THE season of mellow fruitfulness has hit Scotland after a summer of sustained warm weather,with predictions of a bumper autumn harvest coming true for many varieties.

Brambles, elderberries, crab apples, rosehips and sloeberries are in evidence earlier and in greater volumes, prompting many to predict a return to jam, jelly and gin-making as the new national pastime. Graeme Cheevers, head chef at restaurant Martin Wishart at Cameron House, Loch Lomond, said: "Everything's come early this year, and we are going out on regular foraging trips to fill our baskets with wild berries and mushrooms. Things have gone back to the way they should be after a terrible season last year."

September and October are the traditional months for mushrooms and maincrop potatoes, and harvesting is just beginning. Albert Bartlett, which has a network of potato growers across Scotland, cautiously predicts that consumers will enjoy larger potatoes in greater volumes than previously.

A spokeswoman said: "All crops were late in the ground due to the late spring, but we're anticipating our potatoes will be larger and of a better quality this year. Early digs show that kestrels and roosters are particularly good and will be in shops from next week.

"We're hoping the rain continues over the next two weeks as it could make a huge difference to overall yields."

Harvesting of Scottish blueberries is just starting and they are large, sweet and juicy. But grower Peter Thompson, of Blairgowrie, added a note of caution, saying yields could be down by one-third due to a late picking season last year, which didn't give the bushes enough time to start producing new buds for this year.

"We're a bit gloomy about the size of the crop this year," he said. "The berries themselves are very good but yields are disappointing."

Bob Caruth of the National Farmers' Union Scotland said: "Yields are probably going to be down, or at least average. But there's been a big difference between this year and last. Farmers are feeling better about life for having the sun on their backs through the harvest."

The Scottish Government's annual crop report is currently being collated. However, a spokeswoman said: "Anecdotal evidence suggests this year's fruit harvest looks much more promising compared to the past few years, with reports yield, quality and consumer demand are all up."