Rhubarb Harvesting and Berry Picking

This page provides useful information and practical tips on rhubarb harvesting and berry picking.

Rhubarb Harvesting:

The stalks are to be pulled from the ground rather than cut. The proper way to do this is to grab the desired stalk about 4 o4 5 inches above the ground and pull. Once the stalk has been pulled from the ground, cut the leaf from the stalk and place on the ground near the plant. The leaves provide good ground cover & help to suppress weeds from growing in the area. Please note: Rhubarb leaves are toxic and therefore, should not be ingested.

Berry Picking:
  • Morning is the best time for picking, as it is usually cooler and the berries have not been picked-over.
  • Save the price of buying new berry containers, for picking, by bringing your own:
    • When bringing your own container; be sure to get it weighed, in the farm market, before you begin picking berries as you want to be charged only the weight of the berries when you are ready to check-out.
  • Children are welcome, with adult supervision.
  • NO PETS are allowed in the fields.
  • There are no beverage sales in the farm market so, please remember to bring your own.

How to Know When Berries Are Ripe:

Strawberries

The best tasting strawberries to pick are those that are completely red and shiny. Often, the small ones have the most concentrated flavor. If they have become soft and very dark, dull red, they are past their prime. Best to keep green cap & small stem attached for best storage.

Raspberries

They should be somewhat firm, fully colored and come off the stems easily. If they are dull in color, with a soft texture, they are past their prime.

Blackberries

The sweetest berries will be shiny black, plump, and come off the stem with a slight tug. If there is red on them they will be tart.

Blueberries

When fully ripe, they are blue or black all over.

Currants

When fully ripe, the red varieties will be bright scarlet red and the black varieties will be shiny blue-black. Harvest slightly under ripe for cooking & jelly making as they retain more pectin at that stage.

Elderberries

Ripe when they are deep purple/black with a plump appearance. Ripe clusters are heavier than unripe ones and tend to hang upside down.