When Are Blackberries Ripe in Virginia?

Blackberries ripen in early to midsummer in Virginia. You can pick the tasty little fruit in the wild where the bushes grow as native plants. Or, you can grow a few bushes in your garden to enjoy fresh fruit during the summer.

Depending on the variety planted, blackberries are ready for picking in late June and July in Virginia. The exact ripening dates of the berries may vary from year to year depending on the weather conditions in the previous winter and spring.

Whether you head to a you-pick farm or grow your own, picking the juicy berries in the morning works best. The highly perishable berries only last a few days, so you'll want to eat them up or freeze some to make them last. Garden blackberries usually require picking every two to four days since the fruits ripen on one bush over time.

Blackberry bushes grow canes on which the berries will eventually appear. Each cane lives for two years. During the first year, the cane only produces leaves. But in the second year, you'll get fruit. To keep a good supply of ripe berries coming each summer, gardeners remove the old canes to keep the plants healthy.