How to Harvest and Store Blackberries

Blackberries, like their raspberry cousins, are known as "brambleberries" because of their thorny canes, which can deter all but the most ardent berry lover. But that luscious, fresh-from-the-cane taste is worth a few scratches, so dive right in.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gloves
• Gloves
• Gloves
• Baskets
• Gardening Gloves
• Pail
• Cookie Sheets
• Cookie sheets
• Baskets

1. Harvest blackberries as soon as they're fully ripe.

2. Pull the berries from the stem gently, taking care not to squeeze them.

3. Keep your harvest basket or pail in the shade so the blackberries stay cool, and stack them no more than an inch or two deep in the container (otherwise you'll have blackberry squash).

4. Use blackberries immediately, either for eating, preserving, or baking into pies, quick breads or muffins.

5. Refrigerate blackberries for a day or so in airtight containers.

6. Freeze blackberries in a single layer on a cookie sheet, then put the frozen berries in freezer bags to use all year long.

Tips & Warnings

• Blackberry thorns are vicious. When you're planting, pruning or picking, wear jeans, a heavy long-sleeved shirt and thick gloves.

[wytetyger059]

on 10/1/2008 Blackhatron, that's probably a mulberry tree. If it is, the fruit is very good. The berries will just pull off if they're ripe.

I have a thornless blackberry bush. Bless the people who planted it!

[blackhatron]

on 6/24/2008 i have a huge tree in my back yard the looks like blackberries do the bushes get that big and is the fruit still good to eat. if so can they be harvested as they fall from the tree?