# Ripening blueberries

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripening-blueberries/311852>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 10, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripening-blueberries/311852 "2005-07-10T16:14:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripening-blueberries/311852/1 "2005-07-10T16:14:15Z")

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This spring, I planted four blueberry bushes, each a different variety. Now, each plant has lots of berries, and many of them have already turned a dark purple color. Upon tasting them, however, they’re still green on the inside, and sour.

So how can I tell when they’re actually ripe?

Also, do they continue to ripen after they’re picked?

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**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripening-blueberries/311852/2 "2005-07-10T17:06:32Z")

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-Keep tasting.  
-No.

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripening-blueberries/311852/3 "2005-07-10T18:23:42Z")

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What **quiltguy** said.

Plus: generally, when blueberries are edibly ripe, they practically pick themselves – they come off the bush with just a gentle touch. So if you’re having to pull at them to pick them, they’re probably not ripe yet.