Pick blueberry when the fruit is fully blue, with no red at the stem, and it rolls off the cluster. Wait a few days after the berry first turns blue — it does not sweeten after you pick it.
Wait until the berry is fully blue
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Uniform blue with a dusty bloom and no red at the stem | Do not pick fruit that is still pink or red at the end |
| Wait | Leave newly blue fruit on the bush a few more days so it can sweeten | Do not pick the day the berry first turns blue |
| Detach | Ripe fruit rolls off with almost no pull | Do not tug a berry that stays on the stem |
| Store | Refrigerate the same day, unwashed, in a shallow container | Do not leave a deep bucket of fruit in a hot kitchen |
Berries turn blue before they are sweet. Wait about three to six days after that first blue color. [1] A Duke crop starts earlier than Bluecrop. Fruit on one bush does not all turn at once, so plan more than one pick. Red-tinged berries may turn blue in a bowl, but they stay tart. [2]
Do blueberries ripen after I pick them?
No. They do not get sweeter off the bush. Leave them on until they are fully blue and come off easily.
How to harvest blueberry
Wait for fully blue fruit. Pick when the cluster is dry. Cool what you pick the same day.
- Pick in the morning after the dew has dried. Roll ripe berries from the cluster into your palm. Leave fruit that still tugs. [3]
- Work highbush about every five to seven days. Leave rabbiteye a little longer between picks so flavor can finish on the bush. [4]
- Use a shallow bowl so the fruit does not crush. Sort out damaged berries. Refrigerate the rest the same day. Wash just before you eat them. Fresh fruit keeps about a week in the fridge.
When are blueberries ripe?
When they are uniformly blue, taste sweet, and roll off the stem. Color alone is not enough.
Net the birds before the crop is sweet
Net as soon as the first berries color, not after the crop is already sweet. Drape cloth or plastic netting over the bush, or over a simple frame, and pin the edges so birds cannot walk in from below. A small planting can lose the crop in a day once fruit is sweet.
If a berry still tugs, leave it — it is not sweet yet.
FAQ
Can I freeze blueberries?
Yes. Freeze them dry, in a single layer, then bag them. Wash just before you use them.
Why is my fruit still tart?
It was picked too soon. Wait until the berry is fully blue and comes off easily, then taste one before you strip the cluster.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] University of Maryland Extension -
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-blueberries-home-garden - [2] Iowa State University Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/when-proper-time-harvest-blueberries - [3] University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension -
https://carter.ca.uky.edu/sites/carter.ca.uky.edu/files/Harvesting%20Blueberries%20and%20Blackberries%20for%20Full%20Flavor.pdf - [4] NC State Extension -
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/growing-blueberries-in-the-home-garden
This note is part of Vaccinium Guides.
More harvest timing notes by plant live in Harvesting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors