Canadian blueberries are ripening around this time. How can you tell that you may harvest?

Do you have Canadian blueberries in your garden? If do, you will certainly enjoy the rich harvest. Bushes are full of fruit right now and you should be picking berries at regular intervals. Harvesting Canadian blueberries is somewhat specific, so you should know how to do it properly. Before you begin you should know that Canadian blueberry harvest takes about a month because the berries ripen gradually.

You can harvest over 2 kg of blueberries from one bush

If you have a six-year-old bush, you can easily get up to 2 kg of berries, maybe more. These bushes are very generous, provided that you take good care of them. Do not bring a large bowl with the intention to pick all berries from one bush. It does not work like that.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Length of harvest depends on the variety

Yes that is true and here are some popular varieties.

Very early varieties

• Patriot,
• Earliblue,
• Bluetta,
• Blueray.

Early varieties

• Dixie,
• Bluecrop,
• Sierra,
• Elizabeth.

Late varieties

• Brigitta,
• Barkeley
• Chander,
• Herbert.

Careful picking

That is right. You should be very careful during picking and you should pick once a week. If you rush, you will pick unripe berries or break a twig or two.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

How can you tell ripe berries?

Well, you must be able to recognize the right deep purple colour. If berries are still reddish do not harvest! Unripe blueberries have rather sour taste and you do not want that. Picking ripe berries is easy because pedicels are not strong. A well ripen Canadian blueberry is deep black in the centre. Some ripe fruits may be slightly dry.

Watch for voracious birds

Blueberries are extremely tempting for birds. Use a net to cover bushes but attach it to a structure. Birds are able to pick berries through the net if it is too close to the bush.

Source: ireceptar.cz, vlastní zkušenosti autora

Preview photo: Radek Štěpán