When taking an autumn walk, you often come across bushes that are full of rose hips. It is seldom seen that people do the work and pick the fruit. But it's worth it! Find out now what to consider when harvesting.

The question of the best time

Rose hips ripen at different times depending on the variety. Early plants bring the fruit to ripen in mid-September. Others only mature in autumn. Basically, you should remember to harvest the rose hips on dry and sunny days. On rainy days, their vitamin C content is lower and they are harder to store due to the moisture on the shell.

The best harvest time to further process rose hips

If you intend to use the rose hips to make jam, jelly or other foods, you should harvest them early. Once they have reached maturity - indicated by a bright red skin - they should be picked. This is usually between mid-September and November.

The best harvest time to enjoy pure rose hips

If you want to eat the rose hips raw, you should harvest them after the first frost period in autumn and by the end of December at the earliest. They can be harvested by February at the latest, although by then they will have dried up more and more.

The low temperatures make the rosehips softer and tastier. This can be seen:

  • on a glassy shell
  • the fruits yield slightly when pressed with a finger
  • the pulp inside is mush-like

How are rose hips harvested?

Rose hips are picked by hand. Several passes are usually necessary, since not all fruits ripen at the same time. To protect hands from injury from the sharp thorns on the branches of the plant, gloves such as rose gloves should be worn as a precaution.

What can you do with them?

If rosehips are harvested when they are soft, the seeds (actually nuts) they contain can be removed more easily. This is advantageous if these fruits are to be processed further. In addition to being dried and consumed pure, they can be used for:

  • puree
  • jam
  • jelly
  • tea
  • juice
  • Wine
  • liqueur
  • Pastries (for filling, for example)

tips and tricks

Rose hips are the perfect food in the cold autumn and winter season, which is characterized by colds. They are rich in vitamin C and should therefore be eaten raw or only gently heated. If the temperature is too high, vitamin C is quickly destroyed.

KKF

Category:

Vegetable garden