what color do the hips turn when the seeds are ready? i've got some hips that have turned a nice reddish shade. are they ready now or do i need for them to brown up a bit before picking them off?? also, what is the best way to deal with the seeds inside? and what should they be stored in (envelope, airtight container, etc) ? thanks!
Mature coloration varies with kind of rose. Open one up and look at contents. Search phrases like "roses seed" and "rose propagation" for rest.
I've made a point of waiting for the hips to go through a winter on the bush before plucking them and planting the seeds. I suppose the seeds could be planted in the fall and the pot left outside to get the necessary chilling (or does the seed actually need a cold spell?).
Professor Henry Kuska has a rose hybridising website that gives very useful information on the subject. His article on when to collect rose hips for maximal yield in terms of successful germination is very useful reading. It seems that seeds start to ripen when the hips change colour, but that does not necessary tell us exactly when the seeds might be mature. He suggests that hips should be harvested as soon as the hip stalks shrivel or dry up. Another useful sign might be when the sepals start to fall off.
