Sea buckthorn berries are juicy, delicious, and absolutely packed with vitamins. But to really enjoy these little superfruits, you’ve got to know the secret to picking them without a struggle. Here’s everything you need to know to get the job done right.
When is the best time to harvest sea buckthorn?
Generally, harvest season for sea buckthorn runs from September through October. Technically, you can find berries on the branches until December, but they lose their best flavor as time goes on. To get that peak taste, try to finish your harvest by late October. Keep an eye out, though—some early-ripening varieties are ready to go as early as August!
Don’t wait too long to get out there, or the local birds and wildlife will beat you to it. They love these berries as a food source during the colder months. You’ll know the fruit is ripe when it has a vibrant, glowing reddish-orange color. If the color looks faded or bleached out, you’ve unfortunately missed your window.
How to pick sea buckthorn (without the scratches!)
First things first: only harvest the ripe berries. And whatever you do, don’t underestimate the thorns! As the name suggests, sea buckthorn is a prickly customer. To keep your hands safe, definitely wear a pair of heavy-duty, thorn-proof gardening gloves. Also, a quick pro-tip: the juice can stain, so maybe don’t wear your favorite white t-shirt for this job.
If you want to avoid the mess and the thorns altogether, here’s my favorite trick: cut off the entire fruit-bearing branch and pop it in your freezer at home. Once the berries are frozen solid, they become hard and easy to handle.
You can then simply shake or strip the frozen berries off the branch without them squishing. Then, just let them thaw and they’re ready for your recipes! If you’d rather stay outdoors, you can lay a tarp under the tree and give the branches a good, vigorous shake. The ripe berries will drop right onto the tarp for easy collecting.
What to do with your harvest
Sea buckthorn berries are incredibly versatile. You can eat them raw, though the tartness isn’t for everyone. Most gardeners love to turn them into something a bit more gourmet, such as:
- Fresh juice
- Jams and jellies
- Compotes
- Liqueurs or schnapps
- Fruit tarts and cakes
You can also dry the berries to make a healthy snack. And hey, if you have a few extra branches with berries still attached, they look stunning in a vase as a rustic centerpiece!
