blackberry picking

2cats1kid

Only 5!!! I picked about 4.5lbs last week and got probably 50 or 60 maggots out. I use a slosh of vinegar in the water, rather than salt, but the principle is probably the same - make the environment uncomfortable for the little beggars to make them crawl out! I seriously wouldn't eat straight from the bush, and I pick all the berries over twice if I am making something that we'll eat the berry (rather than something like jelly or wine, where the pulp is strained off). However careful I am the first time around, I often find an extra little "friend" the second time around.

gailey_2

Oh dear, never comsidered maggots might get hubby to wash them!
Took my daughter blackberry picking this aftrenoon as theres loads on cyclepaths near us.
We managed to fill one tesco freezer bag full before it tipped down!
Its great to get fruit for free!

I have big plans for mine as wanted to make loasd of jams for ourselves and for freinds relatives for christmas.

So how many blackberries do I need for each jar? A bag for each jar?
How long will jam keep? was going to make 10 jars as presents and get some cheap jars from ikea and red ribbon..

Also wnated some spare to make crumble with.

Whats the best way to wash?

How long will they keep in freezer?

Sorry for lots of questions.

I cant wait to go pick some more now! Wonder who can pick the most.

I did get few funny looks though

Gigervamp

I also soak them for a while in salt water.
To freeze them, once they've been soaked, I spread them out on baking trays and stick them in the freezer until they're frozen, then put them into freezer bags. That way they don't stick together in a solid lump!
I think I've had them in the freezer for almost a year before and they were fine.

Clutterfree

miss_corerupted wrote: »

berries are still green here but there are loads of them so can't wait

We were out in the car today and I made hubby slow down as we drove passed the overgrown verges but the berries are still green here too.

mollymunchkin

Thanks for the tips on getting the maggots out. I was really put off a few years back when I'd checked, washed and checked again, about to put the berries into a crumble when I saw a maggot waving at me. I couldn't bring myself to collect any at all last year for fear of the little beasties.

But I'm going to give it another go. Will walk down the woods after work tomorrow to see if any are 'done' yet.

Barneysmom

I've got a question please.
We've been and picked a big tub of blackberries and I'm going to make some jam.
But typical of me I have no jars.
Would it be ok to let it cool in the pan and then pour it into lock & lock containers?
It should be ok shouldn't it? I'm not bothered about discolouring the containers.

2cats1kid

Don't know what lock and lock containers are, but if they are plastic you must be sure they are food grade plastic or the fruit acids may make chemicals leach into the jam.

I try to soak my blackberries overnight in the vinegary water - probably 4 hours is the minimum I'd soak for. Many of the maggots will be INSIDE the fruit, not on the surface, so a quick wash won't get the maggots to come out if they are inside the fruit. I then do two thorough checks of every berry before I am satisfied that I have them all.

And as for jam, normally for 1lb of jam (typical jar size) you need 0.5lb of fruit and 0.5lb of sugar, but I'm not keen on blackberry jam as wild berries are so full of big pips (commercial ones are bred to have little pips) and normally make jelly. You get a much lower yield from jelly as you only use the juice, not the fruit pulp, but no annoying pips to get stuck in your teeth.

Barneysmom

That was quick, thank you! :T
And thanks for the tip on washing them.
I don't think I'm too fussed about the pips.
So if I soak in a big basin tonight, I can cook it tomoorw after work.
I am so looking forward to this, I've never made jam before - cheers! :beer:

heatherbelle_3

I'm going to take the dogs for a walk into the country this week on my search for blackberries. However with being up near Glasgow I'm not sure they are going to be ready yet - anyone found any up here yet?

itsalldrivingmemad

eeerrrrrr I feel really ill now
I picked loads washed them ate a few and froze aload
shal I get them out and soak and salt them UGUGUG _pale_