And If I’m being honest, I become so excited for fresh berries each summer that I have a hard time waiting for them to fully ripen. While it may be tempting to pick them as soon as they appear, exercising restraint until the time is right will result in bigger, more flavorful berries. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Read on to learn how to harvest perfectly ripe blueberries.
Patience Is Key
It takes two or three years from planting time before a shrub is mature enough to produce a full crop. For the first season after planting, pluck off the flowers as they appear. This will encourage the plant to concentrate its energy on growth and root development. During the second season, you can harvest the fruits sparingly, but it is still a good idea to pick off at least half of the flowers to promote growth. By the third season, leave all the flowers on the shrub and enjoy a full harvest! While it may be tough to wait so long for the first full harvest, you will be rewarded with healthier, more robust plants, and thus larger yields down the road.
Plant Multiples
It is advisable to plant more than one shrub to improve yields and extend the harvest season. While some cultivars are self-fertile, cross pollination will encourage a much bigger crop of larger berries. Choose two different varieties with similar bloom times for best results. If you have the space for more than two, I recommend planting a couple each of early, midseason, and late season varieties. This way, you will have fresh fruit available for much longer each summer! For tips on selecting cultivars, check out this article on top blueberry varieties for home harvests.
Harvesting
I know it may be tempting, but try to restrain yourself from picking the fruit too early in the season. For the juiciest, sweetest berries, wait until they turn deep blue in color, and look plump and full. Depending on where you live, and the cultivars that you have planted, this can happen any time from late May through mid-August. So if you don’t like sour berries, it is best to wait until they are completely blue before harvesting. Fruits that are still green or white will not continue to ripen once picked. ‘Pink Lemonade’ If you pick ones that still have a tinge of red or purple, they will continue to ripen off the shrub, though they will not become any sweeter. This can be tricky to do if you have birds or other animals feeding on your crop. Read our guide on protecting your berries from birds for more details. There are no special tricks to harvesting. With a basket at the ready, gently roll each berry off the stem with your fingers. When ripe, they can be picked easily without resistance. Collect all the fruits that you don’t “taste test” first. I always try to restrain myself from eating them all immediately, but it’s not an easy task!
Preserving
Eat the berries right away (my preferred method) or you can refrigerate them in an open container for about a week. Refrigerated, they will keep longer if you wait until just before eating to wash them. They can also easily be frozen or dried for later use. To freeze, gently wash under cool running water and then let them sit a strainer or colander until they are completely dry. Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet, making sure no berries are touching, and place in the freezer. Once they are completely frozen, after a few hours, transfer to an airtight freezer-safe bag or container. These will keep for one to two years. My family eats frozen blueberries almost daily in smoothes or our morning oatmeal. I particularly love this deliciously creamy berry date smoothie on our sister site, Foodal. You can also dry the fruit by baking it in an oven set to the lowest temperature for three hours, or in a dehydrator set on low for 18 hours. Fully dried, they will be shrunken and crisp with a stronger flavor. Store in a cupboard in an airtight container for up to six months. Not sure what to do with dried berries? You can add them to homemade trail mix for an energizing snack, or I like to bake them into bread and muffins. This recipe for whole wheat pecan bread with dried blueberries, also from Foodal, is a delicious way to make use of homegrown dried fruits!
What are your tricks to harvesting perfect blueberries? Share your tips in the comments below! And if you want to learn more about growing blueberries, check out these guides next:
How to Grow BlueberriesTips for Growing Highbush Blueberries in Your GardenHow to Transplant BlueberriesGrowing Blueberries in Pots and Containers
