How to Pick Dewberries
Determine when the berries will begin bearing in your region ., Find a location where you can pick ., Watch for signs of ripening berries ., Dress yourself appropriately for an outdoor experience ., Find a suitable picking container for your...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Determine when the berries will begin bearing in your region .
Normally, dewberries begin to ripen about 6 weeks after the last freezing temperatures in an area, and continue to bear several weeks, unless drought or extreme heat causes them to become dormant. -
Step 2: Find a location where you can pick .
Make sure you are on public property, or have permission to enter private property to forage for your berries.
Highway and railroad rights-of-way, forestry fire lanes, and country roads are good places to look.
Be aware that some highway departments spray herbicides on the right-of-way, so you may have to do a little research to make sure the berries you find are safe to eat. , You will notice dark green clumps of bushy vines with reddish purple stems in open areas with full sun and good drainage.
Soon after the last frost, these clumps will be covered with bright white, five-petaled blooms, and soon after, the berries will appear.
Watch as they progress from green, to red, then deep purple or glossy black, at which point they are ready to pick. , The dewberry vines are covered with sharp stickers, so long pants and sturdy boots are recommended.
Long sleeves are a very good idea.
Dab on some mosquito repellent if you are sensitive to insect bites, and apply some sunscreen or wear a wide brimmed hat to protect your skin. , Plastic grocery bags, small pails like one gallon ice cream buckets, or plastic mixing bowls will work for this step.
Handles will make carrying these containers easier if they have them.
A one or two quart bucket with a handle fastened onto your belt will free both hands for picking, or a hand for picking and one to hold your stick. ,, Ideally, you will pick in a place where there is minimal dust from traffic or other sources, since the berry's tiny lobes make cleaning dust from them difficult. , Look for traffic dangers also, if you are picking along a roadway. , Look for bug sting marks where stinkbugs or other pests have already dined on your fruit.
The ideal berries will be glossy black, with a firm feel, and little red appearing on any of the lobes. , Dewberry vines have tiny, razor-sharp thorns that can easily prick an unsuspecting picker painfully. , Pull the berry at an angle from the stem, breaking it away rather than tugging it.
This will leave the bud on the vine stems, rather than the berry, saving time later when you are cleaning them. ,, These berries have very tender skins, and abusing them will make it impossible to clean them thoroughly for eating later. , Stir them gently with your hand to dislodge any dirt or debris that was collected with them. , -
Step 3: Watch for signs of ripening berries .
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Step 4: Dress yourself appropriately for an outdoor experience .
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Step 5: Find a suitable picking container for your effort.
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Step 6: Take along a walking stick or some other implement to probe the thick briar vines for snakes or other hazards if you are going to pick in an area of thick growth where you cannot see the area where you are walking clearly.
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Step 7: Locate an area to pick where there are clean areas to stand
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Step 8: to avoid an unexpected confrontation with snakes or fire ants
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Step 9: or other unwelcome creatures.
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Step 10: Examine the area around the dewberry vines for hazards
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Step 11: which may include wasp nests
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Step 12: poison oak or ivy
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Step 13: fire ants
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Step 14: or even venomous snakes.
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Step 15: Learn to distinguish the prime berries
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Step 16: those that are completely ripe
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Step 17: but haven't begun to wilt.
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Step 18: Pick the berries along the perimeter of the patch of vines you are searching
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Step 19: choosing the ones on vertical stems that can be reached without placing your hands too far into the tangle.
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Step 20: Grasp individual berries carefully to keep from crushing or bruising them.
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Step 21: Pull the berry into the cup of the palm of your hand
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Step 22: so you can use your thumb and fingers to continue picking until your palm is full
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Step 23: rather than taking individual berries to the bucket every time you pick one.
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Step 24: Drop the berries into your container carefully
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Step 25: keeping them from being crushed or bruised.
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Step 26: Wash your berries when you get them home by placing them in a large bowl
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Step 27: and slowly filling the bowl with water until the berries have sufficient water and room to float freely.
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Step 28: Enjoy your berries in a fresh pie
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Step 29: cobbler
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Step 30: or covered with fresh cream and sugar.
Detailed Guide
Normally, dewberries begin to ripen about 6 weeks after the last freezing temperatures in an area, and continue to bear several weeks, unless drought or extreme heat causes them to become dormant.
Make sure you are on public property, or have permission to enter private property to forage for your berries.
Highway and railroad rights-of-way, forestry fire lanes, and country roads are good places to look.
Be aware that some highway departments spray herbicides on the right-of-way, so you may have to do a little research to make sure the berries you find are safe to eat. , You will notice dark green clumps of bushy vines with reddish purple stems in open areas with full sun and good drainage.
Soon after the last frost, these clumps will be covered with bright white, five-petaled blooms, and soon after, the berries will appear.
Watch as they progress from green, to red, then deep purple or glossy black, at which point they are ready to pick. , The dewberry vines are covered with sharp stickers, so long pants and sturdy boots are recommended.
Long sleeves are a very good idea.
Dab on some mosquito repellent if you are sensitive to insect bites, and apply some sunscreen or wear a wide brimmed hat to protect your skin. , Plastic grocery bags, small pails like one gallon ice cream buckets, or plastic mixing bowls will work for this step.
Handles will make carrying these containers easier if they have them.
A one or two quart bucket with a handle fastened onto your belt will free both hands for picking, or a hand for picking and one to hold your stick. ,, Ideally, you will pick in a place where there is minimal dust from traffic or other sources, since the berry's tiny lobes make cleaning dust from them difficult. , Look for traffic dangers also, if you are picking along a roadway. , Look for bug sting marks where stinkbugs or other pests have already dined on your fruit.
The ideal berries will be glossy black, with a firm feel, and little red appearing on any of the lobes. , Dewberry vines have tiny, razor-sharp thorns that can easily prick an unsuspecting picker painfully. , Pull the berry at an angle from the stem, breaking it away rather than tugging it.
This will leave the bud on the vine stems, rather than the berry, saving time later when you are cleaning them. ,, These berries have very tender skins, and abusing them will make it impossible to clean them thoroughly for eating later. , Stir them gently with your hand to dislodge any dirt or debris that was collected with them. ,
About the Author
Tyler Bishop
Specializes in breaking down complex practical skills topics into simple steps.
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