I have several hips on plants (container) that have not ripened. It’s getting to be frost time in the north east and so I brought the plants in to my basement. I have grow lights and the temperature in the basement is between 55 and 60 F. Will the hips still ripen?
Thanks
pmutalik.
If they are 100 days old or close to it then they are mature enough to harvest. Otherwise yes. Leave the lights on 24/7.
I got this idea from fellow RHA member Doug Wild, and it works.
I put damp builder’s sand in a plant pot a bury the stems in the sand with the lower leaves removed
as you would for cut stems in a vase of water.
Place the pot in a clear plastic bag, and place in a bright well lit spot, away from direct sunlight.
chuckp
Thanks folks, put the plants in the basement with grow lights. Will report back on if that works.
That’s an interesting idea, Charles. I wonder how often the stem might also root?
Thanks Kim,
I do from time to time get stems that sprout roots, but winter here on the Eastern Prairies is 5 months long.
I just don’t have room in the house to care for them. These rose stems are not treated for bugs or fungus
before I bring them in. I want to make sure I’m not allowing the bugs like spider mites and aphids to get to my
baby seedlings.
chuckp
I made my best experiences with putting stems (about 6 inch) with upper leaflets and hips in a pot with light humid flower soil without fertiliser in a little plastic or indoor greenhouse under LED daylight (6500 K), 10-12h per day, with one or two tomatoes and apples put around. The mixture of both fruits is important. Apples and tomatoes develop a maturity gas of called ethylene which have some positive effects on ripening hips in this case. By the way, in the kitchen it is quite useful not to store other fruits and vegetables near apples and tomatoes, because they could spoil quickly. Another noteworthy point in this recipe is that the relative humidity should be about 75%. A glas with water within the greenhouse is able to manage this very easily. If you use a pot with plastic bag plus tomato and apple (lying on the soil) under light, the slightly humid soil has the same effect on the relative humidity, because the volume is smaller. Of course, one cannot expect miracles but my green hips at least got a light orange tinge within about two weaks.
The plants under grow lights in my basement is working. Temps are quite steady in the 60-65 F range. Grow lights are on for about 15 hours a day. Just harvested my Chrysler Imperial x Miracle on the Hudson hips a couple of days ago. Really large hips with many really small seeds. Other hips are showing a tinge or orange so I figure they should be ready in a couple of weeks.