Foraging for different wild edibles has been an interest of mine for ages. I grew up picking wild blackberries around a neighboring pond. We kids usually came home with a few scrapes or pricks and always some blackberries!
So you can imagine how eager i was When I noticed back in Late May that the blackberry bushes on our land had tiny buds on them. So in July we headed to the property and were hoping to pick some! There were quite a few berries, But at that time not many were ripe. They just needed more time.
As the fruit ripens, it grows in size and weight. Color changes from green to red to black. Blackberries don’t all ripen at once. According to NC State University They can take 35 to 45 days to mature once they are pollinated. So be sure to check them every week or so once they show signs of ripening.
To get lots of juicy berries the vines or ”bushes” need good rain. If the weather is very dry it is likely the berries wont be as large or juicy. But dont lose heart, they may be hiding under leaves or branches of the plant. When you are picking wild blackberries, don’t forget to look in those hidden areas!
Besides the wonderful flavor, black berries are so good for you. According to USDA one cup of Blackberries have a 50% daily value of vitamin C. That is a Powerhouse, and it doesn’t stop there! With many other antioxidants and benefits, blackberries are a wonderful addition to any dish.
Pick em’, snack em’, bake em’, Can em’ in a jar.
Best places to find wild blackberries
blackberries love sun to part shade So the best places to find wild blackberry bushes or vines I have found are:
at the edge of wooded areas
along the sides of a field where brush grows a bit taller.
open slightly unkept fields.
Check your local state park or national park.
state parks can be a great place to check for nuts and / berries as they are after all usually full of vegetation and are designed in order to preserve nature.
In order to identify wild blackberries, learning the pattern of the leaves will help you notice them almost anytime of year. In the winter they usually look like thorn vines or brambles, but the rest of the year they have foliage.
Summer time is the easiest to spot them as before the berries are ripe, they’ll be bright red.
There are so many things you can do with blackberries
Here are a few ideas
Eat fresh
Blackberries With ice cream or whipped cream
Blackberry Pie
My favorite, blackberry cobbler. nothing like it!
Blackberry Scones
Blackberry Jam
Or you can even freeze them for smoothies or baking later.
The possibilities are basically endless.
a few takeaways to remember when picking wild blackberries:
How long is the harvest season for blackberries ?
Blackberries dont all ripen at once. Be sure to check for more ripened berries about once a week once the season starts in late May, here in southern Indiana. The season should last through July and perhaps the beginning of August.
Wear clothes that you wont mind getting snagged, and preferably protective clothing like jeans and a light and airy longsleeve and boots. Any good boot will do.
wear bug spray
bring a bucket or container to put your berries in
when you are home get them rinsed and pat them dry with a kitchen towel or paper towel
put them in a container or baggy with a dry paper towel.
once clean, use them or set them in the refrigerator. if you have room in your crisping box that would work great.
in the refrigerator they should last up to a week, or in the Freezer 3-6 months
what is your favorite way to eat blackberries?
any tips on avoiding the thorns when picking wild blackberries? Let us know in the comments!
Happy picking,
Lori
Tags: blackberries, food forest, Foraging, picking fruit, sustainability, sustainable
