Read ahead to know where to find blackberries, picking blackberries tips and tricks, how to prepare them, harvesting techniques, and proper storage.
Bring your whole family out on an adventure to pick blackberries together. You’ll love the time spent with family and the amazing, plump blackberries to eat and save for delicious blackberry recipes.
Picking Blackberries in the Ozarks
Our little family farm grows each year as we learn to become more and more self-sufficient. We use our land to the best of what it offers and raise our own food.
We have tried our hand at beekeeping to extract honey for its many uses and benefits. As for food, we raise turkeys, chickens, and quail for meat. We also farrow pigs on the farm and raise them as a meat source. Our lifestyle brought us to learn how to process our own meat as well. We now butcher our own pigs, process our own chicken, butcher quail, and invite the community over for an old-fashioned pig pit roast.
We love this beautiful life!
All of these endeavors give us a self-sufficient lifestyle that we get to share with our kids. We do these projects with our kids, like the DIY bee watering stations, to keep them involved. Our kids are learning hard work and invaluable life skills.
We also rely on nature to provide for us. We love our fishing trips, and we always look forward to our annual trip to Grandpa’s farm to pick the wild blackberries that grow there.
Our family spends the day together filling up tubs with blackberries and looking forward to our homemade blackberry cobblers and our famous blackberry jelly.
We are thankful for our farm and all the things we create and work for, but picking wild blackberries feels like a gift from the land. We are filled with gratitude!
Where to Find Blackberries
Blackberries pop up all over the place in the summer months. If you know what to look for, you can see wild blackberries growing along highways, at the edges of farmland and forestland, and along country hillsides. Wild blackberries grow on our grandpa’s farmland. When blackberry season rolls around, we head to Grandpa’s farm.
Wild blackberries grow on brambles that easily spread out as they produce new canes. Oftentimes, blackberry patches grow thick and can overtake other plants and creep into farmers’ crops. For this reason, some farmers consider this crop invasive and will spray to kill them off.
In early summer, blackberry plants produce beautiful white flowers. They display a jagged-edged leaf and thorny canes that droop back down to the ground.
When to Pick Blackberries
Timing is crucial when it comes to harvesting. The perfect moment for picking blackberries largely depends on your location and climate, but generally, they ripen from mid-summer to early autumn.
Peak time in our area hits before the heat of July and August. The heat shrinks the berries and they’re not as plump or juicy.
Keep a close watch on your local blackberry bushes as summer rolls around. Once the berries start turning from green to red to a deep, glossy black, it’s a sign that they are nearing their peak of ripeness.
They like moisture, so keep a keen eye out while the summer weather still produces some moisture. Follow these tips to determine when to pick blackberries:
- Color – Ripe blackberries display dark, glossy, and fully black flesh. Avoid plucking berries that are still red or purple, as they are not yet ripe.
- Texture – Gently squeeze a blackberry between your finger to assess its firmness. Ripe blackberries will be slightly soft but not mushy. They should easily detach from the stem with a light tug. Avoid plucking berries that are still firm and unyielding. Come back a few days later to pick the blackberries once they ripen fully.
- Taste – Taste a few berries to confirm their sweetness and flavor. If they taste pleasantly sweet with a hint of tartness, go ahead and pick them. Unripe berries will taste very tart.
Safety Tips for Picking Blackberries
Be prepared when you go blackberry picking. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:
- Dress for the Occasion – Depending on where you’re harvesting and how easily accessible the berries are, you may want to wear clothing that shields you from the brambles. Things like long-sleeved shirts, sturdy pants, and closed-toe shoes. You may want to wear a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
- Wear Gloves – Equip yourself with a pair of thick gardening gloves to guard against scratches and thorns. These brambles can be quite spiky.
- Wear Bug Spray – Mosquitoes, chiggars, ticks or other bugs may lurk around you as you pick berries. We recommend spraying bug repellent on your clothing and any exposed skin.
- Watch Your Step – Pay attention to where you walk, as blackberry bushes tend to grow in dense thickets. Look out for uneven ground, holes, or hidden obstacles. You don’t want to trip and fall.
- Respect Wild Critters – Remember, you’re not the only one with a fondness for blackberries. Be cautious of any critters that may have taken up residence in the bushes, such as spiders, insects, or even snakes. Give them their space and proceed with care.
How to Harvest Blackberries
Picking blackberries with the whole family is the best way to harvest berries. Once you spray the kids for mosquitos and put sunscreen on them, head out into the fields or woods to start picking berries together. Follow these tips for harvesting blackberries.
- Choose the Right Time of Day – Early morning or late afternoon is often the best time to pick blackberries. The berries are cooler and less likely to be dehydrated, ensuring optimal flavor.
- Bring a Container – Carry a sturdy container, such as a bucket or a wide-mouthed basket, to store your freshly picked blackberries. Avoid using plastic bags as they can crush the delicate berries.
- Handle with Care – Gently grasp the blackberry between your fingers and slightly twist it. The ripe ones should easily detach from the plant. Avoid squeezing or bruising the berries, and place them gently into the bucket.
- Select Only Ripe Berries – Pick only the ripest, fully black berries for the best flavor. Leave any unripe or overripe berries behind, allowing them time to mature or decompose naturally.
How to Store Blackberries
Our blackberries do not end up needing much storage. They go right into blackberry cobblers, blackberry jelly, blackberry ice cream, and other blackberry recipes since they tend to be highly perishable. But, if you find yourself with too many blackberries to use right away, here are some tips for storing them.
- Sort – Upon returning home, sort through your blackberries and discard any damaged or moldy berries. Removing these will prevent them from spoiling the rest.
- Wash – Rinse the berries gently under cold running water just before eating or using them. Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Refrigerate – Store blackberries in a shallow container lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Place the container in the refrigerator and use the fresh berries within a few days.
- Freeze – If you have an abundance of blackberries, freezing them is a great option. Lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be stored for up to a year.
We hope you embrace the spirit of family time in the countryside, head out to the blackberry patches, and indulge in nature’s sweet rewards.
Or, if staying close to home sounds better, subscribe to our newsletter for tips and tutorials on living the farm life, from gardening and beekeeping to breeding and raising animals. We love to share our farming journey with you!
