Cultivating superfruit currants for sophisticated desserts
Blackcurrants are surprisingly easy to grow and wonderful to cook with. They are a real superfruit, more nutritious than blueberries and Goji berries, with more vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anthocyanins.
If you fancy giving them a go, plant bare-root specimens in late autumn, or you can plant container-grown plants at any time, as long as the ground isn’t waterlogged or frozen. They like well-drained, but moisture-retentive conditions and prefer full sun, but will tolerate light shade.
As part of my ‘productive front garden’ experiment, I planted three bushes there, and they’ve done very well, with minimal attention. Positioned among other shrubs and perennials, they have been in effect hidden from the birds. If they become troublesome, nets or cages are your only options. Many varieties have the prefix ‘Ben’ (after Scottish mountains) and my bushes are Ben More, a safe bet for reliable fruiting and avoiding spring frosts.
How to grow blackcurrants – Bare-root plants
If you’re going for bare-root plants (they’re cheaper) clear the soil of perennial weeds, add well-rotted manure and fertiliser like Growmore at 85g per sqm (3oz per sq yd). Dig a hole at least twice the diameter of the root ball, and spread the roots out when planting. Set each plant at least 6cm (2.25in) deeper than it was previously.
Hand weed and place a mulch (such as well-rotted manure or mushroom compost) around the plant in late winter to suppress weeds. Avoid hoeing near the base of the bush because you might cut through new shoots developing at the base of the plant.
Potted guide: blackcurrants
- PLANTING TIME: Late autumn (bare root); any time (pot-grown).
- HARVESTING TIME: June-July.
- PLANTING DISTANCE: 1-1.5m.
- ASPECT AND SOIL: Full sun, moisture-retentive; will tolerate some light shade.
- HARDINESS: Hardy.
- DIFFICULTY: Easy.
- PRUNING: Late autumn-late winter.
- RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: Ben Sarek, Ben Hope, Ben Lomond, Big Ben, Ebony, Ben Connan.
How to grow blackcurrants – Pruning
Prune blackcurrants when dormant – from late autumn to late winter. Fruit forms on young wood, so when pruning, aim to remove older wood, leaving the young shoots. Up to and including the fourth year after planting, remove weak, wispy shoots, retaining a basic structure of six to 10 healthy shoots.
After year four, cut out about one-third of the older wood at the base, using a pair of loppers or a pruning saw. This will encourage and make room for younger, healthier wood. Also, remove weak shoots and low ones leaning towards the ground. Read more about growing blackcurrants for beginners and blackcurrant recipes.
