How to Grow Elderberry Fields
The elderberry is a deciduous fruit-producing shrub found growing in the wild and also cultivated for home berry production. Elderberry shrubs produce clusters of small black-purple berries used for making pies, jams and jelly. The plant is also grown as an ornamental shrub, as it has an attractive appearance with fragrant flowers. Plant the elderberry shrubs in an open area that has air movement to prevent disease and bird damage. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Soil test kit
- Tiller
- Organic compost
- Elderberry plants
- Shovel
- Mulch
- Hand pruner
- Tree pruner
Instructions
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1
Prepare a field area that has well-drained soil and full sunlight conditions. Contact your local county university extension office and have a soil test conducted on the area. The results will give recommendations for soil adjustments and fertilizer types.
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2
Use a tiller to break up the soil and remove all vegetative debris. Add organic compost or manure to increase the nutrient value and moisture retention of the soil.
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3
Plant elderberry plants in the spring. Dig a hole the same depth as the container the plants were grown in. Set the plant in the hole and firmly pack soil around the roots.
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4
Space the plants 6 feet apart in rows that are 10 feet apart.
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5
Water the elderberry plants immediately after planting. Continue to water new plantings for the first two weeks to stimulate root growth. Water the plants on a weekly basis when rainfall is less than one inch per week during the growing season.
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6
Place mulch around the elderberry plants and between the rows to limit weed growth. Use a tiller between the rows on a regular basis to eliminate weeds if preferred over mulching.
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7
Prune broken and dead branches from the elderberry plants after two seasons of growth. Prune three-year-old branch growth each of the following years to increase fruit production.
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8
Propagate elderberry shrubs through one-year-old softwood or hardwood cuttings taken during the dormant season.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not fertilize elderberry plants the first season after planting. Fertilize the following growing season based on soil test results.
