In which month are golden berries ripe for picking?

Rosa rugosa is a plant belonging to the genus Rosa of the Rosaceae family and is an evergreen climbing shrub . Its fruit can be used to make sugar and wine, and its roots, leaves and fruits can all be used as medicine, with high economic value. So, in which month are golden berries ripe for picking? Let’s learn more about it below.

In which month are golden berries ripe for picking?

The fruits of the golden cherry usually mature from October to November. When ripe, they are bright red or orange-red. Generally, you can wait until the fruits have completely changed color before picking them. In addition, it is best to choose a sunny and dry day to pick the fruits to avoid the fruits being too wet or affected by rain.

How to pick golden berries?

1. Picking tools

(1) Scissors or pruning shears: used to cut off the fruits of the golden cherry tree, avoiding damage to the fruits and branches2.

(2) Thick gloves: Since there are thorns on the surface of golden cherry fruit, it is best to wear thick gloves when picking to prevent scratching the skin.

(3) Containers : You can use baskets, basins, pockets or other containers to collect the picked golden berries.

2. Picking method

(1) Quick way: If you are picking large quantities of fruits to sell, you can use homemade tools, such as two solid short sticks tied together at one end. When using them, use the two sticks to clamp the bottom of the golden cherry branch, and use both hands to pull hard towards the tip of the branch. It only takes one second to scrape all the fruits off the branch, and finally pick the fruits directly from the ground.

(2) Slow method: If you are not in a hurry and just want to pick some to take home for wine making, you can slowly pick the fruits one by one by hand.

3. Key points after picking

(1) Remove burrs: The fruit of the golden cherry is covered with small thorns. To remove it, you can put the fruit in a thick canvas bag and rub it repeatedly. The kneading force should be moderate, not too strong, so as not to crush the fruit. If the thorns are in small amounts, you can put on canvas gloves and rub them in the palm of your hand to remove them.

(2) Cleaning: After the burrs are removed, the golden cherry should be carefully cleaned twice with water to remove some dirt and burrs that have not been cleaned off.

(3) Cut open: Clean the golden cherry and cut it in half, remove the core, and leave only the flesh.

(4) Drying: Place the processed golden cherry in a cool and ventilated place to dry. After it is dry, it can be sliced ​​and stored, and can be used for medicine making later.

In general, golden berries are usually ripe and ready for picking between October and November. The color of ripe golden cherry fruits will gradually darken, and if the fruits do not loosen when shaken, it means they are ripe.