Now Forage

Apple (Malus): Background skin colour shifts from green toward yellow; seeds turn brown when ripe. Fruit separates from the spur with a gentle upward twist. Aroma develops near the base. Wild Malus fruit is often small and tart — excellent for cider and jelly.

Black raspberry: Deep purple-black, duller than blackberries. Separates from the hollow core like a red raspberry. Richer, more intense flavour than red raspberry. Short season — harvest daily.

Currant: Red: translucent, jewel-like clusters. White: pale cream. Both are ripe when fully coloured and hang as a bunch. Tart and high in pectin — best for jelly and summer pudding. Harvest the whole strig.

Grape: Berries fully coloured and slightly soft. Stem where it joins the bunch turns woody and brown. Seeds easily visible inside. Sweet throughout when fully ripe — taste from different parts of the cluster as they ripen unevenly. Grapes do not continue ripening after harvest.

Raspberry: Deep red (or gold/yellow for golden varieties) and slides off the receptacle — the hollow centre is the tell. Does not pull: a ripe raspberry separates at a touch. Extremely fragile; use within hours of picking.

Wild garlic: Star-shaped white flowers and glossy, oval leaves appearing in March–May. Harvest leaves before the flowers open for best flavour. Strong garlic smell confirms identification — do not confuse with toxic lily of the valley (no garlic smell). Bulbs, leaves, and flowers all edible.