Harvest elderberries in good time
Finding the right time to harvest is like a balancing act. On the one hand, unripe elderberries are still poisonous even after they have been cooked, on the other hand, the fruits and their leaves are thrown off in autumn. So keep a close eye on your black elder. Black-purple berries should no longer have a reddish shimmer. The red fruits of other species should no longer have green spots.
also read
- When do experts harvest their elderberries?
- Are Elderberries Poisonous?
- When are elderberries ripe?
Tips on correct picking
Once the date for the harvest has been set, put together the work material. You need a sharp knife, a fork and a plastic bag or basket lined with plastic. In addition, work gloves are essential due to the toxicity of the entire plant. Disposable gloves, on the other hand, give you more sensitive dexterity. How to bring in the berry harvest:
- cut off a complete umbel with the knife
- Sort out individual unripe elderberries
- Transport in the bag or basket to the house
- Put on disposable gloves now at the latest
- Rinse the cones under running water
- Spread out a plastic sheet to protect against discoloration
- Remove the berries with a fork
The fork acts like a comb and makes the harvesting process faster than plucking each individual berry. Fresh elderberries cannot be kept for a long time. It is therefore advisable to start preparing immediately.
Tips & Tricks
No time to boil down the elderberries right after the harvest? Then you can quickly freeze the entire cones in order to process them at a later point in time. In the frozen state, the fruits are easier to shake off anyway and do not cause ugly stains.
