The peak of the salmonberry picking season has come and gone, but Master Gardener Ed Buyarski says there are plenty of cherries, raspberries, strawberries, nagoonberries, red huckleberries and blueberries to pick right now.
Buyaraski cautions not to let berries overripen and turn moldy on the plant, while moderate rainfall can force cherries to expand, split and quickly rot. (For more on exploders, check out this Gardentalk segment from last year.)
Here’s a tip for those who want to savor fresh berries over a few days and who may not have enough berries to fill a big freezer bag: Line a small pan or cookie sheet with plastic wrap, place berries on the pan and then place in the freezer. After a short freeze, put the berries in a jar and place in the fridge. You’ll have whole fresh-tasting, undamaged and unsmooshed berries to put on your cereal or ice cream later this week.
In this week’s segment of Gardentalk, Buyarski also discusses removing cherry pits, taste-testing blueberries for ripeness, and weeding and fertilizing berry plants.
Listen to the July 14 edition of Gardentalk that aired on KTOO’s Morning Edition:
