• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Dirt and Dough
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Sourdough
  • Homegrown
  • How To
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Sourdough
    • Homegrown
    • How To
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Homegrown

    4 Ways to Tell Blueberries Are Ripe and How to Harvest

    March 25, 2022 by Kristin @ Dirt & Dough 2 Comments

    A bundle of blueberries with blue, green and pink berries.
    A bundle of blueberries with blue, green and pink berries.

    There are 4 good ways to tell if your blueberries are ripe and ready for picking. Nothing says summer like fresh blueberries. Whether they are grown right in your own backyard or on blueberry farms. But how do you determine the harvest season and when is the best time to pick.

    Blueberry plant with lots of berries that are green pink and blue.

    Blueberry bushes are one of the easiest things to add to any home garden and the best way to make sure you have fresh blueberries all summer long. Plus they taste way better than any berries you could buy in the grocery stores.

    The plants themselves have beautiful leaves in the spring-fall months and cute flowers during the spring. Here is a look at what blueberry plants look like all year.

    They attract pollinators and are a great addition to landscaping. Let's not forget the best part is all the blueberry fruits.

    Few things to remember when growing blueberries:

    • They may not produce fruit in the first year.
    • They love full sun and do best in a spot that gets 6 plus hours.
    • Need at least 2 different varieties for proper pollination
    • They like to grow in more acidic soil with an acid level of pH 4.0-5.0. Coffee grounds can act as a good fertilizer.
    • They need well-draining soil.
    • Regular pruning will keep them healthy and strong for years to come.
    • They are one of the easiest fruit to grow.
    • Always plant with peat moss.

    Blueberries are very simple to grow. Get all the information you need to know about growing and caring for blueberries.

    Blueberry Season

    A bee pollinating blueberry flowers.

    The blueberry season begins in early summer and can last until late summer. If the right blueberry plants are selected it is possible to have fresh berries all summer long. Be sure to plant multiple blueberry varieties that produce fresh fruit at different times of the summer. The different varieties could be early, early-mid, mid, early-late, and late summer.

    About late June the berries will go through their color change process and that's when I know fresh-picked blueberries are on their way.

    During the ripening process blueberries will go change from light green to pink, to light blue to finally to a dark blue color. Unripe berries will have a more tart taste and are not quite as soft. To get juicy blueberries waiting for that perfect time to pick is crucial.

    How to Know When Blueberries are Ripe

    Blueberry plants have been planted and are thriving and beginning to turn beautiful shades of blue. But when is the right time to pick blueberries? How do you tell when they are ripe enough? There are four easy ways that you can be sure your blueberries are ready for picking and enjoying.

    Gardening Zone

    Blueberry picking season has a lot to do with what gardening zone you are located in. Different climates will have berries ready and different times. Reference the United States USDA Hardiness map to determine gardening zone and blueberry season.

    Typically Blueberry season can start as early as late June and continue through late August and the berries are ready will depend on each climate.

    While this is a good way to know generally when they will be ready, there are so many other factors that can speed up or slow down the ripening process. Figuring out the gardening zone is a way to determine a general timeline. The next three ways will be surefire ways to tell your blueberries are ready.

    Color

    A cluster of blueberries ranging in color from dark blue to green.

    Blueberries are actually not quite ready when they turn blue! While it is so tempting to pick once they "look" ripe. You need to give it a few more days so they are at their prime. Unripe blueberries will still have a blue color so it can be tempting to pick them.

    When the berry develops they start out as a light pink or white color, then turn to a green and eventually into a lighter blue color. While it will be so tempting at this point, the berry will be a bit more tart in this stage. Waiting a few more days so they develop an even deeper blue is ideal.

    The berry should have no other color to them. Any berry that has a tint of pink or red is simply not ready.

    They Fall Right Off

    When blueberries are ripe they will be really easy to harvest and will just fall away from the stem.

    If the berry has to be pulled off the stem with some effort, that means they still need some time for more ripening.

    Ripe blueberries are really easy to harvest and will pop right off the stems. That is one of the best ways to know they are ready to go.

    Taste Test

    When all else fails one of the best ways to test if blueberries are ready to be picked is a simple taste test. Having berries with the best texture and flavor is ultimately what the goal is. So truly the only way to know is to taste test the different shades of blue.

    If the berries are too tart, wait a few more days. After a while, you will begin to tell what shade of berry suits your pallet the best.

    Some larger berries will be soft and a lot juicier but can also get mushier faster if waiting too long. So by simply tasting them, you can ensure you are getting the berries with the best flavor.

    Keeping a gardening journal is a great way to keep track of when the berries tend to be ready.

    How to Pick Blueberries

    One gallon buckets with plastic bag and tons of blueberries.

    Blueberry picking is very simple and can be a lot of fun. Once they are ready the best time of day to pick blueberries is in the early morning hours.

    When blueberry picking at farms in the summer we always get fun buckets with a bag liner and rope. This allows both hands to be free to gather all the berries. You can make one for yourself or I also like to use a colander at home so they can be rinsed and enjoyed right away.

    Once picked gently rinse them under cold water and remove any leaves or stems.

    There are two ways to can pick them:

    1. Do the tickle. Place a cluster of blueberries in your hand and simply tickle them with your fingers. The ripe berries will fall of the stem.
    2. Hold the branch with one hand and with the other gently pick the berries off of the stem and into your palm.

    Blueberries are best eaten right away but are also great for freezing. Add them to a cobbler, smoothie, or salad. Frozen berries are so great to always have on hand.

    Learn more about growing blueberries and how to care for them.

    Recipes for Blueberries

    • Blueberry Lemon Scones
    • Blueberry and Beet Smoothie
    • Raspberry Lemon Dutch Baby
    • How to Freeze Blueberries without Getting Mushy

    Other Gardening Resources.

    • How to Grow Blueberries
    • How to Start a Garden
    • How to Grow Raspberries
    • How to Grow Onions

    I would love to connect! Leave me a comment below sharing all your blueberry gardening wins or struggles. Let's learn together. Or connect with me on Instagram @dirt.dough.

    Sign up for my Newsletter and receive a FREE 2022 garden planner.

    « Easy Smoked Salmon Dip
    What is Sourdough Discard And How To Store and Use It »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Twishy

      September 10, 2022 at 12:18 pm

      My birds seem to snatch all the berries before I remember to pick them! Should I watch for them to ripen in late March?
      Also can I move one of my 3 blueberry bushes to my new house and what time of year should I transplant it? I will still have access to it cuz I own both houses! But when can I move it?
      [email protected]
      Twishy

      Reply
      • Kristin @ Dirt & Dough

        September 11, 2022 at 6:00 am

        Hi Twishy! Yes birds do love blueberries. You could try setting up reflective tape around your plants. That might at least deter them a little. It really depends on where you are located. Where I am we don't have any blueberries in March. Yes you can definitely move them! I have successfully moved 4 of my plants. The best time is right before the leaves start to form so early spring after the weather starts to improve. Once they start developing flowers and buds it's too late. I hope that is helpful!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hello and welcome to Dirt & Dough. This is where you will find homemade recipes, homegrown produce, and how to master sourdough bread. I love cooking with real, seasonal, fresh ingredients and am convinced everything is better when it's homemade.

    Learn more about me →

    Holiday Recipes

    • How to Smoke a Turkey on a Pellet Grill
    • How to Make Turkey Broth from Leftover Turkey
    • Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
    • Leftover Turkey Stroganoff
    • How to Make Traditional Norwegian Potato Lefse
    • Easy Overnight Sourdough Bread

    Popular Posts

    • Blackstone Fried Rice - Hibachi Style
    • Easy Overnight Sourdough Bread
    • Dutch Oven Potatoes
    • Easy Smoked Salmon Dip
    • Yum Yum Sauce
    • Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon
    • Healthy Mushroom and Veggie Soup without Cream
    • Sourdough Discard Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

    Subscribe to Receive Emails

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Dirt and Dough on the Foodie Pro

    14 shares