I have never seen elderberries at Costco; please tell me what they cost, if you remember.
They were in boxes in the center of the store last year as dormant plants. Mixed in with the blackberries, raspberries, grapes etc. It was somewhere between 12-14 bucks for the box that had 2 plants.
Pulled image from internet, but this is the box
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Very cool!
I got my John and Adamās set from Isonās.
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Hi all, rooted some elderberry cuttings this winter, outside in pots, and theyāre doing great. 2/6 containers pictured, most have big roots protruding out the bottom. Iāll separate and repot the most rooted soon. But, Iām going to have 10+ extra. I canāt deal with shipping things, but anyone DC metro area is welcome to stop by and take one in a few weeks/summer after I divide. Theyāre Nova, York, Adamās, though I might only have 1 of the York leftover. Also to note- itās possible the nova was mislabeled because it grew 10ā last summer, and itās supposed to be a shorter variety. But, all 3 of these overlap blooming. My original 4 (includes Johnās) are spaced 5ā apart but I planted 10 more cuttings back when I took these that are 4ā spacing. So, you donāt need much space, and theyāre so self sufficient, donāt care about soil quality (my original 4 are it utter, utter crap thatās only 18ā and then compacted concrete rubble) and seem to produce fine regardless of sun. They just need a good winter hack.
Iāll have Adamās cuttings next winter, Bob Gordon and ranch cuttings the following if anyone in the area wants more. (said every person growing elderberry.)
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My elderberries gave me quite a crop last year. I have like three gallon zip lock bags of black elderberry in my freezer.
But I donāt know what to do with them. They taste pretty terrible. I made wine out of them but I still have a lot.
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Make jelly
Where are you located? I might have some things I can give you as well.
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Syrup! Can add honey, cinnamon, whatever. We love it daily especially fall through spring to help with little kid viruses. I drizzle it on waffles and toast before other toppings. Put it in a smoothie and totally hide flavor.
Add a little mixed with your other berries when you make jam/jelly
Syrup might be a good idea. Normally I would jam but my concern is that I would have to pull out the seeds with the food mill. Wouldnāt I? If so that leaves not much behind to work with
Hmm, not sure? I donāt make/eat jams and jellies.
It was so much fun dividing my cuttings and seeing all the roots. Maybe the way some kids feel on Christmas morning. Of 26 or so, only 2 didnāt root.
I tried York and Ranch here in southern middle TN zone 7bā¦ and they could not take my heat and humidity.
A couple years backā¦ dug up a couple crowns of wild TN elder late winter and planted them in my orchard.
They look like this today.
I cut them back to the ground over winter.
TNHunter
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my margeās should put out their 1st. fruit this summer. were rooted cuttings last spring now most are 4-5ft. very vigorous compared to the yorks and johns.
Awesome! Itās fun to watch them grow so fast.
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Has any breeding American elderberry been done? Most varieties seem to be mostly just some superior wild ones. I have some Johns and Bob Gordon plants in a secluded spot and half considering planting a bunch of their seeds and putting a row of seedlings into the pasture and see if anything of worth stands out.
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I think University of Missouri is working on them.
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I have Wyldewood, native local, Marge, and Hachsberg. Marge is by far the most vigorous grower, outgrowing even my American vars.
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thats what im seeing as well. 2xs the growth of regular pure American cultivars. ive read the plants can get upward of 12 - 15ft. i have a york or johns thatās near that with 0 fertilizing or care underplanted with walking onions. i may need to prune these to control them.
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