How long do black currants take to fruit?
Expect to get fruit 1 to 3 years after planting. Remember, gooseberry bushes are spiny and will become dense thickets without regular pruning.
Do blackcurrants fruit every year?
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.
How long does it take for currants to bear fruit?
So, when does a currant produce fruit? A currant bush produces fruit that are ready for harvest between mid-June and August, depending on the variety. Most currants will not produce fruit until 1 to 3 years after planting. Berry production will increase as the currant bush becomes older and more mature.
What months are currants in season?
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.
What time of year do blackcurrants grow?
The best time to plant is during the dormant season, from late October to March, but it’s best to avoid planting in the middle of winter if the soil is either very wet or frozen. Containerised plants can be planted all year round and are available in garden centres, nurseries or online for most of the year.
When should you prune blackcurrant bushes?
Pruning of blackcurrant bushes is very simple. The time to prune is when they are dormant, mid-winter to early February is a good time for this garden job. Don’t prune for the first year of their life.
When should blackcurrant bushes be pruned?
Blackcurrants crop best on strong young growth made the previous year, so they are usually grown as a multi-stemmed bush, with stems sprouting from the base. To encourage new stems, they need to be pruned annually in winter.
When should I prune blackcurrant bushes?
Should you cut back blackcurrant?
Pruning established blackcurrant bushes Prune sprawling branches laden with fruit for easy picking, cutting back to strong upright growth, but delay the main pruning until winter. Cut out a quarter to a third of the branches each year, aiming to remove old unproductive wood, weak growth and low-lying branches.
Do I need to prune blackcurrant bushes?
Just as is the case with pruning shrubs, it’s essential to prune blackcurrant bushes regularly to keep the plants healthy and help increase their yield. If you have a mature plant then pruning will be slightly different to new plants.
What do you do with blackcurrant bushes after fruiting?
When should I pick my blackcurrants?
Blackcurrant fruits are ready for picking in the mid to late summer (July and August) and are at their best about seven days after they have turned blue-black. They can be gathered individually or, if you want them to stay fresh for a little longer, you can harvest them as whole trusses.
Do you cut back blackcurrant bushes in winter?
Why is blackcurrant illegal?
The federal government had banned the growing of black and red currants in 1911 when the burgeoning logging industry put pressure on lawmakers to eliminate the currants because they were thought to be an intermediate host of white pine blister rust.
Why is it illegal to grow red currants?
In 1911 it was made illegal to grow currants in the United States. They were banned by the US Department of Agriculture because they carried the white pine blister rust disease. This fungus threatened to wipe out the pines in the US, so all Ribes were banned to protect the logging industry at the time.
Can you eat raw black currants?
Blackcurrants can be eaten raw but are usually cooked in sweet or savoury dishes. They are used to make jams, preserves, and syrups and are grown commercially for the juice market. The fruit is also used to make alcoholic beverages and dyes.