For many years, I've successfully cultivated blackcurrant, redcurrant, and whitecurrant bushes in both walled kitchen gardens and my home plots. These plants are straightforward to grow, easy to prune, and yield abundantly. Here, I'll share my top tips along with insights from a fruit-growing expert on these remarkable soft fruit bushes.
Once banned in the U.S. due to their vulnerability to white pine blister rust, blackcurrants, redcurrants, and whitecurrants now thrive again. They produce an abundance of small, vitamin C-rich fruits versatile for many culinary uses.
If you're after sweet yet tangy fruits for jams, jellies, desserts, syrups, sauces, or simply fresh from the bush, growing currants is the way to go. Adding these reliable bushes to your garden can yield delightful results.
Growing Currants – Key Insights
Currants, belonging to the Ribes species, were largely absent from gardens for years. This was primarily because of the U.S. ban related to their susceptibility to disease.
Though this ban has been lifted in most states, it's wise to verify local regulations before planting any currant bushes.
Benefits of Growing Currants
Currants are not only easy to grow but also come in black, red, and white varieties, each boasting distinct flavors and uses. Blackcurrants add a tangy punch to jams and syrups, while redcurrants shine in jellies and desserts. Whitecurrants are the sweetest, perfect for snacking or baking.
According to a gardening expert, currant bushes are compact and produce large clusters of flavorful berries. They thrive in cooler climates, making them a fantastic addition to edible landscapes.
These visually appealing bushes feature unique lobed leaves and vibrant fruits. Some varieties can withstand cold down to US hardiness zones 2 or 3, making them ideal for colder regions.
To select the right currant variety, consider your US hardiness zone and what you plan to do with the berries. There's a suitable currant for nearly every garden setting and culinary need.
Where to Position Currant Bushes
You can find currant bushes as budget-friendly bare-root plants during dormancy or as container-grown options at nurseries year-round.
The optimal planting time is early spring or fall. While planting multiple bushes can enhance yields and pollination, they are self-pollinating, so it's not mandatory.
Currants thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. In warmer zones, a bit of afternoon shade can be beneficial during the hottest months.
These plants prefer fertile, well-draining soil enriched with organic matter like compost. A slight acidity is ideal, so a soil test can help determine the pH and nutrient levels.
Dig a hole that accommodates the plant's roots and plant them an inch deeper than they were in their nursery pot. Space bushes 4-6 feet apart for optimal growth.
Caring for Your Currant Bushes
- Watering - Newly planted currant bushes need regular deep watering to establish roots. Keep the soil consistently moist during the growing season, especially in dry spells, as they have shallow roots. Annual mulching helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- Feeding - Currant bushes don't need much fertilizer for a strong yield. A balanced, organic 10-10-10 fertilizer applied in spring is usually sufficient. For example, check out this plant fertilizer available at Walmart. This single application, combined with spring mulching, typically provides all necessary nutrients.
- Pruning - Regular pruning is essential for healthy plants. Trim currant bushes in late winter or early spring by removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches. For blackcurrants, remove a third of the oldest canes each year. For redcurrants and whitecurrants, cut back canes older than three years and trim side shoots by a third.
- Harvesting - To protect the fruit from birds, cover bushes with netting as the berries develop. Begin harvesting ripe fruits in early summer when they reach their full color. Cut the entire cluster once all the berries are ready, instead of picking them individually to avoid damage.
- Propagation - You can create new currant bushes by taking cuttings in winter. Use clean, sharp shears to cut hardwood from the current season's growth into 8-10 inch lengths, dipping them in rooting hormone (like this rooting hormone from Amazon) before planting them in soil or pots with quality potting mix.
The Consort Black Currant reaches heights of 3-6 feet, yielding an abundance of dark, glossy, and tart fruits during summer.
Consider adding a healthy young redcurrant seedling to your garden for annual harvests of bright, tart fruits perfect for jellies and desserts.
Also, the bare-root 'Red Lake' redcurrant bush is highly resistant to white pine blister rust.
Another excellent fruit bush for colder climates is the honeyberry, which can tolerate down to US hardiness zone 2. Its unique elongated fruits resemble blueberries but have a flavor akin to a mix of blueberries and raspberries.
This guide on growing honeyberry plants covers everything from planting to harvesting.
