Currant Shrubs Learn How To Grow Currants In Gardens

How to Sow

Plant currants in full sun in an area with well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.0.
Currants prefer a medium to heavy soil with several inches of organic matter or compost mixed in.
Before planting, cut all stems to 6-10 inches above ground level.
Space plants 4-6 feet apart.

Are currants easy to grow?

They need well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter and a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. If your soil is clay or sandy, work in lots of organic matter before planting, or prepare a raised bed. Currants grow well in sun or partial shade, and appreciate afternoon shade in warm climates. ... of organic mulch around the plants.

How do you take care of a currant bush?

Quick facts

Currants and gooseberries will grow in full sun to partial shade. ...
Space plants at least 3 feet apart.
Most currants and gooseberries are self-fruitful. ...
Prune annually to remove weak or dead canes and to open up the canopy.
Expect to get fruit 1 to 3 years after planting.

What can I feed my currant bushes?

FEEDING BLACKCURRANT BUSHES

Even on light soils blackcurrants grow well, although a spring and mid-summer feed with a long lasting, slow release fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone or bone meal will do just fine.

How do you take care of black currant bushes?

Currants, especially blackcurrants, prefer nutritious, slightly acidic soil that never dries out. Soak bare-root plants in a bucket of water for a few hours before planting to rehydrate them. Then dig a hole about twice as big as the plant's roots.

Why are gooseberries illegal?

Complicated History. In 1911, a federal ban made it illegal to grow all Ribes, including currants and gooseberries, because these plants served as an intermediary host of white pine blister rust.

Why is black currant illegal in the US?

The growing and importation of currants were banned in New York and other parts of the United States for more than half a century because they were thought to help spread a fungus that threatened the timber industry.

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.

Do you prune red currant bushes?

Redcurrants bear their fruit on old wood. Prune bushes by removing diseased or very old branches in winter, then prune new growth back to two buds in early summer to keep plants compact. ... Once the cordon is at the desired height, cut to one bud of new growth each year in early summer.

How do you propagate currant bushes?

Take 12" (30cm) cuttings from the one-year old stems and you have all you need for new plants. Simply stick them into the ground in early spring and let nature do the rest. These cuttings are often made when pruning the plant, which is commonly done in early spring.

How tall do currant bushes get?

Currant bushes (Ribes) are thornless understory shrubs, growing in USDA hardiness zones 3-8. They can grow 3-6 feet wide and tall, and can range in color from red, white, pink, or black.

How do you fertilize currants?

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of 10-10-10 fertilizer on the soil around each currant and gooseberry shrub in early spring during the second year. Apply the fertilizer in a 2-foot diameter around the shrubs and generously water it in. Fertilize the shrubs again about six weeks thereafter.

How far apart do you plant blackcurrant bushes?

Spacing for blackcurrant bushes

An average blackcurrant bush will require a spacing of 5' and it will grow the same in height. Some varieties are slightly more or less vigorous than this and of course it is also dependant on soil, but 5' is a good average.

How long does a blackcurrant bush last?

Blackcurrants are usually trouble free and may live for 10-15 years. Net the bushes down to ground level to prevent birds from stealing the fruit . Or grow in a fruit cage. Reversion and Big Bud Mite may reduce their life but frost can be a problem particularly in Northern regions with early flowering varieties.

When can I transplant blackcurrant bushes?

Fruit bushes can be moved when they are dormant. This is best carried out November to December or in March. It is best to move the plants to their new site after lifting, rather than storing plants in pots first. Prepare the new planting site well, incorporating some well-rotted garden compost into the planting hole.

What should I plant next to berries?

Best Strawberry Companion Plants

Borage. Borage is an herb that works double duty for strawberries in the garden bed. ...
Caraway. Caraway attracts insects that feed on pests that can cause significant damage to strawberries. ...
Catnip. ...
Chives.

Where is it illegal to grow gooseberries?

However, in areas where white pine is important, restrictions remain. Delaware, New Jersey and North Carolina prohibit the importation and culture of all currants and gooseberries. Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont allow planting in certain areas.

Can you eat gooseberries raw?

For maximum health benefits, it's best to enjoy gooseberries raw. Their flavor ranges from quite sour to relatively sweet, a little bit like slightly underripe grapes. ... Gooseberries are also used in cooked and baked dishes, such as pies, tarts, chutneys, compote, jams, and cordial.

Are gooseberries poisonous to humans?

Please note that gooseberry bushes are highly toxic to birds (and even humans) because they contain hydrogen cyanide.

Can you eat blackcurrants raw?

Bunches of small, glossy black fruit develop along the stems in the summer and can be harvested by hand or by machine. ... The raw fruit is particularly rich in vitamin C and polyphenols. Blackcurrants can be eaten raw, but are usually cooked in sweet or savoury dishes.

What fruits are illegal in the US?

10 Foods That Have Been Banned from the U.S.

Ackee Fruit. What it is: A fruit that is bright red when fully developed and contains three or four sections of flesh topped with glossy black seeds Where it's from: Jamaica. ...
Haggis. ...
Queen Conch. ...
Mirabelle Plums. ...
Swans. ...
Wild Beluga Caviar. ...
Casu Marzu. ...
Pig's Blood Cake.

Are black currant leaves edible?

Culinary uses

In fact, many people prefer to consume the berries raw, but they are generally cooked and used in making jams, pies and other such things. Even the leaves of blackcurrant are edible and the fresh tender leaves are used to add essence to soups.