Nothing beats the taste of blueberries picked fresh from the garden. There’s just something special about popping them straight into your mouth—after a quick rinse, of course! If you want to get the most out of your harvest, here’s everything you need to know about picking these little blue gems.
When is Blueberry Season?
If the weather plays along, blueberry season usually kicks off in early July. One of the best things about blueberries is that they don’t all ripen at once. Instead, they take their time, ripening in stages, which means you can keep harvesting all the way into September. This is great news because it means you won’t be overwhelmed with a massive mountain of berries to deal with all in one weekend.
This staggered ripening is actually a huge plus, because blueberries don’t have a very long shelf life. You can keep them in the fridge for a few days, but beyond that, you’ll need to start thinking about making jam or preserves. Keep in mind that blueberries lose their flavor, aroma, and those healthy vitamins pretty quickly once they’re chilled.
Only Pick the Fully Ripe Ones
When you’re out there gathering your berries, make sure you’re only picking the ones that are 100% ripe. Unlike some other fruits, blueberries won’t continue to ripen once they’ve been pulled from the branch. You’ll know they’re ready when they are deep blue all over—if you see any green or white patches, leave them for a few more days. Just drop the ripe ones into a bowl. If you have a massive patch to get through, you might want to look into a blueberry rake (or comb) to speed things up.
Pro tip: Keep a damp cloth handy to wipe your hands. Blueberry juice is no joke, and you’re bound to get some on your fingers. On that note, wear some old clothes you don’t mind getting messy, because blueberry stains are notoriously stubborn! Gently roll the berries off the branch with your thumb; if they’re ripe, they should fall right into your hand. Try to be gentle—if you bruise or crush them, you’ll need to eat them immediately.
Getting Your Harvest Home Safely
Don’t overfill your bowls. It’s better to use several shallow containers rather than one deep one so the berries at the bottom don’t get squashed by the weight of the ones on top. Definitely skip the plastic bags—they offer zero protection and you’ll likely end up with blueberry mush. Also, as tempting as it is, try not to snack directly from the bush, especially if you are harvesting wild blueberries in the woods, due to the risk of parasites like fox tapeworm.
Once you get them home, enjoy them fresh or whip them up into something delicious like:
- Compote
- Jam
- Jelly
- Blueberry pie or cake
- Fresh juice
