Key points

Harvests are worth waiting for. Don’t be too hasty to pick your crops. Unripe fruits will be a big disappointment.

Crops harvested in summer are best cooked or eaten straightaway for maximum freshness and flavour. Pick them when you are about to start cooking.

Give fruits such as blueberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants a gentle squeeze and if they have some ‘give’ in them, then they are ready to harvest