Can you eat the berries from the 1st picking from a blueberry plant?

Question

My sister in-law told me you’re not supposed to eat the berries that a blueberry plant produces for the very 1st time. She said you’re supposed to wait until the next time they produce berries. Is this true, and if so, why?

Answer 1

Technically, you can start picking blueberries as soon as the plant can make them, but the more common practice with some growers is to pinch out the flowers during the first year or two. This is supposed to encourage a stronger root system before the bush begins putting out fruit. Stronger roots produce better berries, or so that is the thought behind this action. However, if yours is putting out berries for the first time, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy them.