Elderberry Experiment: Update #5

[NeoGreen]

Last edited Fri Apr 13, 2018, 12:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Implementing plans for this year's expansion.

I bought 10-cuttings of a new variety know as Bob Gordon which are supposed to be very productive, have inverted berries (reducing bird predation) and a high Brix content for making wine.

http://www.rosaliewilson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ElderberryGuideComplete.pdf (pg 8)

Bob Gordon
The new cultivar Bob Gordon had a larger berry and yielded nearly triple that of Adams No. 2. Clusters hang upside down, which protects berries somewhat from birds. The Bob Gordon was the number one producer in trials and researchers are confident Bob Gordon is a truly superior cultivar for the Midwest. This cultivar is sought out by winemakers for its higher brix (River Hills Harvest, 2015). Drought tolerant, developed at University of Missouri Extension (Robinson, 2013).

In addition, I found and collected cuttings from a wild plant in Niagara County, NY that I am calling Niagara Wild. The intriguing thing about this particular plant is that I found it growing in and successfully competing with a field full of phragmites.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phragmites



My understanding is that Elderberries normally do poorly when there are robust competitors nearby, so I am looking forward to see how this one produces and if there is something special in regards to overcoming competition. Plus the cuttings were free, which is always a bonus.

Niagara Wild Cuttings (November 2017) are making decent progress:



New cuttings just potted last night:


On top of the approximate 25-cuttings/plants I am starting above, I ordered 50 bare-root elderberries (no specific variety) from my county Soil and Water Conservation Department.

So, all in all my work is cut out for me and it will be a busy spring (at a minimum)!

Links to previous updates:
Elderberry Experiment: In the beginning: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597228
Elderberry Experiment: Update #1: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597235
Elderberry Experiment: Update #2: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597246
Elderberry Experiment: Update #3: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597391
Elderberry Experiment: Update #4: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597481