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Blackberry Facts and Picking Tips
 In the U.S. Blackberries typically peak during
June
in the South, and in July in the North. Crops are ready at various times of the
month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce
good local Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions.
See this page for a list of
blackberry festivals around the U.S.
Blackberry Facts and Tips
- Black
Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
- The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
- 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
-
Select plump, firm, fully black berries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
- Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
-
Oregon
Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
- Blackberry tea was said to be a cure
for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were
declared
to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying"
to forgage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
- Blackberries were enjoyed by
the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth
and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
- The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended
by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order
to "maketh the hair black".
- Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain
antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals. A study at
the University of Ohio has found that black berries are the most potent
cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
- U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the
pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
- Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase
as Blackberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a
couple of days in the refrigerator.
- You can easily freeze berries that you can not use right away - just
wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much
air as possible. Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of
this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
- Want to go to a blackberry festival?
See this page for a list!
Before you leave to go to the farm:
-
Always call before you go to the farm - And when they are
in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL
first!
-
 Leave
early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
-
Most growers furnish picking containers designed
for Blackberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring
containers.
If you use your own containers, remember that heaping
Blackberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries.
Plastic
dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good
containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right. -
 Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can
work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the
sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring
along if it has been rainy.
Tips on How to Pick Blackberries
-
There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless!
Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the
thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into
the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry
you're after, avoiding the thorns.
- A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free
from the plant with only a slight tug. If the berry is red or purple,
it's not ripe yet.
- Repeat these operations using both hands until
each holds 3 or 4 berries.Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the
bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
- Don't overfill your containers or try to pack
the berries down.
General Picking Tips
Whether you pick
Blackberries from your garden or at
a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to
grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the
plant and you'll find loads of berries that other people missed!
- Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight any
longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or
shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible
after picking. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to
a week, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few
days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor
and tends to shrivel.
When you get home
-
 DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them
or freeze them. Washing
makes them more prone to spoiling.
- Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting
berries
- Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash off the others,
drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make
jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or
strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking.
Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze
the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
- Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week
in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as
possible after purchase
- Now, get ready to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially
with our free Blackberry jam
directions - very easy!
- See this page to make
Blackberry jelly
- And if you want to freeze them to use later, see my
How to freeze
berries page.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About Blackberries
- How to freeze blackberries?
Just rinse them in cold
water. I use a large bowl filled with water, pour the berries in, and
gently stir them with my fingers to dislodge any dirt or bugs. Then
using my fingers like a sieve, I scoop the blackberries out of the water,
and put them in a drainer to let the water drain off. Then I just pour the
berries into a ziploc bags or vacuum sealer bags and pop them in the
freezer. After they are frozen, I remove as much air from the bag as
possible and seal the bags.
- Soaking in Salt Water? Sinkers or Floaters?
I planted 7 Blackberry bushes 2 years ago and am now in the midst of a lot
of ripening berries. Therefor...I'm making jam (along with pies and
cobblers). A friend told me that before I eat or cook with them, I should
soak the freshly picked berries in the sink full of slightly warm water and
a full Tablespoon of salt to remove any parasites (small worms). Have you
ever heard of this? Do you know of specific directions to insure all the
worms are removed? I've just been rinsing them and using them for the past
couple of days. Also, the same friend said that if the berries floated in
the water they were "good", but that if they sank to the bottom of the
sink I should throw them out. What are your thoughts?
Answer: Well, soaking in
salt water sometimes (but now always) causes grubs to dislodge… BUT… in 30
years of growing blackberries in 12 states and 2 continents… I’ve never seen
a bug in a blackberry. But I have heard of folks who do
have a problem with pests.
If you see bugs in there, give it a try. But
until then, save yourself trouble and just wash them in a large bowl of cold
water!
Floaters v.
sinkers? Naaaahhhh! I’ve never heard that the density of the berry was a
consistent indicator of much other than weather conditions.
- I have picked my blackberries and have seen little worms. Not sure if
these are fruit flys that have laid eggs in them - or if they are grubs. I
picked some out than froze the berries. I have heard that cold will kill
them or drawn them out. If I make jam the cooked way (not freezer jam) and
some of the grubs/worms are left will it hurt people? I would like to
believe I got them all but fear I did not.
Answer: That sounds like some type of fruitworm, the grub or larval form
of a beetle. Typically, they are about ¼-inch long. Soaking for an hour or
more in salt water (1 cup of slat to the gallon), may help draw them out.
Cold would
probably kill them, but leave them inside the fruit. I don't
imagine they would be harmful if cooked into jam... but I doubt anyone would
ask for seconds if they found one. Eeeewwwwww!
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