You might think that the main difference between raspberries and blackberries is in their color, but that's not really the case. Blackberry itself is red when unripe. In addition, raspberries are of two types: red and black. Black raspberries can easily be thought of as blackberries. So how do you tell the difference? We'll show you how!
Step
Step 1. Find the fruit
Both raspberries and blackberries produce clusters of fruit that are attached in clusters, single-seeded, and downy. These small granules form around the seed or outer fruit.
- When raspberries are picked, the clusters of granules fall off the stalks. In blackberries, the location where the fruit is stored, which is connected to the stem will usually be damaged and left on the inside.
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When ripe blackberries are picked, the stalks that remain are clean and flat, with soft white seeds inside. Blackberry is not hollow.
Step 2. Observe the shape of the raspberry
If you see red raspberries, this may mean ripe red raspberries, or even unripe black raspberries.
- Red raspberries look longer in shape (actually like blackberries). Most raspberry plants are of this variety. The fruit is a little big.
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Black raspberries look more round, or half round, and not as long as red raspberries. The fruit is very small, but you can tell it is a raspberry because the fruit is hollow.
Step 3. Consider the element of time
Both red and black raspberries usually ripen in July, although this ripening time can vary depending on how far north or south they are growing. Blackberries tend to ripen a little longer than raspberries. The growing season may be a bit random.
Step 4. Examine the plant carefully
The two plants may look the same to people who don't recognize them. Both have a "stem", with a length that emerges directly from the ground. Both raspberries and blackberries also have the same spines and leaves. However, by researching them further, you will start to find some differences between the three fruits below.
- The stems of red raspberries are not as tall as those of blackberries. The red raspberry is about 5 feet (1 meter) tall. When the stalks emerge from the ground, they are pale green in color. The stalks have more spines than blackberries, but they are more "hairy". The thorns are also not as hard as rose thorns.
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The stems of black raspberries are shorter than those of red raspberries and curve downward toward the ground.
- The stems are very pale, almost bluish in color, which "disappears" when you rub them. The spines on the red and black raspberry stalks are more or less equal and large.
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Blackberry stems are large and very strong, and can grow up to 10 feet (1 meter) in height. The stalk itself is green and the thorns are as large as the thorns of a rose.
Step 5. Done
Tips
- Blackberries grow in large areas along roads and can be harvested to make delicious wines and delicious pies.
- There are many other berries that resemble raspberries and blackberries, including marionberries, boysenberries, loganberries, youngberries, dewberries, salmonberries, and wineberries. Maybe there's something else. Some of them grow on stems, while others spread on the soil surface.
- There are many varieties of raspberry plants, including gold raspberry (which is golden yellow when ripe), fall-bearing raspberry (which is red or dark red and ripens in autumn).
- Some blackberry varieties are not prickly.
Warning
- Wild berries often grow on neglected soil. Unpleasant things also grow there, like poisonous plants, nettles, snakes, etc. Beware of these hidden dangers.
- Blackberries growing along public roads are often sprayed with weed killers. Pick what is safe.
- If you've never picked wild berries before, make sure someone is there to show you how to identify the plant.
- When not fully ripe, the taste of blackberries can be very sour!
- Ripe blackberry stems have large spines, so if you step into a patch of ripe blackberry plants, you could hurt yourself when you get out.
