How to grow... Elderberry
Rocket Growing Guides
A brilliant fruit plant to grow for its superfood berries – they need to be cooked before being eaten, but they are often used in tinctures and syrups/tea to boost the immune system, especially during colder months when cold and flu bugs are doing the rounds.
- Elderberry
How to plant Elderberry
- Elderberry is best planted in pairs, approximately 2 metres apart to aid pollination. It can also be grown individually.
- Plant in the ground, or in a container (re-pot as the plant grows).
- It is easy going and should cope with most soil types, although it will help to add organic compost when planting.
How to grow Elderberry
- Keep your elderberry well-watered while it is getting established.
- Once it has established its root system after a few months, frequent watering is not as necessary and the plant will only need water during prolonged dry spells (more frequently if grown in pots)
- Pruning is not mandatory, but can be done in winter by removing older wood.
How to Harvest Elderberry
- Harvest in Aug/Sep
- Fruit MUST be cooked before eating. We’d recommend cooking down with sugar and water to make an elderberry syrup.
