Blueberry Boom Extra Early: "Out and Pick"

The blueberries have emerged extra early this year and in southern Sweden, this is the best season right now. Out, pick and enjoy – the experts are tipping.

» Updated: Fri 27 Sept 2024 07:17 CEST

» Published: Fri 12 Jul 2024 18:02 CEST

Blueberry Boom Extra Early: "Out and Pick"
Photo: Gorm Kallestad/NTB/TT

Share this article

Blueberries have emerged earlier than usual this year and in southern Sweden, it's the best season right now. Out, pick and enjoy – experts are advising.

If you live far down in our elongated country, it may be high time to go out and pick blueberries. The blueberry season is indeed earlier than usual, according to forest researcher Ola Langvall.

In southern Sweden, there are the most berries to pick right now. It started already after Midsummer. The further north you go, the later it becomes. I myself am in Dalarna and here we have to wait another week, he says.

It's the warm early summer weather that has made the blueberries start to show up, as P4 Dalarna has reported.

Positive health effects

Blueberries thrive in the changing weather with sun and rain alternating.

Then the berries ripen – but also become very large because there is water in the soil, says Ola Langvall.

Picking and eating blueberries can also be good for your health, according to Annica Långvall, a trained dietitian and researcher in sustainable gastronomy at Umeå University.

They contain a lot of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that protect against various lifestyle diseases. If you have the opportunity to go out and pick, it gives a double health effect because you're also out in nature and getting some exercise, she says.

Cloudberry season approaching

If you're wondering what to do with all the berries you find, Annica Långvall has several tips.

We make a lot of breakfast smoothies at home and mix the blueberries with yogurt or curd. Then you can of course have them in baked goods or make your own jam, of course.

Another tip is not to freeze all the blueberries together but rather in small batches. Then it's easier to use a little at a time when you need it.

Besides blueberries, cloudberries and strawberries are also starting to appear in their places. A little later, lingonberries will also come.

So it's just a matter of going out and picking, says Ola Langvall.

About 17 percent of Sweden's area is covered with blueberry bushes, and the plant is common throughout the country.

The blueberry plant tolerates shade well and grows readily on acidic soil in forest and heathland terrain, where it lives in symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi.

Botanically, the blueberry bush is a dwarf tree, with a main stem and branches that form a leaf crown.

Blueberries contain high levels of vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese, and also high levels of antioxidants.

The flowering takes place in May-June. The fruit, which is a berry, is black and usually covered with a light blue wax coating.

Source: National Encyclopedia

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Man in His 30s Fatally Shot on Hisingen in Gothenburg
1 MIN READ

Man in His 30s Fatally Shot on Hisingen in Gothenburg

Explosion in Katrineholm Damages Building Facade and Windows
1 MIN READ

Explosion in Katrineholm Damages Building Facade and Windows

Suspicious Object Prompts Evacuation of Villas in Glimåkra
1 MIN READ

Suspicious Object Prompts Evacuation of Villas in Glimåkra

Teenager Detained in Örebro Mosque Murder Case
1 MIN READ

Teenager Detained in Örebro Mosque Murder Case

Kristersson Awaits Response from SD's Stegrud on Controversial Post
2 MIN READ

Kristersson Awaits Response from SD's Stegrud on Controversial Post

SJ Train Cancellations in Västernorrland Extended Due to Flooding
2 MIN READ

SJ Train Cancellations in Västernorrland Extended Due to Flooding

Kristersson Announces Lowering of Criminal Responsibility Age
2 MIN READ

Kristersson Announces Lowering of Criminal Responsibility Age

Defense Purchases New Air Defense System from Poland for Billions
1 MIN READ

Defense Purchases New Air Defense System from Poland for Billions

Elisabet Lann Appointed as New Minister of Health and Social Affairs
2 MIN READ

Elisabet Lann Appointed as New Minister of Health and Social Affairs

Teenager Sought for Arrest in Alby Subway Shooting
1 MIN READ

Teenager Sought for Arrest in Alby Subway Shooting

Busch: Islam Needs to Align with Swedish Values
1 MIN READ

Busch: Islam Needs to Align with Swedish Values

Cyberattack Exposes Personal Data of Thousands in Swedish Regions
2 MIN READ

Cyberattack Exposes Personal Data of Thousands in Swedish Regions

Water Rises Four Meters in Kubbe Prompting Emergency Barriers
2 MIN READ

Water Rises Four Meters in Kubbe Prompting Emergency Barriers

Ex-Politician in Västerås Charged with Serious Fraud
1 MIN READ

Ex-Politician in Västerås Charged with Serious Fraud

Party Leaders Urge Police to Protect Politicians from Activists
2 MIN READ

Party Leaders Urge Police to Protect Politicians from Activists

SMHI Issues Yellow Rain Warning for Västernorrland This Week
2 MIN READ

SMHI Issues Yellow Rain Warning for Västernorrland This Week

Women's Shelters Close Amid New 2024 Regulatory Requirements
1 MIN READ

Women's Shelters Close Amid New 2024 Regulatory Requirements

False SMS Claims Lions Escaped in Borås Debunked by Police
1 MIN READ

False SMS Claims Lions Escaped in Borås Debunked by Police

Police Report: No Surge in Stockholm Violence
3 MIN READ

Police Report: No Surge in Stockholm Violence

Sweden Proposes Billion-Kronor Investment in Cybersecurity
2 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Billion-Kronor Investment in Cybersecurity