When do blackberries ripen?

Blackberry is a subshrub of the Pink family in the Rubus genus with tasty and juicy fruits. The fruits resemble raspberries, but differ in taste. Many gardeners who decide to grow a blackberry on the site are interested in the question of when it ripens and how to determine it. It is worth understanding this in more detail.

It is not difficult to determine the ripening of berries. Typical signs:

• black and gray bloom on the surface of the fruit;
• soft consistency;
• a small fossa in the center near the drupe.

Recommendations for growing garden blackberries to increase the yield of the bush.

1. When planting a plant in a shaded area, the shoots will stretch and bend. Therefore, it is worth choosing places for planting where the sun's rays fall, and also protecting the bushes from the wind. Otherwise, the branches will break under strong gusts.
2. It is better to plant a crop in early spring, when severe cold weather ends, placing the rhizomes in pre-prepared holes. The diameter of the pits should not be less than 15 cm, the depth - up to 10 cm.
3. Before planting, it is advisable to cover the bottom of the holes with humus or compost. Also, gardeners are advised to use potassium and superphosphate as additional feeding.
4. When the seedlings are placed in the ground, it is necessary to make arcuate depressions around the bush. This will facilitate the flow of moisture to the roots and prevent them from rotting from excessive amounts of liquid.
5. In order for the berries to be large, you need to cut off the branches of the bush when they reach a length of 1-2 m.

Ripening time depends on the type of blackberry. All types of blackberries can be divided into two main groups.

• Forest. Fruit picking usually begins in August. The bush bears fruit on average until October. First of all, the berries ripen on bushes that grow in open areas and are closer to the south side. By the end of the season, fruits appear on shrubs located in shaded and northern forest areas. The largest blackberries can be found in copses. When picking berries in dense mixed forests, keep in mind that the fruits of the blackberry will be small.

• Garden. The forest ripens earlier. In addition, gardening is subdivided into different varieties, among which there are early, mid-season and late ones. The first fruits appear closer to mid-July.

In the Leningrad Region and the Moscow Region, berries will grow in different ways. This is explained by the location of the regions, which have their own climatic characteristics.

This is due to the influx of a large amount of sunlight and the presence of open areas. There are hybrid varieties that bear fruit twice during the season.

When the berries are ripe, you can start harvesting.

1. It is better to go to the forest for ripe blackberries in warm and dry weather. The same applies to the collection of fruits in the garden. When it rains, blackberries absorb moisture abundantly, which makes them watery.
2. The ideal time to pick berries is after sunrise.
3. If you plan to go to the forest for a sweet treat, then it is better to give preference to the bushes that are far from the road.
4. You need to pick the berries so as not to damage the stalk. This will prolong the storage of the fruit.
5. The collected blackberries must be hidden from direct sunlight, otherwise they will quickly deteriorate.
6. To prevent the berries from crushing, you do not need to shake the container.

Blackberries are a popular treat. The bushes bear fruit from mid-July to the end of October, depending on the variety, the place where the culture grows. Ripe berries are distinguished by their rich black color and bluish sheen.