How to Harvest Blackberries

Blackberries just may be the ultimate fruit of the summer. Sweet and juicy, they are great in pies, on top of pancakes, in a smoothie or just right out of your hand. One of the best things about these quintessential fruits of the season is how quick and easy they are to grow at home. Here are some tips to remember when harvesting your blackberry crop.

Instructions

1. Harvest at the right time. Blackberries picked when they are red will not be as tender or juicy and will be tart or even slightly sour tasting. Pick blackberries when they are a deep purple or black shade and look full and almost swollen. Berries that look like this are at the height of ripeness and ready to be picked.

2. Pick berries gently. Ripe blackberries are soft. Pick them from their stems to avoid bruising them or bursting any of their segments. Using an open hand, grasp the berry gently with as few fingers as possible and give the berry a slight twist from side to side. This will help loosen the top of the berry from the stem and will bruise it less than jerking in a downward motion.

3. Choose the right container. Picking ripe blackberries and tossing them into a bucket bruises them. By the time you've picked all the ripe berries in your crop, berries on the bottom of the bucket will be crushed by the weight of the berries on top. Instead, use a container that is wide, shallow and preferably soft-sided to place blackberries in as you go along. A wide mesh basket lined with cloth is a good option. Place them gently in the container and keep layers of berries level to keep any of your blackberries from getting crushed.

4. Wear gloves. Blackberry bushes feature long thin branches crowded with sharp thorns that can scratch arms and hands. Wearing gloves not only protects your hands from the blackberry thorns and from staining caused by bruised berries but also helps keep you from damaging the berries as you pick them. Choose gloves made from soft but durable fabric, such as gardening gloves.

5. Watch out for spiders. Blackberry bushes grow well in shade and sun and are tall and full of thorns, making them the ideal dwelling place for spiders. The long branches are beneficial for building webs and thorns help keep birds and other predators away while attracting insects for the spiders. Give the bushes a gentle shake before picking blackberries to send the spiders running or wear long sleeves along with gloves to avoid any unpleasant arachnid situations.

6. Use harvested berries quickly. Berries picked at the height of their ripeness must be used or stored soon after harvesting to keep them from over-ripening or spoiling. If you are not planning to use harvested berries for cooking, freeze them until you are ready to use them. To help them keep their berry shape instead of freezing into one solid clump, spread berries on a cookie sheet and freeze them, then store individually frozen berries together in freezer bags.