Whether you’re foraging in the woods or stepping out into your own backyard, there’s nothing quite like the start of blueberry season. For fruit lovers, it’s the highlight of the summer! If you’re wondering exactly when you can start filling your buckets with these little blue gems, here’s everything you need to know.
When is blueberry harvest season?
Blueberries—whether they’re the wild variety or the cultivated ones in your garden—are the ultimate summer fruit. The exact timing of when they’re ready to pick depends on your location, the specific variety, and the weather that year. Generally speaking, blueberry season kicks off in early July. How long the harvest lasts depends on those same factors. Some varieties wrap up in August, while others can keep producing all the way through September or even early October. Pro tip: I always recommend planting a mix of early, mid, and late-season varieties. It’s the best way to keep the harvest going as long as possible!
Picking and using your blueberries
One thing to keep in mind is that once picked, blueberries don’t have a very long shelf life. You can keep ripe berries in the fridge for a few days, but that’s about it. And don’t be tempted to pick them early—blueberries won’t continue to ripen once they’re off the bush. If you have more than you can eat fresh, freezing or canning them is a great way to save that summer flavor. You can even dry them; dried blueberries are actually a classic home remedy for digestive issues. If you’ve hit the jackpot and have a huge harvest, here are some of my favorite ways to use them:
- Jams and preserves
- Jelly
- Fresh juice
- Toppings for desserts
- Homemade ice cream
- Pie or cake fillings
The right way to harvest
When you’re out picking, look for the berries that are fully blue and ripe. I like to use several shallow bowls or containers rather than one deep bucket. The fewer berries you stack on top of each other, the less likely they are to get squashed. To pick them by hand, just give the berry a gentle tug and let it roll over your thumb into your palm. If you’re dealing with a massive harvest, some people use “blueberry combs” or rakes. They definitely speed things up, but just a heads-up: you’ll likely end up with a few unripe green berries in the mix that way!
