Hi folks! This is potentially outside the scope of this community but Im hoping some botanistically minded people might be able to help me out here. I have several rose plants on my property and Ive always wanted to harvest the rose hips. The problem is they turn yellow and then rot long before the first frost.
I was wondering if anyone knew why this might be?
Bonus spider in picture.
When was the last time you fertalized? Roses need to be fertalized 2-3 times a year (get a slow release formula specifically for roses). Your roses might also benefit from bonemeal to restore potassium to the soil. Lastly, is the yellowing because of rot/fungus? Cooler, humid climates cause numerous infections on roses, but are easily managed with garden sulphur.
Not sure if this will save this year’s rose hip harvest, but it will help for next years.
All good to know! We bought the place two years ago so its all new to me. Theyre planted directly into the ground so not sure what the best approach will be regarding fertilizing.
In the spring after last frost, just sprinkle some of the fertalized pellets at the base of the plant and gently press them into the dirt. Follow the dosage instructions on the container.
Same goes for bonemeal - just gently press it on top of the soil. You could even cover it with a nutrient rich compost.
Is this a Rosa rugosa? The fruits could be dying because of too much or too little water. Hard to say without knowing your location, type of soil and how you care for them. Is the plant still pushing out new flowers? It costs a lot of energy to make a fruit, so make sure you water and feed your plants while they are making flowers and fruits. Plants need different nutrients in the growing leaves-phase than they do in the growing fruit-phase, so be sure you pick the right fertilizer.
edit to add: I have rosehip in my garden too, but I live in Europe and I planted the native Rosa canina. I find native species easier to care for since they are adapted more to local climate and soil.
It is rosa rugosa I believe. These guys are all over the property but not in beds. Theyre planted directly into the ground. My first suspicion was soil quality. Our soil here holds onto water in a bad way and is fairly nutrient poor. Mostly clay. pH is probably wacky too. Its why I have to do raised beds for our gardens.
On top of that, last summer was very dry. This summer it rained for a solid month and we have more in the forecast.
I might just have to accept I wont get rosehips out of them. Ill just enjoy the flowers.
