Blackcurrants

Hi again,
Back to my blackcurrant bush. I bought it from a garden centre last November, and planted it straightaway. It is now three feet tall and looking very healthy. However, there is no sign of any blossom. Is there still time, or will it not bear fruit in the first year. I live in Lancashire.

 

Hi Greenveg,

Its unlikely to if it hasn't flowered already, mine are setting fruit now.

Don't panic though, once it gets its roots established, it will fruit for years, more and more each year.

 

Hi again,
Thank you for your reply ziggy searchfield. I have spoken to a local friend of mine, who has a few
established blackcurrant bushes in his garden. He tells me that he has no blossom yet. Maybe with living in the north, we are a bit behind, here's hoping.

 

Hi GV,

No worries,

Just had a look at mine, cuttings made last year, a few berries are ripening. Wouldn't expect too much out of them this young.

I'll keep em crossed for you. In the mean time have a look at what I get upto with blackcurrant high juice in the recipes section

 

Also on the subject of Blackcurrants - I have one bush which is about 18 months old and has given me a reasonable amount of fruit already this month but at the ends of each branch there are tonnes of black aphids and ants. They don't seem to have eaten any of the fruit but presumably I should try and get rid of them nonetheless? I'm trying to garden organically so does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Hi again,
Referring back to my blackcurrant bush I planted last November, it looks like that I will have to wait until next year for it to blossom. A friend told me not to prune it in the first year, just leave it and prune after the second year. Is this correct?

 

Hi Greenveg,

Thats right, you don't need to prune it yet, they will bear fruit on this years growth next year.

 

Can I jump on the Blackcurrant thread here

My daughters new house has/had Thirty blackcurrant bushes of the original RIBENA variety
They are going should I take the bushes or cuttings from them ?

Same question for the Raspberries

Jack McHamocklashing

 

Go for it Jack

Blackcurrants are very easy to take cuttings from, most bits that you cut off a bush will take root

 

Yes but do I take the whole bush roots and all or cuttings

They are going to be dug out to a skip ?

Jack McH