I have been noticing lots of rose hips along the road I have been walking. So this morning I brought some clippers and got a bag full. I looked it up and see they are full of good stuff. Mainly Vit. C. And they protect against cancer and heart disease. Also they have anti-inflammatory properties. Plus antioxidants. The rose hips from Rugosa and Dog rose have more Vit. C than citrus. They are also a useful treatment for flu like infections, diarrhea and various urinary tract infections. And they are a good diuretic and laxative. And they are free! That's the best part. I read that it's best to harvest after the first frost so they have the best flavor and are sweeter. Because they can be eaten and you can make jelly. There are so many uses for them.
To make a tea just boil dried or crushed rose hips 10 minutes. About 2 T. per pint of water.
I am going to put mine in the dehydrator and dry them so I can save them easier.
Does anyone else use them or know more about them? I also read they help people who have knee joint pain.
I have two rose bushes but they haven't produced hips. Maybe they are a strange hybrid or something. I do plan to plantmsome roses in the near future solely for their rosehips!!
Farmgirl #2161 Just tryin' to homestead in the middle of a suburban neighborhood! Blog~ http://thelittleboygreen.com <<I've been slackin' on the updates!
I did read where you should let the roses stay on the bushes so they will have the rose hips. If you trim the flowers off they will not produse rose hips. They are the seed pod from the flowers. You probably already knew that. But just thought I would add that.
I really do not like rose bushes. They seem to not like me also. I usually come out looking like I have been attacked by a wild animal. Just dripping blood. The same with blackberries. Hate them. But I think I will look for the Rugosa rose bushes just for the rose hips now.
Here in Alaska we have wild roses and they produce hips like crazy. Yes they do bite. I always approach them with heavy pants and heavy long sleeved shirts. But the hips are very good and you can make jelly from them as well as tea. You can also dry them and then make tea from them.
Is it better to use them dried and crushed for tea? I am boiling some fresh right now and they seem really hard. They aren't very big either. These are from wild roses too.
i grow Rugosa roses just for the hips. well they smell beautiful too. they work better for jelly if you let them get a little nipped by frost. i dry them for tea. they are packed with so many good things!
Rhonda, do you crush the berries for tea or keep them whole. I am drying mine right now. I have a layer of mint on the bottom. My house should smell really good soon.
Rose Hips
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 08:02:26 AM
