Juneberries, also known as serviceberries, are a genus of trees and shrubs that produce an abundance of edible berries. Extremely cold hardy, the trees can be found all across the United States and Canada. What do you do with all that fruit? Keep reading to learn more about how and when to harvest juneberries, and how to use juneberries in the kitchen.
When to Pick Juneberries
There’s a secret clue to juneberry harvest time. Have you spotted it? Juneberries tend to be ready to pick sometime around – wouldn’t you know it – June (or July) here in the U.S. Of course, the plants have a very broad range (across most of North America), so the exact time for harvesting juneberries varies somewhat.
As a rule, the plants bloom in early spring. The fruit should be ready to pick 45 to 60 days after that. The berries ripen to a dark purple color and look a lot like a blueberry. When ripe, the fruits taste mild and sweet.
Keep in mind that birds also love eating juneberry fruit, so it may be worth your while to put up nets or cages over your bush if you want a substantial harvest.
How to Use Juneberries
Juneberry fruit is popularly eaten fresh. It can also be made into jellies, jams, pies, and even wine. If picked when just a little underripe, it has a tartness that translates well into pies and preserves. It also has a higher vitamin C content.
If you’re planning to eat the berries plain or squeeze them for juice or wine, however, it’s best to let them get dead ripe (dark blue to purple and a little bit soft) before picking them.
