When Are Huckleberries Ready to Pick?

Time Frame

• Harvest your huckleberries about two weeks after the fruit turns black, the University of Minnesota Extension reports. Signs the berries are ready for picking include skin that has turned dull and soft flesh.

Warning

• Do not eat raw and unripe huckleberries. The fruit is toxic until ripe, the University of Minnesota warns. Raw huckleberries can be eaten if ripe, but the taste is very bitter. For that reason, the berries are only considered edible if they are ripe and cooked.

Storage

• Huckleberries have a long shelf life and can last weeks or even months if stored properly. For best results, store bunches of the berries in plastic containers or plastic wrap and store them at near-freezing temperatures, the University of California, Davis recommends.