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Edible Landscape

Is this an elderberry? And how do I tell when it's ripe?

digitalawakening

13 years ago

I've got some of what I'm pretty sure are elderberries, but would like to be sure before I harvest/cook/distill/etc them. Also, I don't know how to tell when they are ripe/ready for harvest? A few are dropping off of the bushes, but I don't really see the birds going at them yet.

Image on this page: http://elderberries.ning.com/forum/topics/are-these-elderberries-and-how

Comments (2)

flora_uk
13 years ago
It certainly looks like an elderberry (Sambucus) but I only know Sambucus nigra and this one looks a little different from the ones I see over here. Hope someone else can help.
denninmi
13 years ago
Yes, its an elderberry. Ideally, you pick them when all of them on the cluster have turned dark and ripe, but if the birds are taking them you can pick them a little earlier when just most of them have ripened, and just don't use the green ones. If you wait too long, they'll fall off and be lost.
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