When should I plant blackcurrants in the UK?

November to March, bare-root, while the bushes are dormant. Bare-root plants are cheaper and establish better than pot-grown. Plant on a frost-free day with the soil workable. If your soil is frozen or waterlogged, heel the plants in to a temporary trench until conditions improve.

How do I prune a blackcurrant bush?

Aim for an open-centred bush with shoots of mixed ages — 1, 2, and 3 years old. Each winter, cut a third of the oldest stems (look black and woody) to ground level. Keep the youngest, strongest shoots from this year's growth (look pale and smooth). This rotating renewal keeps the bush cropping heavily for 15+ years.

My blackcurrant bush has small leaves and few berries — what's wrong?

Possibly reversion virus, especially in older bushes (pre-1990 cultivars). Carried by big-bud mite. There's no cure — dig up affected bushes and replace with modern Ben varieties, which resist both. Other causes: lack of feeding (mulch annually with compost), poor drainage, or too much shade.

Do I need to plant two blackcurrants for cross-pollination?

No, modern blackcurrants are self-fertile — one bush will crop fully on its own. Plant a second only if you want more fruit. A single Ben Hope or Ben Lomond gives 4–5 kg of fruit at maturity.

How long do blackcurrant bushes last?

15+ years if well-pruned, well-fed, and free of reversion virus. Modern Ben varieties last longest. Replace bushes only when productivity drops below worthwhile levels, not on a schedule.

How do I store a glut of blackcurrants?

Freeze on trays then bag — they freeze better than most soft fruit, keeping shape and flavour for 12+ months. Blackcurrant jam, cordial, and cassis are the traditional preserves. They're also excellent in cooking with game and rich meats. The high vitamin C and pectin content make them one of the most useful preserved fruits.

Blackcurrant

Ribes nigrum

Plant blackcurrant bushes from November to March, bare-root, in deep moist soil with plenty of compost dug in. Blackcurrants are very hardy (RHS H6–H7) and one of the few soft fruits that genuinely thrive in the wetter, cooler parts of the UK. Plant 1.5 m apart, set the crown 5 cm below the soil surface to encourage strong new shoots from the base. Modern Ben varieties (Ben Hope, Ben Lomond, Ben Sarek) resist big-bud mite and don't need a pollinator. Prune by cutting a third of the oldest stems to ground level each winter — fruit grows best on 2–3 year old wood. Net firmly against birds in June–July. A single mature bush gives 4–5 kg of fruit a year.

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