Blueberry Picking

[GalaxyBoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bentley It's easy to pick berries that "appear" ripe, but in good light they are still red around the stem. These berries will not be sweet and will even be bitter.

+1

It can be hard to avoid this, however. I found the best way was to gently run my hands along the end of a branch with berries and only take the ones that easily fell off into the container. You'll still get some that aren't ripe enough. I used to taste berries of different levels of ripeness in order to get a feel for what's really ripe and what's not.

[Semiretired2008]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GalaxyBoy +1 It can be hard to avoid this, however. I found the best way was to gently run my hands along the end of a branch with berries and only take the ones that easily fell off into the container. You'll still get some that aren't ripe enough. I used to taste berries of different levels of ripeness in order to get a feel for what's really ripe and what's not.

Yep, that is about the best method. You will get predominately ripe berries that way. If the skin is to soft then they are over ripe and either should be avoided or consumed immediately (your preference)... In our area it can cost $7 - $9 for a gallon. The place we go you get 5 quarts if you fill it to the rim for $7... Much cheaper than the stores.

[SJ1_]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangomonster Was all set to do this tomorrow at a local you-pick-it farm---was even going to miss the gym, which is huge for me. Someone discouraged me, saying it takes hours to pick all the berries and that they can be hard to reach since the most accessible ones have already been picked. She also talked about all the insects biting. I of course was prepared for the sun/heat. So now I'm thinking about not going. Is this one of those things that sound romantic and fun, but isn't in actuality?

We have been picking them at my mother in laws.
I think it is worth it. We freeze them and we usually have enough
to last us until next season.

[JustMeUC]

I planted 2 pecan trees, 2 cherry trees, blueberry bushes and various grape vines at my grandmothers house some 20 odd years ago. One of my smartest ideas ever!!!

[Semiretired2008]

Just finished some fresh Blueberry Tarts that my wife made up this afternoon...

[anethum]

I'm surprised that the posters who have their own blueberry bushes haven't reported any problems with birds eating their berries. When I was growing up we had a few blueberry bushes, but unless we covered the bushes with cheesecloth, the birds ate the entire crop. Even now at my own place, I have to cover my tomato plants with nylon netting (much better than old-style cheesecloth) or birds & squirrels will eat the majority of my crop. I don't have any blueberry bushes now, but I have some gooseberries, raspberries, & fig trees. Birds and squirrels eat mass quantities of the figs. I deliberately selected gooseberry varieties which aren't red when they're ripe, because red is a signal to birds that they're edible. Raspberries are the one berry which usually isn't eaten by birds here. I think it may be because raspberries are at the end of the prickly canes and there isn't anything to perch on, and squirrels can't climb up, either.

[powerplay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by anethum I'm surprised that the posters who have their own blueberry bushes haven't reported any problems with birds eating their berries. When I was growing up we had a few blueberry bushes, but unless we covered the bushes with cheesecloth, the birds ate the entire crop. Even now at my own place, I have to cover my tomato plants with nylon netting (much better than old-style cheesecloth) or birds & squirrels will eat the majority of my crop. I don't have any blueberry bushes now, but I have some gooseberries, raspberries, & fig trees. Birds and squirrels eat mass quantities of the figs. I deliberately selected gooseberry varieties which aren't red when they're ripe, because red is a signal to birds that they're edible. Raspberries are the one berry which usually isn't eaten by birds here. I think it may be because raspberries are at the end of the prickly canes and there isn't anything to perch on, and squirrels can't climb up, either.

I have birdblock netting over one of my blueberry plants right now as the berries are getting close to ripe. My pink blueberries haven't been as attractive to the birds, but maybe they haven't figured it out yet.