Complete guide to blackberry season

According to ancient folklore, blackberries picked after Michaelmas Day (29th September) are cursed and have been, amongst other things, spat on by witches and/or Lucifer depending on which tale you read. Whilst the precise nature of the curse is open to interpretation, this date does roughly mark the point at which wild blackberries turn soft and mushy and are best left to the birds, so get out bramble picking before then!

Can you eat wild blackberries?

Yes, wild blackberries are perfectly safe to eat, provided you follow the guidelines set out below.

How to identify wild blackberries

Blackberries are relatively easy to recognise making them a great crop for beginner foragers. They have arching, thorny brambles that can reach up to 3 metres high, pale pink and white flowers that look like tiny wild roses (they are part of the same family) and clusters of juicy, dark berries. The leaves are dark green, serrated and oval and tend to cluster in groups of 3 or 5 around a short stem. However, always be sure you're harvesting from a blackberry bush and not other common hedgerow berries which may be poisonous. If in doubt, consult a local foraging guide or expert.

How to pick blackberries

While you can buy large, juicy blackberries from the shops, there's nothing like getting sticky, juice-stained fingers and picking wild blackberries yourself from the hedgerows. Follow these tips for a fruitful harvesting experience:

1. Where to find wild blackberries

• Blackberry brambles are very common and grow wild across Britain. They love to ramble undisturbed in the sunshine over tall structures
• They can be found growing up trees and bushes in hedgerows, forests and the edges of woodlands
• But they also grow in more urban spaces like the edges of playing fields, park hedges or along canal sides

2. How to choose the right location

• Avoid blackberries growing near busy roads as the pollution may contaminate the berries
• Only pick berries above dog height – no one wants blackberries that have been used as a toilet
• Blackberries thrive in sunny spots. Look for brambles in open fields or near the edges of forests that face south or have a good amount of sunlight

3. When to pick blackberries

• When is blackberry season in the UK? The season can begin as early as July if the weather is warm and sunny and can run until October if it remains dry but not so dry that the berries shrivel
• How to spot a ripe blackberry: the berries transition from firm and red to plump, deep purple or black when they’re ready to be picked. Blackberries don’t ripen after picking so look for berries that are uniformly black, glossy, and slightly soft when gently squeezed. Avoid any that are red or pale purple, as they’ll be too tart. Ripe berries will pull away from the bramble easily. If you have to tug, it's not ready yet
• The best time to pick blackberries: on a sunny morning as this ensures cooler temperatures and fresher, juicer and sweeter berries, but without them being parched by the midday sun

4. Dress appropriately

• Wear long sleeves and trousers: blackberry bushes are notorious for their thorns, which can cause nasty scratches. Sturdy clothing protects you from prickles, potential insect bites and nettle rash
• Sturdy shoes: since blackberries often grow in uneven terrain, wear walking shoes with good grip
• Gloves: thin gardening gloves will protect your fingers from thorns and nettles and prevent them staining

5. Harvesting technique

• Pick with hands only: do not cut brambles as this can harm wildlife habitat and may cause disease or damage the plant
• Pull gently: ripe blackberries should come off the stem with minimal effort
• Handle with care: blackberries are delicate and bruise easily
• What to carry blackberries in: use a wide, shallow container to prevent berries at the bottom from being crushed whilst you forage. Something with a handle is especially convenient for carrying through fields

6. Storing them at home

• Check for stowaways: leave blackberries spread out on kitchen paper in the garden for an hour so any bugs can crawl away
• Should you wash blackberries? Submerging gently in cold water is best. Soaking the delicate berries or agitating them in water will bruise or burst them
• Use immediately: wild blackberries are best eaten the day they are picked. Stew them with a little sugar and freeze until needed or make one of the recipes suggested below

Responsible foraging

Foraging is a fantastic way to connect with nature, but it comes with responsibilities to ensure the sustainability of wild spaces and respect for other foragers:

1. Ask permission

• Some regions have specific rules about foraging on public or private lands. Always check if you need a permit or permission to forage, especially in parks or nature reserves
• Always ask permission of the landowner before foraging, even if it's just a bramble on someone's garden wall

2. Leave no trace

• Avoid trampling plants or disturbing surrounding vegetation
• Take any rubbish with you, and avoid using plastic bags that can blow away in the wind
• Don't pull brambles out of trees or damage the plant in any way

3. Harvest mindfully

• Only take what you’ll use and leave enough berries for wildlife and other foragers
• To prevent over-harvesting, don’t pick from the same patch too frequently
• Hedgerows are a food source and habitat for many creatures, so take care not to disturb nests or step on burrows

Ways to cook with blackberries

Wild blackberries often have a more robust, tangy flavour than cultivated varieties, making them a favourite for jams, pies, and syrups. Shop bought are good for cakes or just eating with yogurt for breakfast.

• Crumbles – the most traditional way to serve blackberries. This easy apple and blackberry crumble recipe from our friends at Good Food is a favourite because the crumble is baked separately making for an extra crunchy topping
• Jam – blackberries are rarely sickly sweet so they are perfect to balance a bramble or hedgerow jam. Or put them centre stage as here in this blackberry jam from the Good Food team
• With venison – blackberries pair brilliantly with venison. Try pickling them in pickling liquor made from equal amounts of cider vinegar and honey for 10 minutes then serving with rare venison steak, or make this tart and glossy blackberry sauce from the Good Food team
• Salad – a few tart blackberries will enliven a wintery salad of chicken and bitter leaves
• Cakes – little bursts of juicy blackberries take easy bakes to the next level. The Good Food team suggest this super simple blackberry and apple loaf, blackberry and hazelnut flapjack with extra jammyness, or this showstopping blackberry and orange cake which is ideal for autumn birthdays