How do I prune a redcurrant — like a blackcurrant?

No — and this is the most important rule. Redcurrants fruit on spurs on a permanent framework of branches, so they're pruned like a gooseberry: open goblet shape, sideshoots shortened in summer and winter, only the oldest wood (4–5+ years) renewed. Pruning a redcurrant like a blackcurrant (hard to the base) removes the entire crop. Blackcurrants fruit on last year's wood, redcurrants on older wood — different plants, opposite pruning.

When are redcurrants ready to pick?

Late June to mid-July, depending on variety. The whole strig should be bright glossy red with no green or pink berries at the tip. Pick the entire strig by snipping the top stalk rather than individual berries. The flavour is sharp — high in pectin and acid, which is why redcurrant jelly sets beautifully and pairs so well with rich meats.

What's the best redcurrant variety for the UK?

Rovada — modern Dutch variety, very late (mid-July), the heaviest cropper, very long strigs, mildew-resistant. Red Lake is the traditional UK favourite — mid-season, reliable, large berries. Jonkheer van Tets for an early crop. For a mix, plant one of each to spread the picking from late June through July.

Why do my redcurrants not crop?

Three usual causes. Wrong pruning: someone has cut the bush back hard each winter, like a blackcurrant, removing all the fruiting wood. Switch to spur pruning and the bush will crop the following year. Birds eating the buds in winter: bullfinches strip the flower buds in February–March; net from December. Frost on flowers: late May frosts can knock out the crop in cold gardens; row cover the bush if a frost is forecast during flowering.

Can I grow redcurrants in shade?

Yes — better than most fruit. Redcurrants tolerate light shade and crop reliably even on a north-facing wall (fan-trained). Crop will be lighter and ripen a week or two later than in full sun, but flavour is fine. Useful for gardens running out of sunny corners.

How do I make redcurrant jelly?

Strip the berries into a pan with a splash of water, simmer until soft, strain through a jelly bag overnight, measure the liquid, add 450 g sugar per 600 ml liquid, boil hard for 8–10 minutes until it sets on a cold saucer. Redcurrants are so high in pectin you need no other gelling agent. A glass on a roast lamb sandwich is one of the great rewards of a UK kitchen garden.

Redcurrant — Grow

Redcurrant

Ribes rubrum

fruit☀️ sun-or-partial🪴 Moist, well-drained, fertile soil📏 Medium shrub (1-1.5m)🌡️ RHS H6–H7

About

Plant redcurrant bushes bare-root from November to March, in sun or light shade, in any decent garden soil — they crop heavily on a permanent framework of branches for 15+ years. Redcurrants are very hardy (RHS H6–H7) and shrug off any UK winter. Don't prune them like blackcurrants: redcurrants fruit on old wood and spurs, so train to a permanent open-goblet framework like a gooseberry. Net the ripening trusses heavily — blackbirds and squirrels strip a bush in a morning. Pick whole strigs (the strings of berries) by snipping at the top of the truss, then strip individual berries with a fork later. Jonkheer van Tets (early), Red Lake (mid), and Rovada (late, heaviest cropper) are reliable UK varieties.

Also known as: currant, redcurrant, red currant, whitecurrant, white currant, ribes rubrum

How to grow redcurrant

1
Know that redcurrants are pruned like gooseberries, NOT blackcurrants
This is the single most important thing about growing redcurrants. Blackcurrants fruit on last year's wood and are pruned hard to the base each winter. Redcurrants fruit on spurs on a permanent framework of older branches, so they're pruned like a gooseberry: build a goblet shape and only renew sparingly. Pruning them like a blackcurrant removes the crop.
2
Choose your variety
Jonkheer van Tets — early, vigorous, large berries. Crops late June. Red Lake — mid-season, heavy crop, long strigs, the UK favourite. Rovada — late, the heaviest cropper of all, very long strigs, mildew-resistant, the modern standard. Stanza — late, compact bush, good for smaller gardens. A single bush of any variety crops well; there's no need for a pollination partner.
3
Plant bare-root in winter
November to March. Plant on a slight mound to keep the crown out of waterlogging. Spacing: 1.5 m apart for bushes; 30–45 cm for cordons; 1 m for fan-trained. Redcurrants tolerate light shade — useful if you've run out of sunny spots.
4
Train to a permanent goblet
Year one: cut the main shoots back by half to outward-facing buds, removing any inward-pointing growth. Aim for 5–6 main branches angled outward from a short clear stem (15 cm). Year two onwards: build out from this framework, keeping the centre open.
5
Summer prune in late June
Cut all new sideshoots back to five leaves in late June. This exposes the developing strigs to sunlight (sweetens the berries), keeps the bush manageable, and encourages spur formation along the framework branches.
6
Winter prune for renewal
February. Shorten the leading shoots of each main branch by half. Cut back sideshoots already shortened in summer to two buds. Remove any really old wood (more than 4–5 years) at the base to encourage strong replacement shoots. The permanent framework largely stays — you're refreshing the spur system, not rebuilding the bush.
7
Net the strigs as they colour up
Birds and squirrels will strip a bush in a morning the moment the berries turn red. Net the bush from mid-June, before any colour shows. Fine mesh tucked under at the base — squirrels can climb under any gap. A walk-in fruit cage is the long-term answer if you grow multiple soft fruit bushes.
8
Pick whole strigs, strip with a fork
Pick the entire string of berries at once by snipping the stalk at the top of the strig — much faster than picking individual berries off the bush, and the strigs keep better in the fridge. Strip the berries with a kitchen fork over a bowl when you're ready to use them. The strigs are too bitter to eat; the berries make summer pudding, redcurrant jelly, and a classic accompaniment to roast lamb.

Common questions

Pest Resilience

3/5 — Average

Sawfly caterpillars can strip leaves quickly; inspect undersides regularly.

Companion Planting

Grows well with

Herb comfrey Garlic Nasturtium

Visual Characteristics

Flowers

Yes

Blooms in Spring

🍳

Culinary

Culinary Use

Jams, jellies, fresh eating, sauces, summer pudding, cordials

The redcurrant year in your garden

Dispatching imaginary bots to check your garden out...

What to do now

How to Propagate

🪵Hardwood cuttings

Moderate

🌿Layering

Moderate

🦋Wildlife & Garden Ecology

Attracts

🐝 Bees🐦 Birds

Great for supporting local pollinators and wildlife

Hardiness Zones

H1a (tender)H7 (very hardy)

H1a

H1b

H1c

RHS H6–H7

USDA 5 equivalent