Maybe you’re a holistic healer seeking the medicinal powers of elderflowers. Maybe you just enjoy eating superfoods like elderberries that have been grown under your guidance, thus ensuring the lack of chemical additives. Perhaps you’re even a closet horticulturist who loves to see scientific principles play out in nature, just as intended.
Regardless, it’s easy peasy, especially if like us the birds did you a solid and planted the elderberry bush on your behalf. After our usual extensive research (thanks 5 minutes and Youtube), we determined that the plant growing out of our compost bin was in fact Elderberry.
While we missed harvesting the berries last year, we look forward to a bumper crop this season so we can make:
- Elderberry cordial
- Elderberry grape jam
- Elderberry gin
- Elderberry syrup
- Elderberry poached pears
Don’t get excited, we’re not going to make this too complicated. If there’s an easy way to do any of this planting, gardening or homesteading, you can bet we’re starting there first. We’re courageous enough to try just about anything we’re interested in and naïve enough to believe that it will work out. Be like us!
Why would I want to propagate an elderberry bush? Well, besides the delicious treats listed above (and a host of more options) elderberries are high in nutrients:
- 52 mg of vitamin C per cup of fruit
- 10 grams of fiber per cup of fresh berries
- Good source of phenolic acids
- Good source of flavonols
- Rich in anthocyanins
Elderberries are more nutritious than Blueberries. If you can grow them, you should. By the way, have you bought blueberries lately?
How are ELDERBERRY (sambucus) and BLUEBERRY different?
- Elderberry (Sambucus) is higher than Blueberry in Vitamin C, Fiber, Iron, Vitamin B6, and Potassium.
- Elderberry (Sambucus) covers your daily need of Vitamin C 29% more than Blueberry.
- Elderberry (Sambucus) contains 6 times more Calcium than Blueberry. Elderberry (Sambucus) contains 38mg of Calcium, while Blueberry contains 6mg.
Growing your own is one of the reasons we’re here. We love hip-hop, eating home grown and drinking good bourbon (good meaning available and inexpensive). If you’ve thought about growing your own, elderberry plants would seem to be a great way to start.
Once the berries ripen in late July through early September, you can harvest them for syrups and tinctures. You can also use them in jams (it will be tart!) and in baking. Just make sure you cook elderberries before consuming, as unripe/raw elderberries can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Before the berries come the fragrant yellow flowers, full of powdery pollen. The flowers can easily be dried indoors or out, in an area out of the sun. Use a clean, wire clothes rack to hang the whole blossoms on and let them dry out slowly.
So, the question remains: How do I end up with an elderberry cutting?
- Identify an elderberry bush – easiest when flowering or presenting berries
- Cut and gather your elderberry cuttings – 6-10” long, include at least 4 buds, slanted cut on the bottom flat cut on top
Tips to remember: cut more than you think, not all of them will take.
PRO MOVE: As we mentioned earlier, we do it the easy way. Gardening is a hobby and if it looks, smells or feels like work, I’m out. If you’re looking for a little secret sauce, this pro move requires a little advance planning: Willow Tea as a rooting hormone.
If you have willow (any species) growing near you, chop up the youngest growth into 1”-2” size pieces. Set them in the sun and soak for 2-3 days. Place your elderberry cuttings in this willow tea for 4-6 hours before planting.
Choose a growing medium:
Water – fill a clear quart ball jar ¾ of the way with water. Place your cuttings cut side down in clean water. Change water weekly. Be sure that roots are well formed before transplanting in your garden/pots.
Pot – If propagating in pots, push cuttings into 3” pre-dampened soil mix. Keep in a cool place and avoid direct sunlight (this will encourage bud growth)
Directly in-ground – Find a well sheltered (from the wind/direct sun/overwater) place on your property. Place the elderberry cuttings directly in the ground (pointy side down) a few inches apart.
Now we prescribe patience, it will take a few years before flowers and berries are ready for making all of the sweet treats listed above. In that time, pour yourself a drink, and listen to a few of our launch concerts. Fall in love with a new performer and play the hell outta that $hit! Happy Planting!