Currants and gooseberries have similar growing requirements. They prefer cool, moist, well-drained sites. Avoid poorly drained, wet soils and hot, dry sites.
Where do currants grow best?
Currants and gooseberries will grow in full sun to partial shade. You will get more fruit if the plant is in full sun. Space plants at least 3 feet apart. Most currants and gooseberries are self-fruitful.
What soil is best for red currants?
Redcurrants tolerate a range of soil conditions, but prefer moist, well-drained soil. They do best in full sun, but can be grown against a shady, north-facing wall, although this will result in fruit that ripens later and is less sweet.
Do you cut back currant bushes?
Each year, prune all the previous year’s growth back to a single bud. Remove any branches that have become unproductive, and replace them with a new shoot that will help to keep the shape of the bush. Remove any branches that hang low to the ground, as the fruits on these may rot or be eaten by pests. And that’s it!
Why are currants not grown in the US?
The US Department of Agriculture had no choice but to have black currants banned because the plants became a vector for a disease that threatened to annihilate all pines in America. It might seem extreme, but this measure was necessary to save the logging industry at that time.
Do currants need a lot of water?
Currants need a consistent supply of water for their shallow roots, according to California Rare Fruit Growers. Immediately after planting, water the soil until the top 6 to 8 inches are soaked. From fruit set to harvest, currants need 1 inch of water every week.
What type of soil do currants like?
While currants and gooseberries are tolerant of many soil types, they prefer well-drained organic rich soils with a pH of about 6.5-7. The best fruiting will be in full sun sites, but they will also fruit in partial shade. Space the plants 5 feet apart, and apply a layer of mulch to conserve moisture in the summer.
Do currants need a trellis?
Currant bushes will need a trellis that is in the full sun to part shade to thrive. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below. Water regularly.
How deep do currant roots grow?
Container Growing Currants. Plant currants in pots 12 to 18 inches wide and deep or wider; currant roots do not grow deep. Currant roots do not mind growing in a tight space. Plant currants in an organic potting mix.
How long do currant bushes last?
Once planted, redcurrant plants will remain productive for almost 20 years. Even if you don’t want to eat the fruit, redcurrants are highly ornamental and a great way of attracting birds to your garden.
What month do you prune blackcurrants?
Ideally pruning should be carried out immediately after harvesting or more practically, September. By the middle of summer the blackcurrant bush will be a mass of fresh young shoots surrounding the older fruiting branches.
Why is there no fruit on my blackcurrant bush?
Blackcurrant fruits off both first- and second-year growth; by the third year, branches tend to become unproductive, which is the stuff to cut out. The branches darken with age; remove these to ground level and leave a strong upright growth in place. And cut out any branches that grow low to the ground.
Can blackcurrants be grown in pots?
Planting in a container
Blackcurrants generally don’t perform well in containers long term, due to their size and growing habit. But if you are short on space, they should be fine for a few years, especially more compact cultivars such as ‘Ben Sarek’ and ‘Ben Gairn’.
Why is it illegal to grow gooseberries?
Unfortunately, also in the early 1900s, the growing of gooseberry and related currants became federally banned because of a fungal disease called white pine blister rust, a deadly disease for all species of white pines (which includes the ancient bristlecone pines).
Is it illegal to grow currants?
The federal ban on cultivation was lifted in 1966, with the individual states left to decide on management of the blackcurrant. Varieties of blackcurrant immune to white pine rust became available in the 1970s.
Which is healthier currants or raisins?
Currants and raisins are very similar in nutritional value. They closely match in carbohydrate count, protein, fiber, sugar, potassium and vitamins C and K. A one-ounce serving of raisins has 95 calories compared to the 79 calories in the same size serving of currants. Both of these dried fruits contain no fat.
Can currants grow in shade?
Currants and gooseberries, on the other hand, thrive in fairly shady conditions and feel scalded when planted in full sun. European homesteaders typically plant these waist-high shrubs in the dappled shade of their fruit trees, though North American tastes have never really caught on to the trend.
How tall do currant bushes get?
Plants are vigorous and thornless and grow to 5 feet in height. Hardy and disease-resistant, the large fruit has a mild, black currant flavor.
What can I feed my currant bushes?
Blackcurrant bushes need plenty of watering and feeding – particularly if container grown. In spring, feed with pelleted chicken manure or other high potash fertiliser, and add a thick mulch. Keep weed-free during the growing season and when the fruits start to mature, net your plants to protect from the birds.
When should you plant currants?
Currant growing season is in early spring, so planting your dormant bare-root currants in early fall is ideal for most climates. In particularly cold regions it may be necessary to plant in very early spring, but currant bushes can tolerate low temperatures.
Do currants spread?
Some currant shrubs, like the clove currant, tend to spread underground and can send up shoots several feet away. Propagate other varieties from cuttings of year-old stems. If you purchased your currants from a nursery or garden catalog, you may have one or two-year-old plants, to begin with.