Will Blueberries Ripen if Picked Early?

Stages of Ripening

• Blueberries form from tiny clusters of white-green flowers. Immature blueberries go from green to red tinged to deep blue. Berries that have turned blue but retain a red cast are not ripe and taste bitter and acidic. They do not ripen once picked.

Determining Ripeness

• The best way to determine ripeness is by taste. Blueberries grow in size and become sweeter for up to 10 days after turning blue. Pick them when fully ripe for the best flavor. Individual berries in clusters ripen at different rates; pick the berries every few days to account for these variances.

Considerations

• When determining the best time to harvest blueberries, consider shelf life as well as taste. Berries allowed to ripen on the bush a few days after turning blue have the best taste, but they don't store well. Berries picked as soon as they turn blue are less sweet, but they store better. If you plan to use the berries within one or two days, let them ripen longer on the plant. For longer storage, pick berries earlier.

Harvesting and Storage

• To pick the berries, roll them gently between your thumb and forefinger. Handle the berries as little as possible, and don't allow them to sit in the sun, which hastens decay. Store the berries in perforated plastic bags or pint boxes in the refrigerator. For longer storage, wash and dry the berries and place them on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for five hours to allow the berries to become firm. Transfer the frozen berries to plastic freezer boxes or bags.