The varietal propagation of elderberry is not always guaranteed when sowing seeds that you have collected yourself. However, you are on the safe side with offshoots. We explain how to do it in both summer and winter.
How do you grow elderberry cuttings?
Elderberry cuttings can be grown either in summer by cuttings or in winter by cuttings. Plant semi-lignified cuttings in summer and leafless cuttings in winter in nutrient-poor substrate and keep moist until roots are visible.
Summertime is cutting time
If the elderberry is in full sap in midsummer, this is the best time for propagating cuttings. Following these instructions, even an inexperienced hand can complete the procedure:
- Select semi-woody offshoots with a length of 10-15 centimeters
- A suitable cutting has at least 2-3 leaf nodes (thickenings under the bark)
- defoliate the lower half
- halve the remaining leaves
- Fill cultivation pots with nutrient-poor substrate (€6.00 on Amazon)
- insert 1-2 cuttings two thirds into each and water
- Put a perforated transparent bag over each container
Placed in a semi-shady place and kept constantly moist, root formation occurs quickly. If the roots protrude from the opening in the ground, transplant the younglings into a more nutrient-rich substrate. Strong elderberries can be planted out in autumn. If in doubt, keep the offspring indoors throughout the winter and release them outdoors in the spring.
Cuttings propagation in winter – how to do it right
When work in the garden stops in winter, experienced hobby gardeners use the time for propagation work. With elderberry, it's easy to do it using cuttings. Here's how to do it:
- select he althy, annual shoots on a frost-free day in late winter
- the perfect cutting wood is 20 centimeters long, leafless and has several sleeping eyes
- cut the shoot tip straight
- bevel the bottom end so as not to mix up the polarity later
- Fill pots with potting soil
- Insert 1-2 3/4 pieces in each piece
- set up in a frost-free place
Marking the polarity is crucial because cuttings planted the wrong way round will not root. There is no watering until the above-ground leaf nodes sprout. As a result, keep the substrate slightly moist. Once the cultivation pot is completely rooted, it is planted out in spring.
Tips & Tricks
Every type of elderberry can be propagated using cuttings or cuttings. If you are aiming for a rich harvest of large-fruited berries, then the shoots of the Sambucus nigra 'Haschberg' variety provide the optimal starting material. A single cluster of cones can weigh up to 1 kilogram.
