When Do Waxberries Ripen in Zhejiang? A Complete Guide to Ripening and Harvest Times
In June, waxberries turn the mountains red, and the annual waxberry season is about to begin! The highest praise for a waxberry is not sweetness, not juiciness, but freshness! Zhejiang is rich in waxberries, with 7 major waxberry-producing areas including Yuyao, Cixi, Xianju, Huangyan, Wencheng, Ouhai, Yongjia, Lanxi, and others. So in which month do waxberries ripen? When do they hit the market?
Ripening times of various waxberry varieties
Waxberries generally ripen in early June, with commercial fruit typically hitting the market on June 10 and leaving the market on July 20. That is around the summer solstice. That is also around the time when local farmers prepare for the planting season.
Biji waxberry: sweet in taste, medium in size, mainly grown in the Majian area of Lanxi, Yuyao, Cixi, and Xianju. It is currently the most widely distributed and most extensively planted variety in China, and also the best excellent variety in China today for both fresh eating and processing. It ripens in late June each year. The fruit is purple-black, relatively small, with a small pit, but the quality is especially good. The flesh separates easily from the pit, with an edible rate of 95.0% and a soluble solids content of 12.0%.
Dongkui; also known as Dong'ao large waxberry or giant waxberry, it is the variety with the largest fruit size among waxberries in China and abroad. It originated in Huangyan, Zhejiang, and is especially widely grown in Linhai and Xianju, where the fruit flavor is even better. It ripens in early July. The fruit is purple-red, with a single fruit weight of 24.7g and a maximum fruit weight of 51.2g. It is sweet and sour and palatable, with top-grade quality, containing 13.4% soluble solids and 92.8% edible rate. The tree vigor is still strong, the branches are relatively sparse, and wind resistance is relatively strong. The yield is high and stable, suitable for fresh eating.
Ding'ao waxberry: originated in Chashan, Wenzhou. It ripens in late June. The fruit is purple-red, with a long stalk and green warty protrusions on the calyx. The single fruit weight is 15-18g, containing 11.1% soluble solids, with an edible rate of 96.4% and top-grade quality. The fruit adheres firmly, is picked with the stalk, and is relatively tolerant of transport.
Zhejiang Linhai Zaodamei: an early-ripening large-fruited variety with relatively good quality. It ripens in mid-June in its place of origin, with a single fruit weight of 15.7g and a maximum fruit weight of 18.4g. It contains 11.0% soluble solids, has relatively firm flesh, and is relatively tolerant of storage and transport. The fruit still retains its original color after being stored for 1 day and night after harvest, making it an early-maturing variety with great development potential. Among these, Linhai Xianju waxberry has built a brand, and within the industry the saying has already formed that “the world's waxberries are in China, China's waxberries come from Zhejiang, and Zhejiang's waxberries are best in Xianju.”
Zaose: a superior seedling selection from Linpu, Xiaoshan, Zhejiang. It ripens in mid-June in its place of origin. The fruit is purple, with an average single fruit weight of 12.68g. The flesh is dense, relatively crisp, and very juicy, containing 12.4% soluble solids, with top-grade quality.
Wandao waxberry: produced in Gaoxie, Zhoushan, Zhejiang. This variety has a cultivation history of more than 140 years to date. It ripens in early July and is one of the late-ripening varieties with the best quality at present. The single fruit weight is 12g, containing 11.1% soluble solids and 96% edible rate. It is rich in aroma and is an excellent variety for both fresh eating and processing. Its root system is well developed, with strong absorption capacity, tolerance to poor soil, and good productivity.