A Mini-Monograph and My Love-Hate Relationship with Wild Blackberries
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| Wild blackberries are small, sweet, tart and delicious. |
Summer has officially begun here in the middle of Middle TN, and the wild blackberries (Rubus spp.) are coming into their own. Bright red berries deepen to deep purple-black over the course of a day or two, providing a sweet-tart treat for people and birds. There are wild varieties that are native to Europe, Asia, and North and South America. My particular wild blackberries produce small, tart-sweet berries up to about 1/2 inch (1 cm) across. They are produced on floricanes (2nd year canes) and the canes die either as the berries ripen or right after. This year’s primocanes will not produce any fruit until next year when they become floricanes; therefore, unlike some cultivated blackberries, they will only have one crop of berries. My Prim-Ark cultivated blackberries are blooming now on primocanes and will produce a small crop in August with their main crop next year on their second-year canes. My Prim-Ark berries are easily 3 times the size of my wildlings, and when fully ripe, have no tartness at all. By mid-June both wildlings and cultivated blackberries are in full swing producing delicious berries. I harvest early in the morning before the birds get to them, and I probably eat as many as I harvest to freeze. I love the prolific, tasty wild blackberries so much!
Wild blackberries thrive all across the United States. They are cold-hardy, tolerant of heat, clay soils and total neglect. Flooding that kept them under water for days did not phase them, nor did an unseasonal late hard freeze. And mowing down young canes that spring from underground runners is only a temporary solution. And therein lies the reason I hate them. The fields are not too difficult to keep bramble-free — as long as I mow all summer, the weed trees and blackberry vines will be kept at bay. But I cannot mow in my food forest or my garden — and they take full advantage of that. A few summers ago I spent a month away from the homestead helping my mom prep her home to sell and move. The wild blackberries took full advantage, springing up in garden beds, fields, and under my fruit trees. I cut them back each winter, but I can never get them all. And I don’t even want to get them all. But I would like to have my garden back!
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| Wild blackberries in "no sugar added" berry mix yogurt. |
Blackberries are known for their good-eating, and recipes from muffins to syrup to cobblers abound on the internet. Besides stuffing my face with them straight off the plant, making a yogurt parfait or a blackberry smoothie is one of my favorite ways to consume them.
A lower carb, high fat smoothie can be made with 1 c blackberries and 1 c heavy whipping cream. Add small amounts of water until you get the consistency you desire. Sweeten if desired.
Both the fruit, leaves and roots are used from Rubus spp. for herbal concoctions. The berries themselves are rich in antioxidants, anthocyanins, flavanols and other compounds that protect the body. This may help protect against heart disease and support cardiovascular health. The leaves are often dried and brewed into a tea that is astringent, working as both a wash for skin ulcers or as a mouthwash against thrush. Also used for diarrhea and dysentery. The tannins in the leaf can cause nausea in some people, especially if a lot of the tea is consumed.
Blackberry leaf tea was once used to assist with inducing labor in pregnant women; more modern medical recommendations now caution against its use by pregnant and lactating mothers. As always, do your own due diligence before consuming any herbs and spices.
Author's Note:
Wild Blackberry Apothecary is the dream of a one-woman homesteader in the middle of Middle Tennessee, USA. I currently work full time and homestead part time with 4 dogs, 12-30 chickens, several domestic blackberry and raspberry plants - and thousands of wild blackberry vines that are trying ot take over every inch that they can. My husband of 30+ years does not homestead, but indulges me. As we look towards our retirement years, we hope to further develop our property and perhaps add more rescue dogs, more blackberries and trees, and have me move to homesteading full time.
Disclaimer:
It is the policy of Wild Blackberry Apothecary to not advise or recommend herbs or herbal concoctions for medicinal, nutritional or health user. This information is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation and an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. The reader should do their own research and consult with a licensed health care provider concerning their medical, nutritional and health care concerns. In addition, some plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects. It is the responsibility of the reader to conduct their own research and to ensure for themselves the proper identification and use of all plants. Always seek the guidance of your qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or medical conditions.
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