Redcurrants

[debbiem]

Hi,
I've just bought a single Ribus Rubrum redcurrant bush(along with a Black Chokeberry and Flowering Crab, bargains, bargains!) from Wilkinson's.There were quite a few more fruit bushes there, all for one pound, but this particular one looked a lot healthier than the rest so one only was bought......question is, is one enough to get fruit? Or should I go back and forage for another healthy one? 'Scuze the daft question but I really don't know the answer to this - in my head I've got the notion that I need another close by to get anywhere......
I'm new to this kind of fruit (no, really?!!)
Thanks!

[4pygmies]

Most varieties of redcurrants are self pollinating, Mrs B so 1 bush is fine (unless you want more.......). You'll be surprised how much fruit you can get from 1 plant!

[debbiem]

That's great news 4P, music to my ears!!!!I've just looked up redcurrants on Crocus and they sell the bushes singly with no mention of needing more than one.
Thanks again! This fruit bush lark is new to me....

[4pygmies]

Have you got raspberries? You cannot beat the taste of a raspberry straight from the bush.....they never get back into the kitchen. Sun warmed, succulent ...mmmm. Smallest and I are proper little pigs.....

[debbiem]

We inherited them with the garden we used to have, and weren't they lovely! Even fruit and veg hater son tried them, but fruit bushes from scratch, very different!

[sweetleaf]

One pound? I paid 1.99 for three at LIdl, but ended up buying 9 so I had enough of each as the bags were of mixed varieties, adventures in fruit growing for me too Mrs B ;D

[debbiem]

Oooo, Sweetleaf, that sounds brilliant! Lidl here I come........

[sweetleaf]

You will never guess what my daughter bought me today Rubus Rubrum from Wilkinsons, was yours in a pot? This one has a 2.5m max height, Its going to have to stay smaller than that though !

[trunkyjo]

I have two big currant bushes in my "fruit patch", at the moment the bunches of currants are white, do you think it is a whitecurrant bush or do redcurrants begin white and turn red later??

I'm dying to try some as not sure whether I like currants or not, never had a fresh one

I have a big old gooseberry bush too, how do I know when they are ready to eat, do they go slightly soft? My ex MIL said that I would just know when they are ripe :

[sweetleaf]

I reckon you have a whitecurrant bush they are nice, similar to grape, but sometimes a bit tart, and can be cooked with sugar if you dont like them fresh. Your Gooseberries can be picked underripe in june, for jam making or cooking or wait till July/august for ripe fruit.

[Sleepy]

sweetleaf said:

I reckon you have a whitecurrant bush they are nice, similar to grape, but sometimes a bit tart, and can be cooked with sugar if you dont like them fresh. Your Gooseberries can be picked underripe in june, for jam making or cooking or wait till July/august for ripe fruit.

Recurrants start green, then go pale and then redden. I reckon they still might be redcurrants.

Gooseberries will 'look' ripe, and will be slightly bouncy when squeezed if ripe. Both redcurrants and goosberries are tart to the taste raw.

[madonplants]

Just bought one of these today, variety called 'Redstart'. Looking forward to planting it in the week.

Any advice for a novice redcurrant grower?

Thanks

Keith

[Sleepy]

madonplants said:

Just bought one of these today, variety called 'Redstart'. Looking forward to planting it in the week.

Any advice for a novice redcurrant grower?

Thanks

Keith

Prune back 1/3 in the Spring - prune bush to a cup shape - open in the middle

[maggyd]

Is that just redcurrant you do that to Sleepy and why do you do that?

[Sleepy]

maggyd said:

Is that just redcurrant you do that to Sleepy and why do you do that?

No, it is all currant and in particular goodberry bushes.

I find it allows good air circulation and minimises risk of disease. Plus it reduces damage form birds landing on the branches and snapping them.

[Sleepy]

admin said:

maggyd said:

Is that just redcurrant you do that to Sleepy and why do you do that?

No, it is all currant and in particular goodberry bushes.

It is to allow for good air circulation and minimise trisk of disease I believe.

Also remember that the flowers on currant bushes are produced at the base of one year old wood and on the spurs of two and three year old wood.

So every autumn you should prune back the canes which are four years old. Then way you’ll only have canes that are going to crop. This means, by pruning every year you’ll be increasing the crops and keep the bushes at optimum health

[Sweetleaf]

I didnt get any raspberries last year at all from the new plants, is that normal, or was I suppose to do something I didnt know about? The ones I bought in pots fruited, but the bare root ones? Nada!

[maggyd]

admin said:

admin said:

No, it is all currant and in particular goodberry bushes.

It is to allow for good air circulation and minimise trisk of disease I believe.

Also remember that the flowers on currant bushes are produced at the base of one year old wood and on the spurs of two and three year old wood.

So every autumn you should prune back the canes which are four years old. Then way you’ll only have canes that are going to crop. This means, by pruning every year you’ll be increasing the crops and keep the bushes at optimum health

right I think!!

[madonplants]

maggyd said:

admin said:

Also remember that the flowers on currant bushes are produced at the base of one year old wood and on the spurs of two and three year old wood.

So every autumn you should prune back the canes which are four years old. Then way you’ll only have canes that are going to crop. This means, by pruning every year you’ll be increasing the crops and keep the bushes at optimum health

right I think!!

That's what I thought to, Maggyd. Think I am going to have to print that lot out for later, thanks Sleepy!

I also bought a blackcurrant, so as you say, I will follow the same advice.

Keith