Top tips for picking blackberries
When to pick blackberries?
August, September and early October are the best months to pick these juicy fruits from hedgerows.
Here are our top tips for foraging delicious blackberries:
- Look high and low - When you find a likely-looking spot covered in berries, try not to clear the area completely. Leave some for the animals and allow the plants to re-seed. Avoiding bushes by busy roads and any fruit that is low enough to be ‘watered’ by passing dogs.
- Try not to eat them until they're washed - This is a tricky tip to follow as they're very tempting to snack on as you forage.
- Take care - Wear long sleeves and trousers and take care when moving through hedgerows; you might get caught in the bushes or meet a few stinging nettles!
- Pick firm, plump-looking berries - The squashed ones will spoil quicker.
- Eat or freeze your berries within 24 hours - And don't wash them until you're ready to freeze or eat them, otherwise, they'll spoil.
Tips & Tricks from National Trust.