Picking Raspberries at My Farm

July 1, 2017

Here at my farm, it's time to start harvesting those small, fragrant, and refreshingly sweet raspberries - one of the most popular berries in the United States.

I grow red, black and golden raspberries, and the right time for picking is early summer when the fruits are vivid in color, and ready to fall off their stems. Although they are best eaten raw, raspberries are used in a variety of ways - as ingredients in jams and jellies, pies and tarts, or juices and herbal teas. This week, my housekeepers, Laura and Sanu, picked a nice batch of raspberries - I am looking forward to sharing them with my daughter and grandchildren.

What are you making with your berries? Let me know in the comments section below. And, please have a very safe and joyful Independence Day weekend.

: The best time to pick berries is early morning or evening, when the fruits are not too warm.

: If you recall, back in April, the raspberry patch, located on one side of my main greenhouse, was still quite bare. Pruning berry bushes when they’re dormant is crucial. Pruning produces more and larger berries. It also helps to control diseases in the patch.

: And now the bushes are lush and full of delicious berries.

: I have several rows of raspberries in this location. They all produce so many fruits every summer.

: Most raspberry plants that grow taller and yield more fruit need to be properly supported on wire trellises. I use these granite posts at the ends of each row, and stretch strong gauge wire in between them.

: Here’s Laura picking some of the ripe berries. Summer-bearing raspberry bushes produce one crop each season. The fruits typically start ripening in late June into July with a crop that lasts about one month.

: Sanu is excited about this year’s crop. She’s dropping the picked berries into a berry box. It’s okay to fill the container, but she’s careful not to pack them in or press them down. All the picked fruits are kept in the shade until they go into the fridge.

: Botanically, the raspberry is a shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family, in the genus Rubus.

: There are more than 200-species of raspberries. In the United States, about 90-percent of all raspberries sold come from the states of Washington, California and Oregon.

: The raspberry is made up of small “drupe” fruits which are arranged in a circular fashion around a hollow central cavity. Each drupelet features a juicy pulp with a single seed.

: Raspberries need full sun for the best berry production. They should be planted in rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil that has been generously supplemented with compost and well rotted manure. I am very fortunate to have such excellent soil here at the farm.

: Once raspberries are picked, they stop ripening, so under-ripe berries that are harvested will never mature to the maximum sweetness. Only ripe raspberries will come right off the stem.

: The taste of raspberries varies by cultivar, and ranges from sweet to acidic. They are great for use in pies and tarts, and other desserts. They can also be used in cereals, ice-creams, juices and herbal teas.

: ‘Bristol’ black raspberries are delicious. This all-purpose fruit is firm, sweet and full of flavor. It tastes great eaten fresh off the stem or made into preserves.

: One plant can produce several hundred berries per season.

: The berries will ripen gradually throughout the summer, so it’s important to check the crop every few days. Overripe berries will be mushy when harvested.

: Ripe raspberries are rich in color, whether they are red, golden or black. The entire berry should be consistently colored also, and full in shape before picking.

: This black raspberry plant is a high producing early variety whose upright growth makes it easy for picking.

: Raspberries are low in calories and fats, but very high in dietary fiber and antioxidants.

: Raspberries contain vitamins A and E, and are also rich in minerals, such as potassium, manganese, copper, iron and magnesium.

: Fresh raspberries are an excellent source of vitamin-C. 100-grams of berries provides nearly 50-percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin-C. Consuming adequate amounts supports the immune system and helps fight infections.

: Look for berries with firm plumpness. Some of our red raspberries are also ready to pick.

: It takes about two to three years for a new red raspberry plant to produce a significant crop of fruit.

: Red raspberries must be picked and handled very carefully, and checked for insects and rot. This berry is perfect.

: Raspberries are unique because their roots and crowns are perennial, while their stems or canes are biennial. A raspberry bush can produce fruit for many years.

: It’s hard to resist eating them right after picking but I can’t wait to use these berries to make jams and desserts.

: My golden raspberries are not yet ready for picking, but when they are, there will be an abundance of golden fruit.

: Look how many boxes of raspberries – not a bad first harvest, just in time for the holiday weekend. My grandchildren love berries!

: To save berries for use at another time, freeze them – lay them out onto flat trays in single layers and freeze until solid. Once they are frozen, they can be moved into plastic containers or freezer bags until ready to eat.