The healthiest autumn berries: when to pick them

Berries

Berries are a living medicine: grown in the garden, gathered in the forest, plucked from steppe and marsh bushes. They are tasty and healthy, especially if picked promptly and correctly.

Nature is ready to share its riches with everyone year-round, but in autumn its gifts are most generous. They contain the accumulated energy of the sun and heavenly waters, and the abundance of warm summer days brings strength and benefit.

Red autumn berries are generous with benefits

Continuing the saying "every berry has its own seed," we can add: color and benefits. The most famous are red berries, of which they say: better than any pill are berries from the tree. Let's look at ten recognized red-sided healers with excellent taste.

Rose hip

A ubiquitous shrub (except for the North and South Poles, semi-deserts, and extremely arid deserts), it's beneficial from root to leaf, boasting a record-breaking content of soluble vitamin C, a glucose-related vitamin that protects the body from the damaging effects of free radicals, regulates blood clotting, inhibits inflammation, and boosts immune processes.

Ripens in late August to early October. Ripeness is determined by its rich red-orange color and firmness. They can be picked in winter (unfallen, unpicked berries remain attached to the branches even during freezing temperatures) for tea. However, to ensure they provide the full benefits, they must be picked before frost, stems included, on a dry, sunny day. Dry them using either heat (in the oven or on a baking sheet) or natural drying (on burlap, a mesh tray, or cardboard in a ventilated, damp-free area such as an attic, open veranda, or summer kitchen). Natural drying is preferable, as it preserves the full range of beneficial properties needed for preventing and combating:

bronchial asthma;
anemia;
arthritis;
neurasthenia;
urological and gynecological diseases;
reduced immunity;
biliary stasis.

Important!

Each time after taking decoctions of rose hips and leaves, you should rinse your mouth with lukewarm clean water and brush your teeth, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the enamel.

Cowberry

A subshrub that prefers peat bogs in the Arkhangelsk region, coniferous and mixed forests in Karelia and Siberia, mountain meadows in the Caucasus, Carpathians, and Urals, and the tundra of the Murmansk region and the Far East. Small clusters of "northern grapes" (another name for this evergreen perennial) ripen:

in the southern regions – by the end of August;
in the central regions – at the end of September;
In northern latitudes, the collection time is October.

The crimson-red berries are picked in the evening or morning—it must be cool, otherwise they soften, become overripe, and spoil quickly. The green berries last from 5 days to 5 weeks. Harvesting and storage methods vary:

in its own juice under pressure (in a cool place – cellar/basement/underfloor, refrigerator);
in sugar - the collected berries, which have released juice under the weight, are poured with water and sugar and, having closed the container, placed in the cold;
in the oven (+60 °C), placing a baking tray with washed fruits in it, shaking it periodically;
natural drying in a well-ventilated room where it is dry and warm, then placed in linen/canvas bags, jars;
frozen, laid out in trays;
in sweet and salty syrup (2 tablespoons of sugar + 0.5 teaspoon of salt per liter of water) - the sealed jar is placed in the cold for 2-4 months (soaked lingonberries are good in culinary delights).

The fruits (rich in vitamins A, E, C, pectin, carotene, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and glucose) are used to treat vitamin deficiencies, colds, rheumatism, measles, and vision loss. They are also effective as a laxative, tonic, anthelmintic, and antiseptic "mixture."

Viburnum

A shrub in the wild, viburnum, with proper pruning, transforms into a small tree in the garden. This frost- and drought-resistant, unrivaled natural remedy grows everywhere (in moist and dry areas where groundwater is low, and tolerates shade and sun), except in the southeast and north. It is harvested in late September or early October, but many prefer to begin harvesting after frost. Frost-damaged viburnum acquires a sweet taste but loses some of its glycosides, a beneficial component for treating both acute and chronic heart failure.

Freshly frozen dried viburnum, mashed with sugar and honey and steamed, can fix:

insomnia;
giardiasis;
gallstone diseases;
respiratory diseases;
stomach disease (colic, ulcer);
urological problems, including urolithiasis;
hysteria;
boils;
convulsions;
carbuncles;
constipation;
hypertension;
headaches;
cough;
tonsillitis;
bleeding.

In the past, it was even used to remove freckles, whiten skin, reduce swelling, and was widely used as a general tonic and anti-inflammatory. Viburnum concentration:

vitamin C (the berry contains more of it than the largest citrus fruits);
carotene;
glucose;
potassium salts;
phosphorus;
natural steroids;
flavonoids;
viburnin glycoside;
phytoncides.

When harvesting berries for future use, they are cut with scissors or pruning shears into "umbrellas" or small branches. They are stored in bouquets, hung in a cool and (definitely!) dry place, or in the freezer (with the stems trimmed, not removed), mashed with sugar, or mixed with honey. They are also used to make jams, pastilles, and jellies. In any form, viburnum is healthy, tasty, and medicinal.

Dogwood

A shrub/tree with Caucasian ancestry. The oblong berries, with a distinctly sour and slightly tart flavor, ripen in September and early October. For medicinal purposes, they should be picked when still light in color—slightly unripe; for culinary purposes, when they are crimson and soft.

To dry, dry the dogwood by placing the firm, washed berries in a single layer on a paper-lined baking sheet or tray. It's best to keep them out of direct sunlight—the room/veranda/gazebo should be well-ventilated and dry. Stir. Once they've shriveled up, they're ready to be placed in bags. Store until the next fall berry harvest.

You can freeze it by placing it in bags, pressing out the air, or wrapping it in cling film. Grind it with sugar. However, for a medicinal decoction, dried dogwood is better: it retains nicotinic and ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and vitamin C, pectin, and deficient calcium and phosphorus.

The "strawberry tree" (the second name of the Caucasian healer) is used:

for colds;
to improve visual acuity;
with bile stasis;
as a diuretic;
to normalize glucose levels;
as an anti-inflammatory;
to strengthen blood vessels;
for gout.

And also if you are concerned about hemorrhoids, arthritis, anemia, diarrhea.

Important!

For therapeutic purposes, the leaves are also harvested in May, after flowering (they stabilize digestion, blood pressure, and activate brain productivity), the roots - early spring to late autumn (they eliminate tinnitus, relieve muscle spasms, and reduce the duration of feverish and depressive attacks), and the bark - in the spring, at the beginning of sap flow (removes excess salts, removes skin irritations and phlegm).

Cranberry

An evergreen subshrub of the heather family. It grows in damp and moist climates—temperate and northern climates with swampy lowlands and old peat bogs. The crimson-red, sour ball ripens in September-October. It tolerates winter frosts and snow well, becoming sweeter (gourmets prefer the spring, overwintered cranesbill), but the autumn berry contains more:

pectin;
betaine;
organic acids;
B-vitamins;
phylloquinone;
silver;
iodine;
phosphorus.

Works healing miracles:

accumulates appetite and the general condition of the digestive tract;
relieves kidney disorders;
reduces inflammation;
fights harmful flora;
tones;
equalizes pressure;
minimizes varicose veins;
improves immunity;
copes with cystitis;
reduces joint pain;
restores skin elasticity;
eliminates acne.

Bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties – a lifesaver for pregnant women.

The harvest is lengthy – September to November, when the "white bloom" on the barrels is still present. It's difficult to harvest by hand. A comb-and-scoop is used (a method prohibited in some Russian regions!). The grapes are frozen, dried in boxes or baskets lined with a ryadnina (a towel or cloth), sprinkled or ground with sugar, and canned.

Stone berry

A relative of blackberries and raspberries, this perennial is able to predict the weather by curling its leaves before warm weather and uncurling them before rain. It grows in areas with abundant moisture and alkaline, humus-rich soil: on the rocky ridges of the Caucasus, in the Ural mountains, in the forests of the Far East, and in Siberian meadows.

The Northern pomegranate, as it is called for its sour-juicy taste similar to the “bursting” fruit, is rich in:

ascorbic acid, which helps quickly restore immunity, normalize hematopoiesis, bring metabolism to an ideal state, and cleanse blood vessels;
rutin, which stimulates tissue respiration;
vasoconstrictive, venotonic, cardioprotective flavonoids;
alkanoids that normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems;
carbohydrates that nourish the brain and regulate metabolic processes;
tannins that relieve inflammation, eliminate microbes, and neutralize dehydration of the epidermis;
toning, youth-prolonging organic acids.

The berries are harvested in August, frozen, and dried in the shade or oven (maximum temperature of 55°C). The rhizome, petioles, and stems, along with the leaves, are harvested in September: washed and dried, stored in bags or tin or wooden boxes. The raw material is used for decoctions used for skin problems, severe dandruff, seborrhea, hemorrhoids, and eye inflammation. A steamed infusion made from the above-ground parts of the shrub is used for rheumatism, postpartum hemorrhage, anemia, arthritis, and migraines. It is an excellent pain reliever and is helpful for lung and bronchial ailments accompanied by a "barking" and "hollow" cough, as well as viral sore throats.

Freshly squeezed cloudberry juice is recommended for treating gastritis. It's also used to remove warts.

Important!

Those allergic to red berries should avoid eating the fresh fruit or using decoctions made from it. People with hypertension are also advised against eating cloudberries.

Barberry

A thorny shrub. Tall and tree-like. In Russia, it was originally found in the North Caucasian forest-steppe, Primorye, and Transcaucasia. Now, it grows almost everywhere it's planted (except in the northern regions).

Hawthorn

A tree-like shrub from the thorny rose family. It ripens in late September. The bright red fruits should be picked in dry, sunny weather—before frost—otherwise, they will be impossible to preserve, and the concentration of microelements and vitamins contained in the glode (also known as the glode) will be lost.

riboflavin;
rutin;
choline;
fructose;
succinic acid;
molybdenum;
calcium;
carotene.

Dried wrinkled fruits are stored in cloth bags, glass, clay containers, wooden and cardboard boxes, and brewed for prevention and treatment:

gastrointestinal tract, ulcer pain;
thyroid dysfunction;
reduced immunity;
prostatitis;
tachycardia;
atherosclerosis;
coronary insufficiency;
genitourinary disorders;
diarrhea;
metabolic disorders;
ischemia.

Hawthorn tincture (in water and alcohol) is indicated for nervous tension, fatigue, sleep disorders, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart rhythm imbalance, memory loss, and absent-mindedness.

Schisandra

A frost-resistant, woody vine that grows naturally in old clearings, forest edges, river floodplains, and along riverbanks. It has become common in front gardens and summer cottages, having migrated from the southern Kuril Islands, Primorye, Sakhalin, and the Far East. The scarlet clusters of fruit are a blend of the flavors of the sweet and sour pulp and the bitter-resinous seeds, creating a salty and even coniferous-citrusy aftertaste.

When ripe, in September-October, it turns crimson. It is cut like a bunch of grapes, stems included, and placed in an enamel container (galvanized containers risk oxidation). It is immediately processed, spreading in a thin layer on a lined lattice tray or boards, in a warm place, away from a draft or wind. After 2-3 days, the stems are removed and the grapes are prepared, drying in two stages (drying to a brownish-burgundy hue at 40°C, finishing at 60°C). They are then placed in tie-on linen bags, paper bags, or boxes.

The “treatment base” is maintained for two years:

fiber;
starch;
schizandrol;
fatty acids;
barium;
potassium;
selenium;
tocopherol;
provitamin A;
carbohydrates.

The decoction invigorates, counteracts fatigue, and improves the central nervous system's reflexes. It stimulates regenerative processes:

respiratory organs (cough, asthma attacks, pneumonia);
cardiovascular system;
liver (hepatitis C);
adrenal glands;
vegetative-vascular system (hypotension, dystonia).

Fruit drinks, tea, and syrups alleviate PMS, anxiety symptoms during menopause, and eliminate prolonged apathy.

Red rowan

A tall tree that tolerates frost, shade, and drought. It grows everywhere. Harvesting and preserving time is the second half of September and October. Pick bunches in the morning during dry weather. They can be frozen, made into compotes, or infused in alcohol. For medicinal infusions, they are dried: after washing, sorting, and placing on a cloth in a well-ventilated room, they are mixed. Oven drying (60-70°C) is also possible – until the fruit shrinks and turns a dull black. Store in tie-lock bags or jars with glass, wooden, or fabric lids. Harvesting after frost is acceptable – it loses some of its bitterness and astringency (store in the freezer).

Thanks to its universal vitamin composition, it helps with:

exhaustion, vitamin deficiency and anemia;
sore throat, cold;
inflammation of the gallbladder, liver;
dyspepsia;
obesity;
scrofula;
hemorrhoids;
hypertension.

The berries are black in skin, but bright in soul

Among the healthy autumn berries, there are some that turn black when ripe. However, only their skin remains dark; their healing properties are comparable to the touch of pure light.

Aronia (Chokeberry, Black Chokeberry)

A shrub. The low-calorie, sweet, astringent, purple-black apple-shaped fruits are considered a natural biopolymer containing:

anthocyanins;
pectins;
vitamins P, C;
iodine;
catechins;
microelements.

Used in cosmetology and therapy for:

normalization of cholesterol and sugar levels;
stabilization of elasticity of capillaries and blood vessels;
decreased peristalsis;
neutralization of radiation;
improving the functioning of the genitourinary system;
reduction of excitability;
immune stimulation;
combating toxicosis and diarrhea;
decreased blood pressure (hypertension).

Harvesting (cutting the bunch) begins when the apples release purple juice—late September to October. They are used for compotes, freezing, and drying:

hang brushes in “bouquets” in the attic/balcony;
kept in an oven/stove at +50-65°C.

Store the wrinkled, shiny apples, sprinkled with dry moss, in boxes.

Elder

A deciduous shrub/small tree with a rounded crown. The black-purple clusters are cut in early September. They are spread out on cloth or paper and dried in a draft. After 2-3 days, they are dried in the oven (55-65°C). The stems are removed and placed in bags. For six months, it is rich in:

fructose and glucose;
malic, ascorbic and hydrocyanic acids;
benzaldehyde;
vitamin A.

Berries can be frozen. Decoctions, kissels, and syrups are delicious and useful for treating:

hepatitis;
diabetes;
inflammation of the throat and mouth;
sciatica;
radiculitis and rheumatism.

Important!

All parts of the elderberry plant—from the roots to the leaves—are medicinal. However, they can only be used by people over 12 years of age. It is strictly contraindicated for people with ulcerative enterocolitis.

Yellow berry healers

In autumn, the berries known as “kiss of the sun” – bright yellow and orange in colour – are filled with medicinal benefits and juicy flavour.

Sea buckthorn

Tree/shrub. The fruits ripen from early August to late October (depending on the variety). It is also harvested during this time:

for drying, compotes and jam – beginning of September;
for jam and marmalade – the second half of September;
for oil - the end of the first autumn month - the beginning of the second;
for freezing - after October frosts;
for juice – after October 10-15.

The berry pulp is oily and slightly sour-bitter. Contains:

vitamins B, K, A, E, C;
tannins;
quercetin;
boron;
manganese;
iron;
fixed oils;
calcium;
copper;
stearin;
phospholipid.

Jam, oily tea, and infusions help to cope with:

ulcer of the duodenum and stomach;
constipation;
disruption of cerebral blood supply;
thrombophlebitis;
dizziness;
overwork;
anemia;
dry eye syndrome;
irritability;
conjunctivitis.

The oil is used externally to treat burns, skin irritations, colpitis, massage, brittle hair, and cervical erosion; and internally – after chemotherapy, for tonsillitis, gastritis, or stomach ulcers, and to neutralize the effects of antibiotics.

Physalis

A nightshade-like flowering shrub. Similar to a Chinese lantern: a leathery shell-like shell, inside is a fleshy berry reminiscent of a cherry tomato. The flavor is triune: sweet, tart, and a hint of bitterness.

The composition is rich in:

ascorbic acid;
alkaloid;
lycopene;
quercin;
fiber;
proteins;
tannins;
phytoncide;
fats and carbohydrates.

Ointments, decoctions, and infusions are prepared from the leaves and berries and used in therapy as:

antiseptic;
diuretic and choleretic agent;
hemostatic elixir;
pain reliever;
gastrointestinal ulcer healer;
blood pressure normalizer (hypertension);
cure for lichen and dermatitis.

The physalis harvest period is extended, as it ripens in layers. The benchmark is the dried "lantern" and deep orange color of the berry. Harvesting should be completed before autumn frosts, as the plant does not tolerate them. Dry until the capsule becomes thin, clinging to the berry. Place the fruits (in their skins) in 1-2 layers in ventilated boxes and store at 12-14°C for 2 to 5 months (the main thing is to promptly remove any spoiled berries).

Before eating, pour boiling water over it to wash off the sticky coating (but those with high stomach acidity should definitely not eat it raw).

Medicinal power is in every berry

Every berry in the autumn harvest contains healing power. Yes, they vary in taste and micronutrient and vitamin content, but they are all healing and multifunctional. Nature has provided these healing gifts. All you need to do is collect, prepare, and cook them properly.