Picking Blackberries Before going out picking blackberries make sure you're properly attired. Blackberries grow on thorny bushes, which can latch onto your skin like a cat's claw. If you will be in heavy bushes you might want to tuck your pants into your socks to keep unwanted poison itch plants or bugs out. Blackberries can be found near woods or clearings or just about anywhere that birds fly. Take along a basket or something sturdy, since the thorns will rip through grocery bags.
Blackberries seem to ripen in clusters, with whole clusters being ready at the same time.
Raspberries, which peaked in June, are smaller than blackberries and often only have one ripe berry on the tip of a cluster. Blackberries are ripe when they are plump and very dark purple, almost black. They should come off the stem easily by just rolling them between your thumb and index finger and into the basket. If you have to tug to get them off, they usually aren't as sweet, so I don't bother with them. Blackberries range in size from having only a few seeds to being as big as strawberries.