The seeds of an elderberry are cold germinators. Without stratification, there is no life in it. Growing wild fruit trees by sowing requires a little skill. But what would hobby gardening be without challenges? This is how the plan works.
How to grow elderberry from seeds?
To grow elderberry from seeds, you should soak the seeds in potassium nitrate, stratify them in the refrigerator and then sow them at around 20 degrees Celsius under the classic conditions. The seedlings are ready to plant when they are 20-40 centimeters high.
Prepare the seeds properly
In the plant world, seeds from fruits are inhibited from germinating. With elderberry it is twofold. First, each fruit core is surrounded by a shell that protects the embryo. In addition, germination only begins when the seeds have been exposed to a cold stimulus. Before you start sowing, this inhibition threshold must be overcome. In the first stage it goes like this:
- picking and pitting fully ripe elderberries
- soak the seeds in 2 percent potassium nitrate for 24 hours (€16.00 on Amazon) (pharmacy)
- alternatively disinfect for 20 minutes in a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide
- then dilute by 50 percent and let the seeds soak for another day
In this way the first phase of preparation is completed by soaking the seed coat. The procedure is not quite as effective in lukewarm water that is poured into a thermos flask. The elderberry seeds soak in this for 48 hours at a constant temperature.
Stratification in the refrigerator
Place the prepared seeds in a plastic bag with moist sand. This is tightly closed and stored in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. The seeds go through a simulated winter for 6-8 weeks, which significantly improves the mood for germination.
Uncomplicated sowing
Following the cold stimulus, the seeds are sown under the classic conditions of normally germinating seeds. This is how it works step by step:
- Fill pots with seed soil
- Lay out 3-4 seeds in each and sift them 1-2 cm high
- moisten with water from the spray bottle
- Cover seed containers with glass or foil
- Place on the partially shaded, warm windowsill at approx. 20 degrees Celsius
While the cotyledons appear and then the first true leaves, keep the substrate slightly moist. From a height of 5-6 centimeters, the seedlings are transplanted into individual pots. The young elderberries are suitable for planting outdoors from a height of 20-40 centimeters.
Tips & Tricks
If the elderberries have been pitted for seed extraction, the pulp must not be eaten raw. There is a toxin in it that only dissolves when heated. Since the amount is far too small for cooking, we recommend disposing of it safely with household waste.
