Regional Growing Guide: New England
New England's erratic winter and spring temperatures, which might shift more than 50 degrees from one day to the next, can exact their toll on roses. Savvy gardeners winterize their plants by covering them with mulch, then wrapping them in woven mulch cloth or burlap to protect from both the cold and drying winds. The wraps come off in spring, and by June, the roses are in full bloom. Intense heat during July and August may slow down the plants, but they will bounce back with renewed vigor in September. Many of the most successful roses are new landscape roses and floribundas that are cold hardy and resist black spot and mildew.
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Recipes - Rose Hip-Apple Jelly
Ingredients
3 quarts ripe rose hips, washed and trimmed
3 tart medium-size apples, cored and chopped
5 cups water
1 cup dry white wine
3 rounded teaspoons Fruit-Fresh or ascorbic acid or 3 tablespoons lemon juice
6-1/2 cups sugar
5 drops red food coloring (optional)
1 package (1-3/4 ounces) powdered Sure-Jell or other powdered fruit pectin
Preparation
Wash, air dry, trim, halve, and remove seeds from rose hips. Combine hips with apple, water, wine, and Fruit-Fresh in a large stainless steel or enamel pan. Boil until apple is soft and the hips begin to split, or about 15 to 20 minutes.
Crush apples and hips and boil a bit longer. Remove from heat and process in a blender or food processor. Strain solids through a jelly bag. This should yield about 5 cups of juice. If not, add additional wine to make 5 cups.
Return juice to a clean pan, add food coloring, if desired, and bring back to a rolling boil. Continue boiling for 5 minutes. Stir in Sure-Jell and bring back to a full boil (one that cannot be stopped by stirring).
Add sugar and bring back to another full boil. Stirring constantly, boil 1 to 2 minutes longer. Remove any foam as necessary.
Ladle into sterilized jars to within 1/4-inch of the rim. Cap and band jars immediately, then turn jars upside down for 10 minutes. Turn over and wait to hear the "pop." Label and date.
Makes seven half-pint jars.