When can you pick blackberries and raspberries?
Short version: summer raspberries ripen in early to mid summer, fall-bearing raspberries from late August into October, and blackberries in mid to late summer. A ripe raspberry slips off its core easily; a ripe blackberry is fully black, slightly dull and soft.
When is raspberry season?
MSU Extension lists summer raspberries in July and fall-bearing types from late August to October in Michigan. Southern areas are earlier.
When is blackberry season?
Later than raspberries. MSU Extension puts Michigan blackberries in August to mid September; the South starts in early summer.
How do you tell when they are ripe?
Raspberries are fully colored and come off the core with a light tug. Blackberries turn from shiny to a little dull when fully ripe; shiny black ones are often still tart. Pick into shallow containers, since these berries crush easily.
How long do they keep?
Only a couple of days in the fridge. Iowa State Extension advises cooling quickly. Freeze extras on a tray.
Where can you pick them?
These farms mention blackberries or raspberries in their listing.
- Saginaw Valley Sod Berry Farm, Saginaw, MI
- Honey Rock Landing, Delta, CO
- Allison Family Farm LLC, Crescent City, FL
- Amber Oaks Raspberries, Auburn, CA
- Blackberries of Houston, Cypress, TX
- Blackberry Creek Mini Farm, Augusta, GA
- Blackberry Hill Farm, Middleburg, FL
- Blackberry Lane Gardens, Crane, MO
- Endicott Farms, LLC (Blueberies & Blackberries), Liberty-mounds, OK
- Ergle Farm, Dade City, FL
- Grassy Mountain Blackberries, Chatsworth, GA
- Harmony Hill U-Pick Raspberries and Lavender, Yakima, WA
More on the berry hub. Long sleeves and gloves help with thorny canes.
Quick questions
When are blackberries ripe?
When fully black, slightly dull and soft, usually mid to late summer.
Do raspberries have a fall crop?
Fall-bearing raspberries ripen from late August into October in northern states.
Sources
- Iowa State Extension: harvesting and storing small fruit
- University of Minnesota Extension: growing raspberries
General guidance, not advice for a specific farm. Farm rules, prices and dates vary, so check with the farm.