Alis girls Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I wonder if cold weather has delayed the blossom as I have not seen any out and want to make the champagne. Has anyone seen any out or is it too early? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Completely slipped my mind this year , so thanks for the reminder! I have a black elder in the garden and the flowers are just teeny buds at present. I think it was quite a drawn out season last year, starting from mid May onwards. It was good for making large quantities, but not so good for keeping track of all the bottles. I'm sure it was last year I had an explosion as I forgot to loosen the tops on all the bottles Actually, there might be wild raspberries around as well, there's certainly wild garlic. I could smell it yesterday as I walked through the local park. Time to start foraging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 No elderflowers round here as yet - I have been keeping my eyes peeled for the last week or so! I think I will have to wait a few weeks. Hopefully it will have stopped raining by then anyway so that all the pollen doesn't get washed away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Nothing ready in South Oxfordshire yet. We need some sun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Just bumping this up as I'm being vigilant. I think i've spotted one across the stream at work but the flowers are not out yet - they are there however so i don't think it will be long. Has anyone spotted any yet? I loved the champagne i made last year and dont want to miss out this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Its just starting to come out over in Kent - not seen any fully out blooms locally, only a matter of days/a week I should think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 A tree a few doors down is just starting to blossom, so a week I guess and it will be pickin' time I made elderflower champers last year and it was really lovely. I took it to a picnic with my family and they all loved it too, so need to make more this year. Just need to get some plastic bottles as I've not been saving them up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Tell me more about this Champagne, sounds very intriguing. Is it easy, do you need special equipment. I used to have an Elderberry in my old house, but left it there when we moved. Will you dare to share the recipe. Please....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Nope, its very easy - you need a good sized clean bucket and some bottles to decant into but thats about it really. I use the River Cottage recipe http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/elderflower-champagne-recipe which worked for me last year nicely! I would leave to ferment in teh bucket for 3 weeks prior to bottling though to allow the fermentation to finish otherwise you can end up with exploding bottles! If you do leave it for this amount of time, just put a tsp of sugar in the bottles before filling to get the fizz back and it should be fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Brilliant, Thank you so much, will have to change my walk tonight to try and find some Elderflowers! It sounds good and easy to make and after reading the comments will leave for 3 weeks before bottling to avoid explosions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 They're just starting to flower here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Four buckets of elderflower champagne brewing here now And one bowl of elderflower cordial. Flowers out and lots more to come round here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Ours aren't even close to flowering yet but I think that ours were later last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I have found a friend who has some growing in her garden around the corner from me, so am going on Wednesday evening to pick some. Just hope I have the patience to wait for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 They are just coming out here too - must be nearly summer - or is this THE summer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I noticed the first blossom today going to Leeds, i think the strange spring has made the difference, still better late than never, looked like a Lot of blossom too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Excellent, I'll go and have another look today and hopefully the flowers will be out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Ok, have mixed up my first batch.reading the posts on the river cottage website some people leave for up to three weeks before bottling to avoid explosions. How long do you all leave yours before bottling? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 The elderflowers are just about peeping out here. I am going to see if I can gather enough this weekend to start a batch of cordial, but if not I will have to wait until next weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 After some really messy explosions in the past, I'd rather given up on this & only made cordial for the past few years...but perhaps if I leave it in the bucket, all might yet be well. Thinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 We bottle ours into old tonic bottles, that way if it does explode it's not so dangerous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
