On an autumn walk you often come across bushes that are covered in rose hips. It is rare to see people doing the work and picking the fruits. But it's worth it! Find out now what you need to consider when harvesting.
When is the best time to harvest rose hips?
Rosehips should ideally be harvested between mid-September and November in dry, sunny weather. When processing into puree or jam, an earlier time is recommended; for raw consumption you should wait for the first frost period.
The question of the best time
Rosehips ripen at different times depending on the variety. Early plants ripen the fruits in mid-September. Others only ripen 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 for processing rose hips
If you plan to make puree, jam or other dishes from the rose hips, you should harvest them early. As soon as they have reached maturity - which can be recognized by a bright red skin - they should be picked. This is usually the case between mid-September and November.
The best harvest time to enjoy rose hips pure
If you want to snack on 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 they will dry out more and more by then.
The low temperatures make the rose hips soft and tastier. You can see this:
- on a glassy-looking bowl
- the fruits give slightly when pressed with your finger
- the fruit pulp inside is pulp-like
How are rose hips harvested?
Rosehips are picked by hands. Several passes are usually necessary because not all of the fruits ripen at the same time. To protect your hands from injuries caused by the sharp thorns on the plant's branches, gloves such as rose gloves (€16.00 on Amazon) should be worn as a precaution.
What can you do with them?
If rose hips are harvested when they are soft, the seeds (actually nuts) they contain are easier to remove. This is advantageous if these fruits are to be further processed. In addition to dried and consumed pure, they can be used for:
- Mus
- Jam
- Jelly
- Tea
- Juice
- Wine
- Liqueur
- Pastry (for filling, for example)
Tips & Tricks
Rosehips are the perfect food in the cold autumn and winter season, which is characterized by colds. They are rich in vitamin C and for this reason should be consumed raw or only gently heated. If temperatures are too high, vitamin C is quickly destroyed.
