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The seeds of an elder are cold germs. Without stratification there is no life in it. So growing the wild fruit tree by sowing requires a bit of skill. But what would hobby gardening be without challenges? This is how the plan works.
Prepare the seed properly
In the plant world, seeds from fruits are provided with a germination inhibition. In the case of elderberry, it exists twice. First, each seed is surrounded by a shell that protects the embryo. In addition, germination only begins when the seed has been exposed to a cold stimulus. Before you start sowing, you have to overcome this inhibition threshold. The first step is like this:
- Pick and stone fully ripe elderberries
- soak the seeds in 2% potassium nitrate (pharmacy) for 24 hours
- alternatively disinfect for 20 minutes in a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide
- then dilute it by 50 percent and let the seeds swell in it for another day
In this way, the first phase of preparation is completed by softening the seed coat. The procedure is not quite as effective in lukewarm water, which is filled into a thermos flask. Here the elderberries swell for 48 hours at a constant temperature.
stratification in the refrigerator
Fill the prepared seeds with moist sand in a plastic bag. This is sealed tightly and placed in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. The seeds experience a simulated winter for 6-8 weeks, which significantly increases the germ mood.
Easy sowing
Following the cold stimulus, the seeds are sown under the classic conditions of normally germinating seeds. How to do it step by step:
- Fill the pot with seed soil
- lay out 3-4 seeds in each and sieve 1-2 cm high
- moisten with water from the spray bottle
- Cover seed pots with glass or foil
- place on the partially shaded, warm window sill at around 20 degrees Celsius
While the cotyledons appear first and then the first true leaves, keep the substrate slightly moist. From a height of 5-6 centimetres, the seedlings are pricked out in individual pots. The young elders are fit for planting outdoors from a growth height of 20-40 centimetres.
tips and tricks
If the elderberries have been pitted to obtain the seeds, the pulp must not be eaten raw. It contains a toxin that only dissolves when heated. Since the amount for preserving is far too small, we recommend safe disposal in the household waste.