34 replies to this topic

[TwinMaples]

With the heat and my wife's daily watering, we're at least 3-4 weeks early. How about you?

We have used most of the de-stemming methods out there. Here's a video (might have posted it before) that shows the how we evolved in elderberry de-stemming:

http://s883.photobuc...emmingVideo.mp4

Today we use the cooking grid to de-stem berries. Then, we put them in a bucket, fill with water, and the green berries, stems, and bugs typically float to the top, drain the water, and freeze them.

Jim

[KY Rob]

How useful! Thank you so much for posting this! My berries aren't in yet, but they're getting close. This will be the first year that I've made an elderberry, after recently stumbling across a batch in my neighbor's pasture.

[WVMountaineerJack]

We still have a lot of flowers and green berries, not even close yet. That big storm last week knocked a lot of them around but most of them are standing up. Crackedcork

[BobF]

Same as cc here. Bloom more or less ending, lotsa green berries everywhere. Harvest a long way away for us.

[TwinMaples]

KY Rob, glad you liked the video.

BobF and cc, keep us posted on the progress of your elders.

We had a mild winter, and an early, warm, sunny spring. That gave us a headstart growing everything from our yard to weeds to wild blackberries. Then, we started getting a drought, but my wife's daily watering saved the elders. Have a short row of Norton grapes, and they are looking good, too.

Jim

Jim

[Travelinmays]

I have about 3 dozen bushes with every thing from ripe berries to fresh flowers so I should be picking for the next month in a half, Right now I am picking about a half a gallon a night.

[dagobob]

mine are starting to ripen, so much so that the birds have already started picking at them before I've has a chance to put the netting up. I'm glad I have several varieties that ripen at different times because the early ripening berries are more like raisins since we've had only one decent rain in the last 6 weeks. Hand watering has been difficult, because I simply can't water the whole property every day/night, but I'm working up a better plan for the elderberries to get their fair share.

[TwinMaples]

3 dozen bushes is a LOT of pickin'.

Yes, the birds have been eating ours, too. The first few years we had elderberries we lost little or no berries. Last year, because of the drought, they were eating a lot more. This year, they're as bad.

Does the netting help? Wheat brand/type of netting do you use?

Jim

[dagobob]

I use basic bird netting available at a local hardware store; holes are about 1" x 1". The trick is to get them way above the berries or the birds will just sit on the netting and peck at the berries. I have four 4" posts with vinyl coated cable/wire strung between them and the netting completely boxes the bushes. If there is even one gap; they will find it and fly in and out. It sounds like a lot of work to cover, but it's really not, and I've found that if you don't, the birds will eventually eat almost all the berries; that's not fun.
I also have to cover the grapes and blackberries; although, it seems like the blackberries are their least favorite. Go figure....

[Juniper Hill]

I use basic bird netting available at a local hardware store; holes are about 1" x 1". The trick is to get them way above the berries or the birds will just sit on the netting and peck at the berries. I have four 4" posts with vinyl coated cable/wire strung between them and the netting completely boxes the bushes. If there is even one gap; they will find it and fly in and out. It sounds like a lot of work to cover, but it's really not, and I've found that if you don't, the birds will eventually eat almost all the berries; that's not fun.
I also have to cover the grapes and blackberries; although, it seems like the blackberries are their least favorite. Go figure....

Bob,

Can you post a photo of your netting technique?

[Juniper Hill]

My elderberries are all flowers at this stage. I've also had to water since the rainfall has been less than usual, and many of my elderberries are in their first year. They are all growing at a phenominal rate, btw .

[TwinMaples]

DagoBob, that sounds like a good design. I may have to get some netting.

Juniper Hill, do elderberries grow "wild" where you live?

Jim

[dagobob]

I'll try to remember to take some pictures this weekend. Where my elederberries are located; it's an awkward place; They're at the end of a pool deck on one end, the edge of a garden at the other; and two cherry trees/edge of property on the third side, so some "jerry" riggin was in order, but the concept is the same, get four corners (trees or posts) about two feet away from the edge of the bushes and two feet higher. I use vinyl coated "clothesline" metal braided wire (sometimes it's solid. but soft braided is easier to work with) available at every hardware store. Fasten the wire to all four corners then proceed to cover. It helps if you can Huck Finn your wife into thinking this is a fun project, because it's tricky to put the cover up. I have covers of different sizes 28 x 28 and 7' x 100' , but they come in other sizes as well. Lowes and Home Depot have 14' x 14, and 14' x 45', So you need to do a little measuring and figuring to determine which size will work best. I think it's easier if the top piece can drap over for the sides, instead of trying to piece up a side. Just make sure that you have the sides far enough away from the bushes to allow growth so that the bushes don't end up growing into a netting (lesson learned; a big mess). That way you can leave the netting up for a few years without having to deal with it.

[Juniper Hill]

Juniper Hill, do elderberries grow "wild" where you live?

They do grow wild, but I haven't been able to find them. Bought mine from nursery stock.

Regarding the bird netting, I'm thinking about getting the Birdguard Pro...probably a lot easier to put up.
http://www.winepress...2-bird-netting/

[saramc]

My elderberries are from nursery stock, also (cannot find wild ones here--eventually I will though!), put them in ground last year. Deer ate them to nubs last year, but this year they are doing well, put them in grow tubes. Only problem is--my cultivar markers disappeared--I swear the deer ate them too. Eventually I will have elderberries (and all the other fruits I planted). I am just happy I discovered mulberries and chokecherries growing on my property--I am on a role!