picking elderberries

[leeg3910]

hello all, im new to wine making ( 1st batch tesco red grape juice in dj) and i want to try some elderberry and elder/blackberry wine but i am not sure about picking the berries. ive read about using a fork to get the berries off the stalks but when it comes to cutting the sprigs (is that the right word) off the tree, will the whole thing grow back next year or will it be a few years till it grows back enough to have a large yield of fruit. sorry if this is a silly question but gardening and growing things has never been my thing.

Lee

 

[jonboymentalhealth]

i usually cut whole sprig off then freeze as when frozen the berries come of much easier. The fruit swhould grow as normal next year no problems.. :

 

[Moley]

Hi Lee,

If you pick the elderflowers there won't be any elderberries, but otherwise everything grows back next year.

There seems to be a particularly good crop this year, so an old 5 gallon FV and a pair of secateurs stay in my car all the time (although I got half a bucket of damsons today which I really must go and wash/freeze - thanks for reminding me).

 

[leeg3910]

thanks for the replies, i'll have to get out after work and get harvesting. have you any simple recipes i can follow
Thanks
Lee

 

[jonboymentalhealth]

There are few recipe suggestions in here,
viewtopic.php?f=40&t=10165 :

 

[leeg3910]

ok thanks

Lee

 

[Smod]

I've used and "Afro" comb or a wide pronged comb as you'll get more off in one stroke than a fork.... :shock:

Hope that sounded ok :shock: :shock: