How to Gather Rose Hips

Rose hips are loaded with vitamins and nutrients, and have been used for years for their medicinal properties. You can gather your own rose hips from your roses, it just requires patience and the ability to leave the roses on the plant instead of picking them. Rose hips are the seed pod that develops at the base of the flower, after the rose has faded, but if you cut the bloom before it fades on the plant, a rose hip will not be produced. After your roses have faded on the bush, and you see the seed pods forming, you can begin planning your harvest.

Things You'll Need

• Basket
• Cookie sheet
• Paper towel
• Plastic bag

Instructions

1. Wait until after the first frost of the fall, if you live in a cold climate. This is important if you plan to use your rose hips for cooking; it is passed down through folk lore that the first frost can add extra flavor to the rose hips. However, while you may hear and read that through much research, no one has ever able to explain exactly why you should wait.

2. Search your rose bushes for a good crop of rose hips. They should stand right out after the first frost, as they often turn bright red. However, the University of California's "Master Gardeners of Napa County" states that bright color does not indicate that it is a rose hip with better flavor, as the flavor can vary with any color. Therefore, you can harvest rose hips of any color, as some will be brown and some green, depending upon the zone you live in and the type of rose bush you are harvesting the hips from.

3. Hold the rose hip between your fingers and twist gently. This will pull them off the bush.

4. Rinse the rose hips in cool water after gathering. Lay a paper towel down on a cookie sheet and lay them out to dry on the toweling. Roll them everyday so they dry on all sides. They should be thoroughly dry in three days, and the skin will begin to shrivel.

5. Store your rose hips in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three months, or you can freeze them for up to six months before using.

Tips & Warnings

• Rose hips can be used to make everything from making facial cleansers and toners to jelly and jam. However you use them, items made from rose hips make wonderful gifts from the garden.

• Avoid using rose hips that have been sprayed by pesticides, as they may do more damage to your health than they provide benefits.

References

• University of California "Master Gardeners of Napa County": Rose Hips
• Mo Plants: Gather Ye Rose Hips While Ye May

Resources

• The Herb Companion: Rose Hip Recipes