Sloe picking season
Sloes are ready to pick from October — ideally after the first frost.
Countdown
82
days to go
Next date
Thursday, 1 October 2026
2026 sloe season opens
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Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Countdown | Region / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 sloe season opens | Thursday, 1 October 2026 | In 3 months | Peaks after first frost |
| 2027 sloe season opens | Friday, 1 October 2027 | In 1 year 3 months | UK |
| 2028 sloe season opens | Sunday, 1 October 2028 | In 2 years 3 months | UK |
Sloes — the fruit of the blackthorn bush — are typically ready to pick from October onwards. The traditional advice is to wait until after the first frost, which softens the skin and reduces bitterness. If you want to start earlier, pricking each sloe with a pin achieves the same result. Sloes are used almost exclusively to make sloe gin, requiring roughly 500g of sloes per 70cl bottle of gin.
food drink
Gin bottles and foraging kits for sloe gin
Verified 8 May 2026
Questions
When are sloes ready to pick?
From early October, ideally after the first frost.
Can I pick them before the frost?
Yes — prick each berry with a pin to mimic the softening effect of frost.
How many sloes do I need for sloe gin?
Around 500g per 70cl bottle of gin is a common ratio.
How do I recognise a sloe?
Small, dark blue-black berry on a thorny blackthorn bush. Very bitter raw.