The healing properties of hawthorn have been known to people for a long time. Even modern medicines use raw materials obtained from the inflorescences and fruits of this healing plant. Those who are interested in drug collections will probably find it useful to know when to collect hawthorn.
Scientific studies have proven that the fruits of hawthorn, the so-called "false apples", contain valuable organic acids, flavonoids, pectin, fructose, vitamins and minerals. But not all varieties are recognized as valuable and useful. The most accessible species recognized by official medicine is C. Sanginea (blood-red hawthorn, photo above). It is quite often found in nature in the wild. But most often cultivated in household plots subspecies C. Oxicantha, or prickly.
It should be noted that for harvesting medicinal raw materials, inflorescences and fruits are used. Therefore, the question of when to collect hawthorn is especially acute during the flowering and ripening of berries. Flowering begins in the regions at different times, and lasts only 3-4 days. Therefore, it is important to catch the buds not yet fully opened, at the very beginning of flowering. For collection you need to choose a warm day without precipitation. Only dry inflorescences are suitable for harvesting. Moisture is detrimental to the collection of hawthorn, raw flowers instantly begin to rot. Too blossoming buds are also unsuitable, because they can quickly crumble, and the collection will not have value.
To prevent raw materials from souring, it is collected in cardboard boxes, and then laid out in a thin layer on a sheet of paper and dried. Tamping flowers into dishes or collecting them in plastic bags is not possible - delicate petals will stick together, begin to grow brown and deteriorate.
Despite the abundant flowering, the bush bears fruit not always abundantly. The reason for this may be heavy rains, lack of pollinators, temperature jumps during flowering. Those who are interested in when to collect hawthorn should know that the berries ripen not together, but gradually. Moreover, various species of this plant bear fruit in different months. Some of the earliest yield in July-August, while others mature only in October.
In almost all varieties, berries have a strong specific smell. This must be taken into account when planting bushes in their suburban area. To some, this aroma resembles a sour herring brine. Therefore, when collecting hawthorn, this particular unpleasant smell of fish will tell you, which not only berries, but also the flowers of the plant possess. Harvested collection is kept in special dryers, ovens or well-ventilated rooms with low humidity. The finer the fruits collected, the easier they are to process.
Glass containers, cardboard boxes, rag bags are suitable for storing dried berries. The shelf life of dry berries is 2 years. Having at hand such a valuable collection, you can prepare decoctions, following proven recipes. But you should always remember that these funds are strictly contraindicated for pregnant, lactating women and infants. You also need to be careful about hawthorn preparations bought at a pharmacy without the recommendation of a doctor!