|
Home > Archive > UK gardening > January 2006 > rejuveniate elderflower bush/tree
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
| Author |
rejuveniate elderflower bush/tree
|
|
| Connor T 2006-01-27, 5:21 am |
| hi,
we have an old looking very woody elderflower bush growing up the side
of the shed. it didnt have an enormous amount of growth on it last
year, and doesnt look at it's best.
how best to give it a new lease of life? i'm thinking prune hard now
and feed well, seems like one option? Any recommendations? They flower
and fruit on this years growth right?
What about food? just some manure and a few chicken manure pellets?
Thanks!
Dan
| |
| Tim C. 2006-01-27, 5:21 am |
| Following up to "Connor T" <madman_dan@hotmail.com> :
>hi,
>
>we have an old looking very woody elderflower bush growing up the side
>of the shed. it didnt have an enormous amount of growth on it last
>year, and doesnt look at it's best.
>
>how best to give it a new lease of life? i'm thinking prune hard now
>and feed well, seems like one option? Any recommendations? They flower
>and fruit on this years growth right?
>
>What about food? just some manure and a few chicken manure pellets?
Don't they only live about 15-20 years anyway?
There was a really old, gnarled, uncared-for one near my house and about 2
years ago it was cut right down to about 1 foot during the harvest season.
It is now a really strong, healthy-looking plant and is nearly as big as it
was before.
--
Tim C.
| |
|
| On 27/1/06 9:07, in article nfojt198gatqii9va43v8cljg8uj4i7vho@4ax.com, "Tim
C." <tim.challenger@aon.at> wrote:
> Following up to "Connor T" <madman_dan@hotmail.com> :
>
>
>
> Don't they only live about 15-20 years anyway?
> There was a really old, gnarled, uncared-for one near my house and about 2
> years ago it was cut right down to about 1 foot during the harvest season.
> It is now a really strong, healthy-looking plant and is nearly as big as it
> was before.
>
And then:
ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL
90 heads of just opened Elder flower, picked at mid-day
6 sliced lemons
9lbs. Preserving sugar (Caster will do but Preserving is better)
7.5 oz. Citric or Tartaric acid
Put all the ingredients into a large bowl or clean plastic bucket. Add 7.5
pints boiling water.
Stir night and day for 5 days. Strain, squeezing the lemons. Put into
plastic bottles and deep freeze. Take out only when wanted, and refrigerate
as it wonıt keep out of the freezer for more than 5 to 7 days.
Dilute with water to taste.
This makes a very refreshing drink in hot weather.
Undiluted, itıs also good on gooseberries or over fruit salad.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(sacha@garden506.fsnet.co.uk)
| |
| Martin Brown 2006-01-27, 8:21 am |
| Connor T wrote:
> we have an old looking very woody elderflower bush growing up the side
> of the shed. it didnt have an enormous amount of growth on it last
> year, and doesnt look at it's best.
Cut out a all the dead and water shoots, a third of the oldest wood and
any crossing branches. More if you are adventurous - elderflower are
well nigh impossible to kill. You can train them into trees and they
look fairly handsome gnarled specimens after a while.
I halve the size of the ones growing in my rough hedge every year and
they always come back to about 12' again with a seasons growth.
>
> how best to give it a new lease of life? i'm thinking prune hard now
> and feed well, seems like one option? Any recommendations? They flower
> and fruit on this years growth right?
>
> What about food? just some manure and a few chicken manure pellets?
Don't feed it. That will only encourage it to grow bigger faster.
Regards,
Martin Brown
| |
| Rusty Hinge 2 2006-01-27, 8:21 am |
| The message <nfojt198gatqii9va43v8cljg8uj4i7vho@4ax.com>
from Tim C. <tim.challenger@aon.at> contains these words:
> Following up to "Connor T" <madman_dan@hotmail.com> :
Cut it right down to about a foot above the ground.
[color=darkred]
> They flower
Yes.
[color=darkred]
Not in any great quantity, if you want flowers and fruit.
Fork in some bonemeal round the roots and let the worms do the rest. A
little manure or chicken manure pellets may help, but don't overdo it.
[color=darkred]
> Don't they only live about 15-20 years anyway?
They tend to die off up top, but the roots will throw up new shoots.
> There was a really old, gnarled, uncared-for one near my house and about 2
> years ago it was cut right down to about 1 foot during the harvest season.
> It is now a really strong, healthy-looking plant and is nearly as big as it
> was before.
I never burn the wood, I stack it under a south-facing hedge and keep ir
damp. Having 'seeded' it with some lengths of old wood infected with the
Jew's Ear fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae), it wasn't long before it
had spread to the rest, and last year I had a good crop of the
fruit-bodies. They can be dried easily, and they reconstitute as new
when soaked, or when dry, can be ground in a coffee mill to make a
powder for flavouring and thickening stews and casseroles.
--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig
| |
| Rusty Hinge 2 2006-01-27, 10:21 am |
| The message <BFFFA449.287F5%sacha@nospam.fsnet.co.uk.invalid>
from Sacha <sacha@nospam.fsnet.co.uk.invalid> contains these words:
> ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL
> 90 heads of just opened Elder flower, picked at mid-day
> 6 sliced lemons
I never use lemons or citric acid - you can taste the stuff. (Which is
why I don't buy branded jams these days.)
I use tartaric and ascorbic acid instead.
> 9lbs. Preserving sugar (Caster will do but Preserving is better)
I always use granulated - exactly the same composition as caster, but
cheaper. preserving sugar often contains citric acid.
> 7.5 oz. Citric or Tartaric acid
Avoid citric, unless you want a lemon/elderflower cordial.
> Put all the ingredients into a large bowl or clean plastic bucket. Add 7.5
> pints boiling water.
> Stir night and day for 5 days. Strain, squeezing the lemons. Put into
> plastic bottles and deep freeze. Take out only when wanted, and refrigerate
> as it wonıt keep out of the freezer for more than 5 to 7 days.
> Dilute with water to taste.
> This makes a very refreshing drink in hot weather.
> Undiluted, itıs also good on gooseberries or over fruit salad.
You can scoop the cordial from its container when deep-frozen.
--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig
| |
| Sacha 2006-01-27, 10:21 am |
| On 27/1/06 13:24, in article 313030303230303843DA1F2A96@gruel.invalid.co.uk,
"Rusty Hinge 2" <rusty.hinge@gruel.invalid.co.uk> wrote:
> The message <BFFFA449.287F5%sacha@nospam.fsnet.co.uk.invalid>
> from Sacha <sacha@nospam.fsnet.co.uk.invalid> contains these words:
>
>
>
>
> I never use lemons or citric acid - you can taste the stuff. (Which is
> why I don't buy branded jams these days.)
>
> I use tartaric and ascorbic acid instead.
>
>
> I always use granulated - exactly the same composition as caster, but
> cheaper. preserving sugar often contains citric acid.
>
>
> Avoid citric, unless you want a lemon/elderflower cordial.
>
>
> You can scoop the cordial from its container when deep-frozen.
I think it's citric acid that is hard to find because apparently, druggies
use it to cut cocaine - or something. The last time I made this I had to
get my supplies from a local chemist who knows us very well! But it's one
of the most refreshing drinks I know of and absolutely delicious on a hot
day.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(sacha@garden506.fsnet.co.uk)
| |
| Rusty Hinge 2 2006-01-27, 1:21 pm |
| The message <BFFFD25A.28840%sacha@nospam.fsnet.co.uk.invalid>
from Sacha <sacha@nospam.fsnet.co.uk.invalid> contains these words:
>
> I think it's citric acid that is hard to find because apparently, druggies
> use it to cut cocaine - or something. The last time I made this I had to
> get my supplies from a local chemist who knows us very well! But it's one
> of the most refreshing drinks I know of and absolutely delicious on a hot
> day.
I threw the first lot (made with citric acid) away, it tasted so much of
citric acid.
AFAIK, any chemist will sell you citric acid - I use it for making lemon
cordial, orange cordial and lime cordial, and have never had a problem -
not only that, but it's always been on a shelf in the body of shop for
the customer to self-serve.
--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig
| |
| Mike Lyle 2006-01-28, 4:21 pm |
| Rusty Hinge 2 wrote:
> The message <BFFFD25A.28840%sacha@nospam.fsnet.co.uk.invalid>
> from Sacha <sacha@nospam.fsnet.co.uk.invalid> contains these words:
>
>
>
> I threw the first lot (made with citric acid) away, it tasted so much
> of citric acid.
>
> AFAIK, any chemist will sell you citric acid - I use it for making
> lemon cordial, orange cordial and lime cordial, and have never had a
> problem - not only that, but it's always been on a shelf in the body
> of shop for the customer to self-serve.
Well, it's just a matter of personal taste. I find a lemony flavour goes
particularly well with elderflowers. I'm a big fan of tartaric for
wine-making, though -- one of the reasons I wish I had a mulberry tree,
as I understand it's the acid found in mulberries as well as in grapes.
On preserving sugar, you also need to watch out in case it's got added
pectin, which will make any home-brewed stuff hazy.
--
Mike.
| |
| Rusty Hinge 2 2006-01-28, 7:21 pm |
| The message <4420mqF71vU2@individual.net>
from "Mike Lyle" <mike_lyle_uk@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> contains these words:
[color=darkred]
> Well, it's just a matter of personal taste. I find a lemony flavour goes
> particularly well with elderflowers. I'm a big fan of tartaric for
> wine-making, though -- one of the reasons I wish I had a mulberry tree,
> as I understand it's the acid found in mulberries as well as in grapes.
When I'm making tea wine I make the tea double-strength, and mix it
50/50 with grape juice.
> On preserving sugar, you also need to watch out in case it's got added
> pectin, which will make any home-brewed stuff hazy.
>
I had that impression, but wasn't sure (so didn't mention that).
--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig
| |
| Tim C. 2006-01-30, 4:21 am |
| Following up to Rusty Hinge 2 <rusty.hinge@gruel.invalid.co.uk> :
>
>They tend to die off up top, but the roots will throw up new shoots.
I didn't know that either. :-)
--
Tim C.
| |
| Nick Maclaren 2006-01-30, 5:21 am |
| In article <c4grt1pvvocgisd213rfb748dgtpgik0fb@4ax.com>,
Tim C. <tim.challenger@aon.at> wrote:
>Following up to Rusty Hinge 2 <rusty.hinge@gruel.invalid.co.uk> :
>
>
>I didn't know that either. :-)
Nor did I, but a good half of temperate trees/shrubs do, and it is
more common with the shrubby ones. Some tend to shoot from the
rootstock, and others from the roots as such.
Regards,
Nick Maclaren.
| |
| Tim C. 2006-01-30, 6:21 am |
| Following up to nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren) :
>
>Nor did I,...
What? I thought you knew everything. ;-)
--
Tim C.
| |
| Connor T 2006-01-30, 6:21 am |
| excellent, thanks to everyone for all the replys, i did plan to hack it
down this weekend, but other things got in the way, but it's definately
going to be cut back soon!
Dan
| |
| Tim C. 2006-01-30, 6:21 am |
| Following up to Martin Brown <|||newspam|||@nezumi.demon.co.uk> :
>
>Don't feed it. That will only encourage it to grow bigger faster.
Oops!
We planted a baby one from the garden centre about 3 years ago by the
compost heap - last Summer it was easily 12 feet tall.
--
Tim C.
| |
| Nick Maclaren 2006-01-30, 7:21 am |
|
In article <qpmrt1ln4nrrgjo4v789n09ivrseccr4mm@4ax.com>,
Tim C. <tim.challenger@aon.at> writes:
|> Following up to nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren) :
|>
|> >>I didn't know that either. :-)
|> >
|> >Nor did I,...
|>
|> What? I thought you knew everything. ;-)
That is a common mistake :-)
Someone commented at a party that I am a sort of Trivial Pursuit
specialist - I describe myself as having a packrat mind ....
Regards,
Nick Maclaren.
| |
| Rupert 2006-01-30, 7:21 am |
|
"Nick Maclaren" <nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:drkpei$33$1@gemini.csx.cam.ac.uk...
>
> In article <qpmrt1ln4nrrgjo4v789n09ivrseccr4mm@4ax.com>,
> Tim C. <tim.challenger@aon.at> writes:
> |> Following up to nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren) :
> |>
> |> >>I didn't know that either. :-)
> |> >
> |> >Nor did I,...
> |>
> |> What? I thought you knew everything. ;-)
>
> That is a common mistake :-)
>
> Someone commented at a party that I am a sort of Trivial Pursuit
> specialist - I describe myself as having a packrat mind ....
>
>
> Regards,
> Nick Maclaren.
Is it true that packrats like nesting in folders?
| |
| Allen Caius 2006-01-30, 5:21 pm |
| The message <1138613577.784677.301680@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>
from "Connor T" <madman_dan@hotmail.com> contains these words:
> excellent, thanks to everyone for all the replys, i did plan to hack it
> down this weekend, but other things got in the way, but it's definately
> going to be cut back soon!
> Dan
When we first moved to our present house we inherited a number of old,
broken Elders. I wasn't sure how they would take to hard pruning so I
did one first. I need not have worried, the new growth grew with
greater vigour then when it had old growth. I subsequently hard pruned
the remainder and they are all looking much better than they did.
Elders root very easily from cuttings too. I just wait for the council
hedge trimmer to pass by and gather an armful of elder sticks, cut them
clean at the base and bung them into the ground. Invariably some take
root.
--
Cheers,
Allen
| |
|
| On 30/1/06 20:44, in article 2006013020443582004@hex.nut, "Allen Caius"
<allen.caius@hex.nut> wrote:
> The message <1138613577.784677.301680@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>
> from "Connor T" <madman_dan@hotmail.com> contains these words:
>
>
>
>
> When we first moved to our present house we inherited a number of old,
> broken Elders. I wasn't sure how they would take to hard pruning so I
> did one first. I need not have worried, the new growth grew with
> greater vigour then when it had old growth. I subsequently hard pruned
> the remainder and they are all looking much better than they did.
>
> Elders root very easily from cuttings too. I just wait for the council
> hedge trimmer to pass by and gather an armful of elder sticks, cut them
> clean at the base and bung them into the ground. Invariably some take
> root.
The witches in your area must be very happy. ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(sacha@garden506.fsnet.co.uk)
| |
| Tim C. 2006-01-31, 4:21 am |
| Following up to nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren) :
>|> What? I thought you knew everything. ;-)
>
>That is a common mistake :-)
>
>Someone commented at a party that I am a sort of Trivial Pursuit
>specialist -
Very diplomatic! :-)
--
Tim C.
|
|
|
|
|