The sloe or rather the blackthorn is not only an ornamental shrub, it also bears delicious fruit. Here you can find out what needs to be considered during care.
Sloes (Prunus spinosa) belong to the stone fruit family and are native to all of Europe. The rose family is considered to be the ancestral form of the house plum. The blackthorn is a popular wind and privacy screen, especially in rather spacious natural gardens. The hedge thorn is also ideal for slope stabilization. Below you can read about what needs to be considered when caring for the robust deciduous plants.Sloe - small plant description
Sloes grow as dense shrubs or small, often multi-stemmed trees. The plants do not grow higher than three meters and can reach an age of around 40 years. The blackthorn looks the most bizarre when left in its natural state. Wind and browsing by game can cause unusual crippled shapes, especially near the coast.
The flat root has a dark bark, which can tear in older plants. The rounded to angular branches have several short shoots. The leaves grow on slightly hairy stems and are obovate. Fine serrations can be seen on the leaf edges. After budding, the leaves are downy hairy on their underside. They'll fade over time.
When does the blackthorn bloom?
The white flowers of the blackthorn appear in March. This allows the plant to flower for a long time before the first leaves appear. Here a clear demarcation to hawthorn becomes clear. This forms its leaves before flowering. The white bell-shaped flowers have a scent reminiscent of almonds. The spherical, blue-black fruits can reach a diameter of up to 18 millimeters. The fruits ripen around October and remain on the bush over the winter.
➔ Tip: The flesh of the sloe fruit is initially sour and tart and not very tasty. It only develops more flavor when exposed to frost.
Origin and distribution of the blackthorn
The blackthorn has a wide distribution area, which extends across Europe, the Middle East, North America and New Zealand.The hedge plants are often found in the company of wild roses, hawthorn or juniper. The plants are found at forest edges or rocky slopes up to an altitude of 1,600 meters.
Rule number 1 - the sloe needs space
If you don't find out about the requirements of the plant in advance, you will be faced with many a problem when caring for it. Sloes grow slowly, but spread rapidly. So you have to give the plants a lot of space in the garden. The right work clothing is also important when care measures are carried out on the blackthorn. The sharp thorns can cause injuries.
You can stop the plant's urge to spread with the help of a root barrier. Appropriate geotextile is commercially available for this purpose. But you can also help yourself with a stable concrete ring.
➔ Tip: Since these are shallow roots, the root barrier does not have to be anchored particularly deep in the ground. If you use the barrier up to half a meter deep, you can effectively stop the roots from spreading.
You can also do something against the uncontrolled spread of blackthorn with the right planting. Wild roses, hawthorn or yew not only look decorative, they can also compete with the fast-growing root system of the sloe.
Water the sloe properly
The sloe can generally be classified as easy to care for. The plants also tolerate prolonged drought. If the summers are not noticeably hot and dry, the plants hardly need watering. The rainwater is then completely sufficient. If the plant is too wet for a long time, the roots will be attacked and the sloe can be damaged.
The plants only need regular watering immediately after planting. Water plenty in the first few weeks to allow the roots to grow well.
Fertilize blackthorn - yes or no?
Fertilisers are hardly necessary. When planting, compost can be added to the substrate. Then the plant receives a long-term fertilizer that it can use at any time without the risk of over-fertilization. In addition to compost, horn shavings can also be added to the substrate. Organic fertilizer can be given in spring in subsequent years. If the soil is particularly poor, you can apply an additional dose of fertilizer in early summer.
➔ Tip: If you want to eat the fruit, you should not use mineral fertilizers. For general plant strengtheningnettle stock or comfrey stock can be used.
Help, my sloe isn't growing
There is usually no care error here, because the sloe grows extremely slowly. They only grow by 20 centimeters a year. The shrubs rarely grow higher than three meters overall. What the sloe may lack in visible growth, it more than makes up for underground. The shallow roots can grow up to ten meters long and become extremely widespread if not counteracted by erecting a root barrier.
Do sloes need to be cut?
Sloes do not necessarily have to be pruned. Lovers of natural gardens might even say that sloe bushes just look better uncut. If the dense undergrowth is growing too much for you, you can of course use the scissors.
Pruning should be done after flowering. The sloe also tolerates a strong pruning. If the sloe is to be planted as a hedge, pruning will be necessary to achieve the desired shape. When pruning, you can also remove the root suckers.
➔ Tip: A radical pruning is best tolerated in late winter. The end of the flowering period is the right time for topiary.
You can also cut the sloe back to the stalk if necessary. If an eye was left on the shoot, the plant will reliably sprout again. Sharp and clean tools should be used for the cutting measures. This way the plants are not damaged and the wounds heal without complications.
Harvest blackthorns
In late summer, the blue-black drupes of the blackthorn begin to ripen. However, the hobby gardener should hold back on harvesting. The pulp is tart and sour and therefore not very tasty. The sloe fruits need the cold to develop their flavor.
➔ Tip: The first frosts convert the starch contained in the berries into sugar, making the sloe fruits tastier.
The ripe fruits can be picked individually from the branches. You should store the sloes in a basket instead of in an airtight plastic bag. To avoid injuring yourself on the thorns, we recommend harvesting the fruit with gloves and long-sleeved clothing.
➔ Tip: If you don't want to wait until winter to harvest, you can also pick the berries in late summer to develop the tastefreeze for a few days.
Wintering the sloe
Sloes overwinter very well in our latitudes and do not require any protective measures. The very early flowering of the plants could pose a problem. If there are late frosts during this time, the flowers are at risk. If there are cold nights in the house, you should cover the flowers with fleece or a jute sack.