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The timing of when to collect chokeberry depends on the purpose of harvesting and the region. For liqueurs or decorating preservation, the black chokeberry can be harvested a little unripe. For further preparation of jelly, jam or drying, you need to wait until the fruits are fully ripe.
When the chokeberry ripens
The wild ancestor of cultivated varieties of black chokeberry is poorly edible. It is a tart, astringent berry. The cultivated varieties have partially retained the properties of the wild species.
Wild chokeberry is a winter-hardy plant. IV Michurin drew attention to this quality of it, who recommended a fruit shrub for northern fruit growing. Blackberry cultivars are now bred in all, even fairly cold regions. But due to the climate, the ripening times of the chokeberry differ, although the fruits of this plant have time to ripen even where winter comes early.
When to harvest chokeberry
Due to winter hardiness and similar to the common mountain ash, there is a misconception that the black chokeberry becomes sweet only after it is frozen. In fact, this is not the case. It's just that in many regions where this culture grows, frosts come at the same time in which the harvest finally ripens. But in the southern regions, the black chokeberry ripens perfectly even without frost.
Blackberry ripens starting in August. At this time, the fruits already turn black and are relatively easy to separate from the stalks. But the taste of the fruits of a cultivated plant does not differ from wild ones.
Since September, the amount of astringent substances begins to decrease, and the blackberry acquires a sweet taste. At this time, chokeberry can be harvested for making liqueurs, long-term fresh storage and adding to compotes. For the latter, only a few berries are used, which will give color and an original flavor to the main ingredients of conservation: apples and pears.
For food, preserves, juices, jams and wine making, the chokeberry should be picked from mid-October, when the chokeberry is fully ripe. This blackberry is not stored, but it can be dried or frozen. Frozen fruit tends to become more acidic after thawing, so an earlier pick is not suitable for the freezer.
When to collect chokeberry in the Moscow region
The Moscow region is one of the most favorable regions for the cultivation of blackberries. All recommendations for harvesting are based on this region and the rest of the Central zone of Russia. Therefore, it is necessary to collect blackberry in the suburbs without deviating from the recommended deadlines.
Since the blackberry is used for different purposes, then it must be harvested at the most suitable stage of maturity.
When to collect chokeberry in the Middle Lane
In Central Russia, the chokeberry ripens, as in the Moscow region. From a climatic point of view, they are one and the same region. The only difference is that on the southern border of the Middle Lane, the chokeberry can be removed before the onset of frost, and in the northern frost it may come a little earlier and the crop will have to be removed from under the snow. Such freezing will have a bad effect on the further storage of chokeberry.
Therefore, if you plan to store berries in a "natural" form, it is better to harvest before frost. If the plans include making jam or rubbing with sugar, then you can take your time with the collection.
Timing of collecting blackberries in other regions
Before October, the black chokeberry ripens only in the southern regions, where the vegetative period begins earlier. In the north, in the Urals, Siberia or in the Leningrad region, the growing season begins relatively later. If weather permits, chokeberry will ripen by mid to late October. If the cold comes sooner, you will have to collect frozen unripe chokeberry. More precisely, the fruits of technical ripeness.
Chokeberry collection rules
When harvesting, you need to take into account not only your interests, but also the needs of the plant. Many people prefer to pick only berries so as not to lug the garbage home. In addition, the stalks and small branches take up a lot of space. But the bush recovers better if you cut off the whole bunch together with the stalks and small branches on which the bunches have grown.
It is possible to harvest blackberry of technical ripeness from mid-August. At this time, the chokeberry acquires color, but still has a tart, astringent taste. Chokeberry collected at this time can be stored fresh for a long time. Usually the fruits of technical ripeness are harvested for sale. It can be used for liqueurs of high strength, in which alcohol "turns off" the taste buds and only the color is important to the manufacturer. But it is better to wait until September with the collection.
In September, chokeberry fruits acquire not only color, but also a sweet and sour taste. At this time, the black chokeberry is still firm to the touch. This is the highest level of ripeness that can be found in the market. Various tricks "boil a little before harvesting" refer precisely to this level of ripeness of the blackberry. Fruits of "medium level" ripeness can also be kept fresh for a long time and are suitable for liqueurs with a small percentage of alcohol. The same level is suitable for adding a small amount of berries to fruit preservation.
"Monoprocessing" is possible after the blackberry reaches full ripeness. This happens by mid-October. Aronia completely picks up sugar and becomes soft. In order not to damage the berries, they must be cut off along with the stalks. Remove excess parts just before processing.
A ripe blackberry can be used to make:
- jam;
- jam;
- juice;
- wine;
- dried fruits;
- compotes.
Ripe fruits can be used to make compotes without adding other fruits. Ripe chokeberry is also frozen.
Harvest processing
Blackberry of technical ripeness is not particularly processed. It can be dried, frozen, and alcoholized. But it is also kept fresh for quite a long time.
Fully ripe fruit should be processed as soon as possible. A soft blackberry, being damaged, releases juice, which begins to turn sour. The ripe crop is processed within 1-2 days. The latter is possible if stored in a refrigerator. If you do not want to mess with jam or juices, the black chokeberry can be frozen at a temperature of -18 ° C.
It must be borne in mind that after defrosting, the fruits must be consumed immediately, since the laws of physics also apply to chokeberry. Frozen water damages fruit cells. When defrosting, the chokeberry is "blown away" and lets out the juice.
Drying is a good storage method that does not require electricity. Dried fruits can be stored at room temperature. Otherwise, the processing methods for black chops are the same as for other fruits.
After cold weather, the fruits are damaged by frost and can only be used for jam or juice.
Conclusion
You need to collect chokeberry for homemade preparations as late as possible.When collecting for sale, it is better to limit yourself to technical ripeness.
