How to grow Blackcurrant

Ribes nigrum · black currant

Hardy deciduous shrub grown for its dark, tart berries rich in vitamin C. Requires a cold winter and a sunny site to fruit well.

Quick facts

Type	Berry
Family	Grossulariaceae
Light	Full sun
Soil pH	6–6.5
Frost	tolerates light frost
Soil for sowing	from 5 °C
Sowing to harvest	365 days
Where it grows	Open ground

When to plant

Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.

Care

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 5 days	10…22 °C	balanced (NPK), at the start of the stage; nitrogen, 30 days into the stage
Flowering	every 4 days	12…20 °C	phosphorus, at the start of the stage
Fruiting	every 3 days	15…24 °C	potassium, at the start of the stage
Harvest	every 4 days	15…25 °C	—

Growing notes

Light

Prefers full sun; tolerates light shade but yields less.

Soil

Moist, fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter; avoid chalky soils.

Care

Plant in autumn or early spring. Prune annually in winter: remove old wood to encourage new fruiting shoots. Water regularly during dry spells, especially in the first year and during fruit development. Mulch annually with compost or well-rotted manure to retain moisture and feed the plant.

How to tell it is ripe

Berries are very dark purple, almost black, with glossy skins.
On older varieties the berries at the top of the bunch ripen first.
A ripe berry feels slightly soft and juicy when pressed gently.
On a dry day cut off whole bunches once every berry is black, or pick ripe berries one by one where the bunch ripens unevenly.

Pests and diseases of Blackcurrant

Big bud mite
Rust

Sources

Figures cited from these sources.