Item Tag: Elderberry

In this auction you will receive 125 + seeds collected 8 29/22. The berries have been cleaned dryed and floated. You will receive the ones that sink!! The elderberry is a very popular plant that grows well in the garden as well as the wild. It is an excellent tree to grow that will attract wildlife to your garden and the flowers and berries can be harvested for a variety of uses. The elderberry grows as a tree and it is a wonderful addition to any edible garden. It also grows plentifully in the wild, particularly along river banks throughout the western parts of North America. The elderberry tree can grow as tall as 20 feet and it is related to the honeysuckle. It often grows in a shrub-like cluster of stems though some varieties are smaller and single-stemmed. The serrated leaves of the elderberry grow along the twigs in groups of 3 to 9 leaves. They are aligned with each other in an opposite formation, meaning they do not line up from one side of the stem to the other but are staggered. In the spring, the fragrant flowers bloom in small clusters and are a waxy white color. These promote the coveted berries in autumn, so it’s important to harvest only a portion of the flowers if you also want to enjoy the berries. In the garden, elderberry trees enjoy moist, well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. They can also produce runners, so it’s important to remove any unwanted shoots or they will take over your garden. You may have to wait 2 to 3 years after planting before your elderberry flowers and fruits. Propagating the elderberry is best done by seed as cuttings have a lower success rate. Luckily, as many berry-eating birds prove, the seeds take root very well and can produce a very healthy tree Sambucus nigraelderberry, sweet or wild elderZones 4-7Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Store the seeds at a temperature of 41 degrees F if not planting. The seeds will store for up to two years. Sow the seeds in the fall season at a depth of one-fourth inches and density of 35 plants per square foot of area. Cover the seed with a three-eighths inch layer of sawdust mulch. Smash dried fruit with water gently in a blender so the seeds float to the top. Mark the planting area and monitor as germination will not be completed until the second spring after planting. Water the seed planting area to keep the soil moist. Gently remove weed growth. Planting in pots Stratify the seeds for two months in a greenhouse by placing them in a mixture of sand, peat and vermiculite. Keep the temperature at 70 to 85 degrees F during the process. Place the seeds just under the soil surface of seed starting trays filled with moist seed starting media. Continue to germinate the seeds in a greenhouse. Mark the planting area and monitor as germination will not be completed until the second spring after planting.Water the seed planting area to keep the soil moist. Keep the soil moist but not wet during germination. Transplant the seedlings into three inch pots for continued growth. Transplant the seedlings outdoors in the fall season once they reach six to eight months of age. Water the transplant in areas where the soil is dry. Tip Plant elderberries in a well drained soil that is slightly acidic. Work compost into the soil prior to planting to increase the nutrient value. Experts suggest you mix the seeds into a well-draining substrate like a mixture of compost and sharp sand. This should be moist but not wet and there should be enough to keep the seeds apart from one another. Read more at Gardening Know How: Germinating Elderberry Seeds – Elderberry Seed Growing Tips https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/elderberry/germinating-elderberry-seedElderberry Seed Propagation The stratification required to start propagating elderberry from seed should mimic nature’s cycle. First expose seeds to warm conditions– like the normal conditions found indoors– for several months. This is followed by winter temperatures for another three months. Read more at Gardening Know How: Germinating Elderberry Seeds – Elderberry Seed Growing Tips https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/elderberry/germinating-elderberry-seeds.htm Elderberry Seed Propagation The stratification required to start propagating elderberry from seed should mimic nature’s cycle. First expose seeds to warm conditions– like the normal conditions found indoors– for several months. This is followed by winter temperatures for another three months. Read more at Gardening Know How: Germinating Elderberry Seeds – Elderberry Seed Growing Tips https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/elderberry/germinating-elderberry-seeds.htm Experts suggest you mix the seeds into a well-draining substrate like a mixture of compost and sharp sand. This should be moist but not wet and there should be enough to keep the seeds apart from one another. Read more at Gardening Know How: Germinating Elderberry Seeds – Elderberry Seed Growing Tips https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/elderberry/germinating-elderberry-seeds.htmThe stratification required to start propagating elderberry from seed should mimic nature’s cycle. First expose seeds to warm conditions– like the normal conditions found indoors– for several months. This is followed by winter temperatures for another three months. Read more at Gardening Know How: Germinating Elderberry Seeds – Elderberry Seed Growing Tips https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/elderberry/germinating-elderberry-seeds.htm