Now Forage

Almond: The green outer hull splits and pulls back, revealing the hard shell. Harvest when at least 75% of hulls have split. Spread in sun to dry for 1–2 weeks, turning daily, until kernels rattle inside. Eat immediately or store in shells.

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.

Blackcurrant: Fully black, glossy berries hanging in strigs. Ripe when all berries on the strig are black. Tart but intensely flavoured — leave a few extra days for sweetness. Best for juice, jam, and cordial.

Cherry: Deep red and glossy; stem pulls cleanly. Taste is the best test — sweet and juicy when ripe, still astringent if picked too early.

Common fig: Two crops: breba (June–July on old wood) and main (Aug–Oct). Ripe figs hang downward, skin may crack, feel very soft, and often show a drop of nectar at the eye. Colour depends on variety (green, brown, purple). A milky sap at the stem means underripe.

European plum: Deep purple with a dusty bloom when ripe. Flesh softens and detaches cleanly from the stone. Sweet, rich flavour. Drops to the ground when fully ripe — check beneath the tree daily.

Feijoa: Grey-green skin stays the same colour regardless of ripeness — rely on feel and drop. Ripe when it falls naturally from the tree or gives to gentle squeeze. Interior jelly turns clear from white. Intensely aromatic, pineapple-guava flavour.

Japanese persimmon: Two types: astringent (Hachiya — must be very soft before eating) and non-astringent (Fuyu — eaten crisp). Both are orange when ripe. Hachiya: ripe when feels like a water balloon. Fuyu: ripe when orange, firm, and sweet even when crisp.

Mint: Harvest leaves just before flowering for peak flavour. Cut stems back by a third regularly to encourage bushy growth. Flavour declines after flowering — cut flower spikes off to extend harvest.

Pear: Unlike apples, pears ripen from the inside out. Harvest when the skin colour lightens and the fruit separates with a gentle upward twist. Ripen off the tree at room temperature — leave on a counter until the neck yields to thumb pressure.

Pomegranate: Skin turns from pale orange to deep red; fruit becomes angular and the blossom end flattens slightly as arils expand. Tap the skin — a ripe pomegranate sounds metallic. Heavy for its size. A slight crack at the shoulder is fine. Do not wait for it to fall.

Strawberry: Uniformly red with no white or green at the tip or shoulder. Strong strawberry fragrance even from a distance. Cap leaves (calyx) are fresh and green. Completely red flesh inside when cut. Wild strawberries are smaller but more intensely flavoured.