The spring flowers are gorgeous in the spring, and the berries dangle like bunches of grapes in early summer. Flowers may be one of several colors, including white, yellow or dark red. Currant canes lack the spines and bear 8 to 30 pea-sized berries in clusters. Plant Sizes. Rovada Red Currant – this currant grows in Zones 3 to 7, and produces large red berries that ripen in late July. Planting of bare rooted bushes during the dormant season, from October to April is to be preferred because the bushes establish will little intervention or aftercare and receive little shock at this time. Currants grow in long clusters of five or more berries each, with shriveled flowers that dangle from the ends. Plant currants slightly deeper than they grew in their nursery container, and space them 4 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m.) apart. In this tutorial, our resident gardening expert Jeff demonstrates how to plant Blackcurrant plants for delicious and healthy summer produce. Keeping the older stems will allow them to continue to grow berries. Plants will fail to flourish if roots are too deep or too shallow. When planting, place them so that they are set slightly deeper into the ground than they were in their nursery pot. Opinions differ as to how deep to plant red currant bushes. Ultimately, the aim is to remove old wood that has been removed and to encourage the plant to grow new wood again for the best fruit quality. After planting, prune the bush right back. Planting Currant Bushes During the cooler months while plants are dormant, currants are sold bare-rooted and in prime transplanting condition. Some currant shrubs are attractive enough to plant in a shrub or flower border. It … Alpine Currant is a landscaper's standby for a carefree shrub you can count on to provide reliable green color spring through fall and is a must-have for those landscape spots where you could use something simple and dependable. Best gardening deals in the January sales, How to grow strawberries from mail-order runners. Water currant shrubs regularly to keep the soil moist from the time they begin growing in spring until after harvest. Best Black Currant Varieties. Currants have a bush form and can grow to 6 feet tall. If you’re thinking of moving any bushes or shrubs, late fall to early spring is the best time - when the plants are dormant. Currants grow well in sun or partial shade, and appreciate afternoon shade in warm climates. How to grow blackcurrants. Pruning currant shrubs annually is helpful for the plant as well in both maintaining its form and inducing a bigger, healthier harvest each year. Commonly grown for their lush foliage, Ribes alpinum, also called "alpine currants," are mound-forming deciduous shrubs that can grow up to 6’ tall. Water thoroughly after planting and apply 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm.) By summer the bush will have formed plenty of new shoots that will carry fruit the following summer. Fork over a wide area of ground, then dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots of your fruit bush. N. Do To do in November. Containerised plants can be planted all year round. High in nutrition and low in fat, it’s no wonder currants are more popular than ever. In this case we are focusing on bush growing as it is the easiest, has the highest yield and is the most common method. 150cm apart and 150cm between rows. Space red and white currant bushes 5 feet apart. Planted in winter, bare-root blackcurrants will settle into the garden during the dormant season and are at less risk of suffering from drought in the first summer than potted blackcurrants planted in spring. Currant plants for sale! Lots of shade? High in nutrition and low in fat, its no wonder currants are more popular than ever. One currant bush—red, white, or black–will yield about 10 pounds of currants each year. Keep the fertilizer 12 inches (30 cm.) Dried currants are becoming increasingly popular as a snack. Plant in a sheltered site, out of strong winds, and avoid frost pockets. Buying Options for Plants. Although closely related, you can easily distinguish currants and gooseberries by examining the canes and fruit. Birds like to eat the developing buds of currant bushes, so protect plants in the winter. Full sun? When currants are planted in a heavily shaded area, they will exhibit less vigor and produce smaller fruit. Ornamental as well as practical, currants are an excellent choice for home gardens in northern states. Currant borer is the larvae of the currant clearwing moth. A sunny position is best as it produces sweeter fruit, although currants are hardy plants and will tolerate some shade. The shrub is widely adaptable, but it … In extremely cold regions it may be necessary to wait until spring before purchasing your bare-root plants. Selects one-year branches, that is, the growth of the current year. Make sure to water your currant plants regularly, especially during the summer months. Same planting process applies for potted plants. First things first, you’ll need to narrow down the variety of black currant that you want to grow in your garden. A sunny position will result in better fruit. Space black currants 6 … Most of the problems associated with lack of fruit on red currant bushes is owing to the wrong method of pruning. Clay soil? And of course, the fruits taste great. Planting Currant Bushes. If your soil is clay or sandy, work in lots of organic matter before planting, or prepare a raised bed. Currant plants grow best in a rich, well-drained garden with a soil pH of 6.5. Allow 5ft (1.5m) between bushes and 5ft (1.5m) between rows. Plants may drop their leaves when temperatures exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 C.) for an extended period of time. Currant bushes can either be bought grown in containers, or as bare rooted plants. In a shady, unused spot. Typically, you’ll only select one type to avoid cross-pollination, unless you have separate areas to plant the bushes. Gooseberry canes normally produce a spine at each leaf node and bear roughly grape-sized berries singly or in groups of two or three. 3 … In warmer climates, plant currant bushes in a cool spot with northern exposure. Plants will fail to flourish if roots are too deep or too shallow. In mild climates, you can plant currant shrubs in winter. Between winter and summer, the bush will grow a lot, so you will need to prune it again. Currants are a must have fruit plant for the garden, allotment or polytunnel. Choose your favorite Currant plant from Raintree Nursery. Here are a few ways to grow currant bushes: As a foundational hedge bordering the front porch. Our Bare Root Currant Bushes Are Available Here. Tutorial. If you planted the bush in fall, however, you should definitely wait until spring before pruning. Do not plant near wild plants or plants whose origins are unknown. Just one plant can provide a generous crop of berries. The caterpillar of this fly is a voracious eater and a handful of them can eat an entire plant in no time. The mature plant will be 3 … Whites are the sweetest and can be eaten out of hand. Buy yours today! Prepare the planting area. Ornamental as well as practical, currants are an excellent choice for home gardens in northern states. Currant bushes can pollinate their own flowers, so you only have to plant one variety to get fruit, although you’ll get bigger fruit if you plant two different varieties. White flowers with a blush of pink, bloom in spring and summer, making this variety a great addition to flower borders. Although they are usually used in baking, jams and jellies because of their tart flavor, some types are sweet enough to eat right off the bush. 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