Planting Currants: Location, Care for & Companion Plants

Planting Currant Bushes: What You Need to Know

Currants (Ribes), like gooseberries, belong to the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae). The shrubs are so popular because of their small, healthy berries, which contain a lot of vitamin C. They are available in black, red or white.

White, Red & Black Currant Varieties

The berries vary in aroma and taste depending on their color. While red currants (Ribes rubrum) are characterized by their particularly sour taste, the white variety tastes milder and sweeter. Black currants (Ribes nigrum), on the other hand, have a more bitter taste.

Although the shrub is hardy and frost-resistant , most varieties of this genus shed their leaves over the winter and go into hibernation. A shrub can live for up to 15 years. So once the work is done, you can harvest your own berries from your garden for a long time with the right care.

The Right Location & Soil

To grow and thrive, a currant plant can also thrive in a semi-shady spot. However, the fruits gain in sweetness and flavor in a sunny location. You can also reap larger harvests. If you only have shade available, it is best to plant white currants (Ribes sativa). This variety bears sweeter fruit and sometimes even prefers to grow in partial shade. In a sunny location, it is important to remember that currants are shallow-rooted plants. This means that even watering must be ensured in dry conditions. A layer of mulch helps to keep evaporation to a minimum. Due to its shallow root system, it can also be grown on the balcony without any problems. A large pot that is at least 40 cm/15.7 in deep is sufficient for this.

Which Soil for Currants?

The native berry shrub is well adapted to the conditions in our latitudes. It is therefore not too picky about its location and thrives in almost any garden soil in this country. However, currants prefer medium-heavy, nutrient-rich soil. The soil should have a slightly acidic pH value of between 5.5 and 6.

Planting Currant: Companion Plants

Currants are perennial crops that you can easily integrate into your garden. Due to their similar habitat requirements, other native berries such as gooseberries, jostaberries or blueberries are good neighbors for a mixed culture in the berry patch. Currant bushes can also be planted very well in a woodland garden with trees and vegetable plants. A forest garden works according to the principles of permaculture, creating a stable system that is less susceptible to diseases or pests. You can find out which fruit trees you can plant for this and how they can be underplanted in the article Planting fruit trees.

Mixed Crop Planting Plans With Red Currants: Examples & Ideas

Here are some examples and ideas for your mixed cultivation with currants. In a cottage garden, berry hedges are often planted as a border on the north side. You can also combine the shrub with herbs and flowers. We have also prepared a berry bed in which annual vegetable plants grow, as tomatoes and redcurrants also harmonise very well.

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When to Plant Currants?

Like the vast majority of berry bushes, currants are best planted out in the fall. When planted before winter, currants benefit from the winter moisture and reliably sprout new shoots the following spring. The shallow roots can cause the plant to dry out quickly, making it more difficult to grow. The soil is usually wetter in winter than in summer, so you don't need to worry about this. But don't worry if you missed the fall! Planting is possible all year round. Just make sure that the root ball is always moist.

How to Plant Currant Plants: A Guide

1. Prepare the site: As already mentioned, currants are shallow-rooted plants. This means that they are less competitive against weeds and you should keep the soil free of them. Particularly robust weeds such as gorse, stinging nettle or couch grass will otherwise simply grow through the currant's root system and are difficult to remove afterwards without damaging the shrub. To get rid of weeds, you can mulch with organic material using the no-dig method. This saves you the hassle of weeding. For particularly stubborn weeds, you can also spread cardboard to eliminate the weeds.
2. Dig a planting hole: Dig a generous planting hole for the newcomer, which is about twice as wide and deep as the root ball. Loosen the soil around the planting hole with a digging fork to make it easier for the roots to anchor themselves in the soil. For an optimal start, add some compost to the planting hole. Now place the root ball in a bucket of water so that it can soak up the water before planting out.
3. Pruning: Before planting out, the young plant should be pruned. This guarantees better budding next spring. Choose the strongest 5 to 6 shoots, ideally not all growing in the same direction. These shoots are shortened to around a third of their length. At least four buds should remain on each shoot. Shorten the remaining shoots to a few centimetres above the ground. Although this pruning seems very radical, it supports the young plant in its development.
4. Planting: Take the root ball out of the bucket and place it in the planting hole. When planting, there are variety-specific differences that you should bear in mind: Red varieties (Ribes rubrum) should be placed a few centimetres deeper in the planting hole. Black varieties (Ribes nigrum) are planted even deeper (about a hand's width) than before. This encourages young shoots to sprout. Close the hole, tamp down the soil and water the shrub abundantly. Finally, apply a layer of mulch, which not only retains moisture but also provides nutrients. If you want to plant several shrubs, you should leave about 1 to 1.5 m/1.1 to 1.6 yd between the plants.

Caring for a Currant

With the right care, you can harvest delicious berries from your garden for years to come. Regular watering, a good supply of nutrients and regular pruning are particularly important for healthy fruiting. If you would like to know more about how to care for your currant bush, take a look at our article on the subject. Here you will find tips on pruning, fertilizing and propagating currants.

Harvesting & Storing Currants

The currant harvest begins on St. John's Day on June 24 and lasts until around the end of July. The exact harvest window varies depending on the variety. Otherwise, harvesting the small berries is easy. Compared to gooseberries or raspberries, they have no thorns or spines that make harvesting difficult. The panicles on which the fruits grow and ripen can be harvested completely. To do this, simply cut them off with a garden secateurs. You can use a fork to make it easier to remove the berries from the panicle. To do this, hold the top of the vine and slowly remove the berries with the fork. Now you can prepare delicious jams, jellies or cakes to preserve the berries. Preserved fruit and vegetables from your own garden are particularly popular in winter. You can read about all the common methods of preserving here.

Good luck with growing your own currants! If you have any questions or other comments on the topic, please write to [email protected].

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Cover picture by Capri23auto on Pixabay.

Source: Charles Dowding, #No Dig, 2023, Munich: Dorling Kindersley Verlag GmbH, Work instructions and descriptions