Black Currants

Ribes nigrum

Buy Black Currants

Plant 1m apart and prune after planting. Fruit high in Vitamin C. Likes lots of nitrogen, keep well mulched and feed.

Woody deciduous bush around 1.5m tall grown

for clusters of black berries.

FEATURES: Black currants are prized for their vitamin C content and used as a flavouring. Pick clusters when a few fall indicating ripeness.

CONDITIONS: Highly frost tolerant and best in areas where Winters are cold. Plant into rich moist free draining soil in a site protected from strong hot winds. Full sun or a site that gets late afternoon shade. Tolerant of heavy wet soils.

FOR BEST RESULTS: Enrich soil with compost and manure and supply nitrogen and potash. Fruit is borne mostly on last years wood. Allow 610 shoots per bush. Remove 2-3 older shoots yearly after 3rd year in Summer after harvest. Trim weak shoots to 2-3 buds. A single bush will produce fruit without a pollinator but grow two varieties to improve yields.

PLANTING IDEAS AND USES:

• use in cooking, sweetened in Juice drinks jam or Jelly