Gardening
Related: About this forumElderberry Experiment: Update #7
Last edited Wed May 9, 2018, 08:20 AM - Edit history (1)
The experiment continues and the 2017 (i.e. Phase 1) plants are doing very well:
I need to do some mowing and mulching to keep the weeds at bay (I fear this will be a recurring theme for the summer)
Looking fairly healthy. The roots must be well established since I haven't had to water the 2017 plants yet.
Close up of growth so far.
Phase 2 (current status)
On the weekend of April 27 to 29, I planted (nominally) 50-Bare Root in 2-rows, 25-Niagara Wild in 1-row and 10-Bob Gordon plants in a ~1/2 row.
In general the Bare Root plants have surprised me with some positive growth already:
(this is a typical bare root plant)
Out of the 50 plants, at least 45 have shown new growth already.
About 5 of the Bare Root were quite large to begin with:
And are showing good growth:
The Bob Gordons are doing well, on the whole:
But I have lost 2 already, so the jury is still out on the long term.
The Niagara Wilds are also doing well on the whole:
The original Niagara Wild I started as a cutting indoors in November (in a large pot):
If you look closely you can see some stress from the hot (72-degree) sunny day the day after I planted everything. The weather went from snow and cold through April 15 to warm spring/sun in late April. The plants didn't have time to adjust and suffered for it.
Typical "loss":
I've lost about 3 of the Niagara Wilds so far.
I "morn" each and every one
So, I have seriously underestimated my mulch requirements, but fortunately have found an inexpensive ($10/small pick-up truck load) source at a local lumber mill (the pile on the left is ~2-loads):
I know what I will be doing this summer.
Mow, mulch, mow, mulch...rinse...repeat...
Links to previous updates:
Elderberry Experiment: In the beginning: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597228
Elderberry Experiment: Update #1: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597235
Elderberry Experiment: Update #2: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597246
Elderberry Experiment: Update #3: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597391
Elderberry Experiment: Update #4: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597481
Elderberry Experiment: Update #5: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597520
Elderberry Experiment: Update #6: https://upload.democraticunderground.com/11597703
procon
(15,805 posts)I've never seen an elderberry where I live, or even tasted one. I just looked up some pictures on google, almost like blackberries, so what will you do with your harvest?
NeoGreen
(4,033 posts)...I'd like to go "commercial" and sell organic berries and flowers to local coops and any market I can find.
In the mean time, I plan on experimenting with juice, pies, jam, jelly, wine, a form of elder-flower champagne and even dabbling in seeing what oil I can get from the seeds.
In other words, pretty much what ever I can.
procon
(15,805 posts)Ohiogal
(34,631 posts)My husband and I were looking at your great photos. Very interesting to us, since we love elderberries too (and have only one large bush of them back on the edge of the swamp).
Everything is looking great and I hope you have continued success!
...I would encourage you to collect cuttings from +3-year cane next January and see if you can propagate additional plants.
I found it amazingly easy to get them started using the following technique:
https://www.mommypotamus.com/growing-elderberry/
Good luck!
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)There were a lot of elderberry bushes growing wild around our small farm.
We picked them every year and my mom made jams, jellies, and lots of pies and cobblers.
The good old days.
packman
(16,296 posts)Remember uncles making elderberry wine and giving bottles of it out at Xmas.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)packman
(16,296 posts)Polish men (and some Polish women) aren't known for their delicate, tiny feet. Then, again, the wine did have a unique taste as I recall.