here in the north east i was out picking blackberrys on the shoot am in and the sloes there are still not ready not sure if they ripen early down south , last year i picked them end september ,they say pick after the first frost ,up hereits a case of who dares leave em longest before someone picks them :11: its a game of nerve , it seems like a bumper crop with some nice big full berries last year was me first attempt and the waiting 3 months til it was ready was well worth it ,so heres hoping there is some left for a nother lot