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The varietal propagation of elderberry is not always guaranteed when sowing seeds collected by hand. However, you are on the safe side with offshoots. We explain how to do it both in summer and in winter.
Summer time is cutting time
If the elder is full of juice in midsummer, this is the best time for the cuttings propagation. According to these instructions, the procedure can be carried out even by an inexperienced hand:
- select semi-lignified offshoots with a length of 10-15 centimeters
- a suitable cutting has at least 2-3 leaf nodes (bulges under the bark)
- defoliate the bottom half
- halve the remaining leaves
- Cultivation pots (16.68€) fill with nutrient-poor substrate
- use two thirds of 1-2 cuttings in it and water them
- put a perforated transparent bag over each container
Placed in a semi-shady place and kept constantly moist, rooting will take place quickly. If the roots protrude from the opening in the ground, plant the youngsters in a more nutrient-rich substrate. Vigorous elders can be planted out as early as autumn. If in doubt, keep the offspring indoors throughout the winter and then release them outdoors in the spring.
Cutting wood propagation in winter - how to do it right
When work in the garden is idle in winter, experienced hobby gardeners use the time for propagation work. In the case of elderberry, it works quite simply with the help of sticks. Here's how to do it:
- select healthy, annual shoots on a frost-free day in late winter
- the perfect stick is eight inches long, leafless, and has multiple dormant eyes
- Cut off the shoot tip straight
- bevel the lower end to avoid confusing the polarity later
- Fill pots with potting soil
- insert 1-2 sticks of 3/4 into each
- set up in a frost-free place
Marking the polarity is crucial because cuttings planted the wrong way round will not root. Do not water until the above-ground leaf nodes sprout. As a result, keep the substrate slightly moist. When the growing pot is fully rooted, it is planted out in spring.
tips and tricks
Each type of elder can be propagated with cuttings or sticks. If you are aiming for a rich harvest of large berries, then the shoots of the Sambucus nigra 'Haschberg' variety provide the ideal starting material. A single umbel can reach a weight of up to 1 kilogram.