September and October are harvest time for elderberries. There are a few things to keep in mind, because burst fruits cause intense discoloration. To ensure that no errors creep in when picking, we will inform you here about the best technique.
How should you harvest elderberries?
To harvest elderberries properly, cut off ripe cones with a sharp knife, sort out unripe berries and transport them in a plastic bag or lined basket. Wearing work gloves, rinse the cones and strip the berries from the stems with a fork.
Harvest elderberry early
Determining the right time to harvest is like a balancing act. On the one hand, unripe elderberries are still poisonous even after cooking; on the other hand, the fruits and leaves are shed in autumn. So keep a close eye on your black elderberry. Black-purple berries should no longer have a reddish shimmer. The red fruits of other species should under no circumstances have green spots.
Tips for picking correctly
Once the date for the harvest has been set, put together the work materials. You will need a sharp knife, a fork and a plastic bag or basket lined with plastic. In addition, work gloves are essential due to the toxic content of the entire plant. Disposable gloves, on the other hand, give you more sensitive dexterity. How to harvest the berries:
- cut off a complete umbel with the knife
- sort out individual unripe elderberries
- transport into the house in the bag or basket
- put on disposable gloves now at the latest
- rinse the cones under running water
- spread out a plastic wrap to protect against discoloration
- scrape off the berries using the fork
The fork acts like a comb and makes the harvesting process quicker than picking off each individual berry. Fresh elderberries do not last long. It is therefore advisable to start preparing immediately.
Tips & Tricks
No time to cook the elderberries straight after harvesting? Then simply freeze the entire cones so that you can use them at a later date. When frozen, the fruits are easier to shake off and don't cause any ugly stains.
