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.

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.

Gooseberry: Unripe: small, hard, very tart (good for cooking). Ripe: translucent, slightly soft, and sweet — variety colour is red, yellow, or green. Ripe gooseberries come off the stalk easily and have a sweet aroma.

Plum: Colour fully develops (purple, red, or yellow by variety) and a waxy bloom appears on the skin. Softens slightly at the tip. Taste-test for sweetness — European plums are better slightly soft; Japanese types can be harvested firmer.

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.

Sweet cherry: Dark red (or yellow for golden varieties) with a glossy skin. Stem stays green and pliable. Flesh is firm but yields to pressure; taste is sweet with no bitterness. Harvest promptly — birds follow the same cues.