Blackcurrants grow on small bushes, the fruit are black and have a tart taste.

How To Grow

It is easiest to buy certified potted plants to avoid virus diseases and transplant in the winter months. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball, add well rotted manure and mix in. Plant the blackcurrant 6cm deeper than it was in the pot to encourage growth. Prune when dormant, fruit grow on new shoots so prune old shoots leaving 8 to 10 shoots.

How/When To Harvesting

Harvest the fruit on modern varieties by cutting the strigs (bunches of fruit) as they turn black. Older types of blackcurrant varieties ripen at different times, with the currants at the top of the strig ripening first. The fruit should therefore be picked individually.