Berry Bliss

Delicious fresh blueberries are a summertime treat and are packed with vitamin C, potassium and fiber. We feel that the blueberry crop this year has been great due to the heat and drought, so now is the time to start picking and ENJOYING this fab fruit!!

The general rule when it comes to picking blueberries is "the bigger, the sweeter". A ready-to-pick berry is round, blue with a smooth skin (not cracked). We suggest not picking berries that are white as they have not ripened yet and blueberries will not sweeten any further after picking. Watch out for those berries that are small and hard, as they can be very sour.

To pick a blueberry, simply attempt to roll it off of the stem. Then, either put the berry in a bucket or eat it. If it doesn't come off with a very light touch then it is probably not ripe yet, even if the color is right. If you find a "clump" of good berries on one stem, try cupping your hand around them, and rubbing them gently to loosen the berries and make them fall off. This is a good way to pick more than one at a time, because most of the bad berries will stay on the stem, since they don't come off as easily. Enjoy your bountiful berries this season!

{ Happy Gardening! Posted by McDonald Garden Center, July 27, 2010 }