Elder: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you plant an elder?
First check your elder’s species and selection. The genus Sambucus includes plants with different uses; for culinary fruit, choose a form identified for that purpose by a nursery. European black elder, Sambucus nigra, is one example of a woody garden shrub. Allow a sunny to lightly shaded position with enough room for its growth and shoots spreading from the base.
Choose soil that retains moisture but drains adequately. A container plant can be planted during much of the year, avoiding frost, saturated ground and severe drought. Water the rootball before removing the container. Keep bare roots moist and plant during dormancy, without allowing them to dry in the air while you prepare the planting area.
Remove competing weeds and make a wide hole with depth suited to the roots or rootball. Set the plant at its original depth: doubling rootball depth can bury the stem bases. Backfill with garden soil, firm gently and water. Mulch helps conserve moisture; keep it clear of the stems. Monitor water availability during establishment rather than assuming the new plant will automatically withstand drought.
When does elder flower?
How do you prune an elder?
How to care for this plant
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Maintain the mulch
Check the ground cover around the base. If the mulch has thinned, top it up on moist, well-drained soil after removing competing weeds. Keep the trunk, crown and graft union clear; add nothing if the existing layer is sufficient.
How do you harvest culinary elderberries?
