When is elderberry ripe? How do you go about harvesting elderflowers and berries? What else can you do with elderberry besides elderberry juice? We share tips for harvesting, preserving, and using.
Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) can be used in many ways. Probably the best-known product made from elderberry is elderflower syrup. Perhaps you know it as an ingredient for the refreshing summer cocktail "Hugo". The special feature of the elderberry bush is that you can harvest and process both the flowers and the fruit. You can find out how to do this in this article. You can find more information about the elderberry bush - from planting, care and propagation to different types and varieties of elderberry - in our article on elderberry.
When is elderberry ripe?
Not only the ripe fruits of the elder can be harvested and processed, the flowers of the elder bush can also be used in different ways. However, it must be remembered that without flowers there are no fruits. If you want to harvest both elderflowers in early summer and elderberries in late summer, you must only partially harvest the flowers of the elderberry bush, otherwise no fruit can form.
Elderflower harvest time
The elderflowers bloom from the end of May to June and should be harvested as fresh as possible, i.e. shortly after the individual flowers have opened.
Elderberry harvest time
The elderberries ripen between the end of September and October. Harvest the fruit only when as many berries as possible are ripe. Unripe berries should not be eaten due to their toxicity. In general, even ripe elderberries have to be heated and boiled before consumption so that the toxic ingredients lose their effect.
Tip: The elderberry bush is a very bird-friendly tree because of its fruits. It is therefore best to always leave a few elderberries for your chirping garden dwellers.
Harvest elderberries: How to do it
If you want to harvest elderberries, you needa pair of scissors or a knife and a basket or other container for the flowers or fruit. When you harvest the elderberries, it is advisable to wear dark and older clothes, as the juice from the elderberries is very colour-intensive and elderberry stains are difficult to wash out.
Harvest elderflowers
Cut the flower spikes on a sunny morning when the dew has dried on the newly opened individual flowers and place them loosely in a basket. Process the harvested elderflowers as quickly as possible, otherwise they will wither.
Harvest elderberries
Wait until all the berries are dark purple to black before harvesting the elderberries. In the case of red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), the ripening point has been reached when the berries are red. Cut the stalks and place them in a container, being careful not to burst the juicy berries.
Components of Elderberry: Can you eat elderberries and flowers?
Elderberry has many he althy ingredients. In the Middle Ages it was an important medicinal plant and even today hot elderberry juice and tea made from elderflowers are common home remedies for a cold.
Elderflowers contain essential oils, tannins and mucilage, flavonoids, potassium and sweat-inducing glycosides. Elderberries are real vitamin bombs and, in addition to vitamins C and B2, also contain essential oils and flavonoids as well as anthocyanins, minerals and folic acid.
The leaves, bark and seeds in particular also contain toxic hydrocyanic acid glycosides. Therefore, the elderberries may only be eaten boiled. Red elderberry seeds have higher levels of toxic substances and do not lose them completely when cooked. In order to still be able to eat the elderberries, you should remove the seeds with a sieve.
Using and preserving elderflowers
Elderflower can be processed into various products. Here are some ideas for treats you can make with the creamy white flowers and how to preserve them.
Elderflower Syrup
With just a few ingredients you can create a delicious elderflower syrup from the flowers. In addition to the elderflowers, you need water, sugar and lemons ororanges. If stored correctly, the syrup can be kept closed for about a year. For example, you can enjoy it with Prosecco, mineral water and mint as "Hugo" or without alcohol as a refreshing elderberry lemonade.
Elderflower Liqueur
Elderflower liqueur can also be prepared quickly. In addition to elderflowers, water, sugar and lemons, you need a clear schnapps such as vodka or Korn.
Drying Elderflower
If you want to drink elderflower tea in winter, you can easily dry the elderflowers after harvesting. Cut off the thicker flower stalks just before the first branch and then place the flower umbels on a wire rack or wire rack so that they are also ventilated from below. The elderflowers can dry in a shady, warm and airy place. Apply them daily. If the buds rustle when moved, that's a sign they're completely dry. At this point, you can pluck the individual flowers from the stems and store them in an airtight container, such as a jar, in a dark place for up to a year.
Freeze elderflower
If you don't want to use the elderflowers immediately after harvesting, you can also freeze them. After you have shaken off any dirt and insects, briefly dip the harvested elderflowers in water and then let them drain. Spread the flower spikes out on a baking sheet or tray and place in the freezer for a few hours. You can then pull the individual flowers off the stems and store them in suitable containers in the freezer.
Use & preserve elderberries
If you haven't harvested all the elder flowers in early summer, you can harvest the fruits of the elder bush in late summer. The elderberries can also be used in many ways.
Elderberry Juice
After harvesting, you can process the elderberries into juice. First separate the washed berries from the stalks, for example by plucking them with a fork. Elderberries can only be eaten when cooked, as the poisonous sambunigrin they contain loses its effect when heated.
Elderberry syrup
You can use elderberry juice to make elderberry syrup with water, sugar and lemons in a similar way to elderflowers.
Elderberry Liqueur
With sugar, vanilla and schnapps (like rum) you can process the elderberries into elderberry liqueur, which you can enjoy on its own or in an aperitif.
Elderberry Jelly
Elderberry jelly is also a good way to process and preserve elderberries. For this you need elderberry juice, lemon juice, preserving sugar and spices such as cloves or cinnamon.
Freeze elderberries
Elderberry also freezes well. Separate the berries from the stems with a fork and then freeze them. Alternatively, you can freeze the panicles for a few hours and then pluck the berries. In this way, elderberry juice stains can be avoided.
If you would like to learn how to properly prune the elderberry bush so that you can enjoy a bountiful harvest year after year, we recommend our special article on pruning the elderberry.