that I have, that lists some fruits by their latin name at the back.
1:25 pm
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Thu 7-Jan-10
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Shelley, it is Sorbus something, not very helpful! Possibly hupehensis or cashmiriana or prattii as they all have white berries. Hupehensis is the most likely of those.
Sorbus aucuparia is the usual rowan with red berries.
blog: Devon Garden
2:37 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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The Wiki site here suggests that the small white-berried Rowan could be Sorbus glabrescens, too - in fact, looking at the list, it could be one of many !
It says, apparently, the raw berries contain parasorbic acid which can give indigestion, or worse, kidney damage, but heating them neutralises this acid to the more benign sorbic acid.
It is the sorbic acid content which gives the tree the genus name of Sorbus.
4:49 pm
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Thu 7-Jan-10
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Many thanks! I suspect that unless Shelley discovers something really positive about them I will give them a miss for this year and try next year. It is possible that my son may annex them on his visit this weekend, regarding them as part payment for helping clear out the pond. 
blog: Devon Garden
11:38 am
havent found anything new I'm afraid; not mentioned in my french book; so it is up to you; perhaps try a very small batch as BS says cooking neutralises the problems and see how it tastes??
3:35 pm
Expert
Sat 10-Oct-09
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Yes i have been looking to rowen berrys to, have made some wine and will also dry some but would also like to know what else might for them.I have froze some haw berries today and will go back out and get some more later.
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