10 Tips for Picking Blueberries Quickly and Efficiently

When blueberry season hits, it’s a race against time to harvest bushels of these tasty and nutrient-packed berries Whether you’re picking wild blueberries or cultivating your own high bush or rabbiteye varieties, following these tips will help you pick blueberries faster and more efficiently

1. Use Proper Harvesting Tools

Having the right tools for the job makes picking blueberries quicker. Useful tools include:

  • Berry rakes or scoops – Rake berries off bushes into a bucket

  • Tarps – Spread under bushes shake plant. collect fallen berries

  • Umbrellas – Hold under bush, catch dropped berries in umbrella

  • Small containers – Lets you pick with both hands vs one-handed into a large bucket

2. Pick in Early Morning

Pick blueberries in the cool of the morning when berries are firmer and will keep longer. Berries soften as they warm up later in the day.

3. Work Methodically

Don’t randomly pluck berries. Pick bushes clean by working methodically from bottom to top of plant on each side.

4. Use Both Hands

Fill one small container in each hand rather than picking one-handed into a large bucket. You can pick twice as fast using both hands.

5. Pick in Teams

Team up with a partner. One person can hold umbrella or shake bush while the other collects dropped berries quickly into containers.

6. Focus on Ripening Areas

Scan plants and focus efforts on areas with the most ripe, deep blue berries first. Leave greener sections for later.

7. Don’t Overfill Containers

Don’t overfill small picking containers. They get too heavy, causing spills and wasted time. About 2/3 full is ideal.

8. Transport Efficiently

Use a berry carrier that attaches around your waist to keep both hands free for efficient picking directly into the carrier.

9. Take Breaks

Take short breaks to stretch your back and hands. Bending over plants for long periods can lead to injuries.

10. Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water to stay energized and avoid dehydration. Wear a hat, sunscreen, and bug spray as needed.

Bonus Tip: Pick Often

Make frequent passes to pick ripening berries. The more often you pick, the more productive your bushes will be!

Best Blueberry Varieties for Quick Picking

Some blueberry varieties yield more abundantly than others:

  • For wild, low bush blueberries, pick northern or “Maine” high-bush varieties.

  • Rabbiteye blueberry varieties like Premier, Tifblue, and Powderblue produce big harvests.

  • If growing high bush blueberries, early season varieties like Duke, Spartan, Bluecrop yield quickly.

No matter what blueberry types you grow, using efficient picking methods will help maximize your blueberry harvest productivity.

Picking Wild Blueberries Quickly

Harvesting wild blueberries in the forest generally relies on traditional small berry rakes. Some tips for quickly raking wild blueberries:

  • Use a wide rake head to cover more surface area in each sweep

  • Keep the rake head close to the ground, gently disturbing berries loose

  • Use smooth strokes and avoid damaging plants. They must regrow each year

  • Work in a team with someone collecting raked berries into buckets and transporting filled buckets to central collection area

Increase Efficiency With Blueberry Picking Tools

Specialized blueberry harvesting tools can increase picking efficiency and reduce strain. Useful blueberry picking tools include:

  • Shoulder-strapped berry carriers to transport heavy harvests hands-free

  • Long-handled rakes and scoops to reach high bushes without stretching or climbing

-Berry combs which efficiently strip ripe fruit off branches in a single motion

Investing in quality picking tools helps make blueberry harvests faster and safer. Proper tools reduce hand fatigue, back strain, and wasted time from spills.

Enjoy the Benefits of a Bountiful Harvest

With global blueberry demand exploding, prices for fresh berries keep rising. Use these picking tips to maximize volumes harvested from your own blueberry patch or wild berry source. Then enjoy fresh berries all season long, freeze or can extra harvests, or even profit from productive blueberry yields. Happy efficient picking!

Fastest way to pick blueberries

FAQ

How do commercial growers pick blueberries?

Many growers have turned to machine harvesters to pick blueberries for fresh markets as they reduce both harvesting and labor costs, but quality can be compromised due to mechanical impacts that result in fruit bruising, softness, and losses in fruit quality.

How do you pick blueberries?

Leave those berries behind, and pick the ones that are plump and blue all over. Ripe berries will easily pop off the plant without much effort, leaving the stem behind. Blueberries can stack on top of one another in a basket or bucket without much worry, but don’t seal off or close them in while picking.

Are blueberries ready for harvest?

Berries that are not yet ready for picking will have a little give and won’t be as easy to pick. Your blueberries are plump, dark in color, and it’s the right time to harvest for your hardiness zone. You’re itching to get these delicious berries off the bush. A simple wiggle of the fruit can help determine if it is truly ready for harvest.

When should you pick blueberries?

Blueberries start light green and gradually turn pink, light blue, and finally dark blue. While it’s tempting to pick the berries as soon as they turn blue, picking them too early results in tart-tasting berries – wait until the entire berry is dark blue before harvesting. Keep in mind that you’re not the only one who loves eating blueberries.

What should I know before going blueberry picking?

Before you go blueberry picking for the first time, there are a few things you should know that will ensure that you get the best berries for your work. Find a suitable container to hold your berries. It can be a bucket, a plastic bag, a basket, a bowl (preferably unbreakable) or some other kind of container.

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