Currant bushes are very popular in your own garden. But what distinguishes the blackcurrant from the red or white currant? And what are the fruits used for? Find out more here.
The black currant is a very special type of currant. In this article you can find out what makes them special, how they are cultivated and cared for and what their sour-tart fruits can be used for.
Black currant: properties and origin
The black currant (Ribes nigrum), eel berry or black currant, as it is called in Austria, grows in many domestic gardens. It originally comes from the temperate latitudes of Eurasia and was found from France to the Himalayas. Today, the domesticated form is distributed almost worldwide. The black currant belongs to the gooseberry family, i.e. the Grossulariaceae, but is completely thornless. The shrub, which is up to two meters high, develops hand-sized, three- to five-lobed leaves on its shoots. Another characteristic is its bitter, intense smell, which can be perceived as soon as the flowers begin to bud. The marble-sized, deep black berries also have a tart, sour, but also pleasantly sweet taste when ripe.
Differences between black and red currants
Her sister, the red currant, is much more widespread than the black currant. Apart from the clear color differences, the black currants are slightly larger than the red ones. The ingredients of the two types also differ slightly, there is a clear difference in the vitamin C content. Depending on the variety, blackcurrants can be up to five times larger than their red sisters.
But can blackcurrants also be eaten raw? Raw consumption is possible without hesitation. Because of their tart taste, however, they are often processed further, while red currants are also very popular raw. However, processing blackcurrants can result in the loss of more valuable ingredients than red onescurrants. When growing blackcurrants, it is important to note that most varieties, unlike redcurrants, are not self-pollinating. It is therefore advisable to have a second variety in the immediate vicinity so that cross-pollination can take place and berries set plenty of fruit.
The best black currant varieties
There are many varieties of black currant. Here are some of the most popular strains:
- 'Titania': Robust and easy to care for, therefore suitable for almost all locations; large, deep black berries; slightly sour, typical blackcurrant aroma.
- 'Ometa': Strong and upright habit; sweet, strongly aromatic fruits.
- 'Silvergieters': Early ripening variety with a mild, sweet aroma; low demands on soil and climate, therefore suitable for many locations.
You can find an overview of other currant varieties in our special article.
Growing blackcurrants: This is what you need to know
Blackcurrants can be grown in almost any garden. Nevertheless, it is important to pay attention to the right location. Blackcurrants, like their red and white sisters, as original forest dwellers, need a partially shaded location, but most varieties also tolerate direct sun.
The right location for the blackcurrant
The blackcurrant does not like mixed cultures, so it should be planted alone. Only other currant varieties are accepted as neighbors, including white and red ones, and as a big exception, wormwood. The cultivation of several currant varieties also has the advantage that the fertilization of the flowers is ensured and there is no trickling. Irrigation means that individual berry approaches are rejected because they were not fertilized. The result is a high loss of berries and an optically very incomplete bunch of currants.
Since the flowers are sensitive to frost, draughty locations and cold sinks should be avoided.
The soil must be rich in humus but not very deep, as the currant root system grows broadly and is not particularly deep enough. A constant water supply and a constantly moist soil are important because of the shallow roots. Waterlogging must be avoided urgently. Therefore, humic soils are suitableparticularly good, but it can also be cultivated on loamy sandy soils. Cultivation on clay-rich, heavy soil is only possible with intensive soil improvement due to poor drainage.
To improve the water supply, a layer of bark mulch, grass clippings or fresh compost can be used in the dry summer months. This prevents evaporation from the soil and protects against dehydration and, depending on the mulch material, supplies additional nutrients, which means that further fertilization can be saved. If you don't have a garden, blackcurrants can also be grown in tubs on the balcony or terrace. Because of the wide root system, a correspondingly large bucket should be used. Potassium-rich soil is advantageous for planting the shrub, as the young plant is ideally supplied with it right from the start. For example, our Plantura organic tomato and vegetable soil is suitable.
How to plant blackcurrants
Once you have found the right spot in your garden, you can start planting. But when is the right time for this? It is best to plant them in late autumn, and you hardly have to distinguish between the classic shrub and the standard. In this way, the first roots can be formed in autumn and at the beginning of vegetation in spring and the plant will grow safely. Planting in early spring is also possible if adequate watering can be guaranteed.
When planting several new shrubs, the plants should be planted 1 to 1.5 meters apart, as the individual plants can become very sprawling. If you grow the plants in different rows, there needs to be a distance of 2.5 to 3 meters between them. Plant the plant in a generous hole that should be at least 1.5 times the size of the root ball. This can be covered about five centimeters with soil, which promotes the formation of adventitious roots, i.e. roots that are newly formed on the shoot. This ensures the development of a dense and strong root system. Now the excavation is mixed with fresh, nutrient-rich soil, such as Plantura organic tomato and vegetable soil, and organic fertilizer or compost is added. This mixture is now filled into the planting hole and well laid out.
Finally, the currant bush has to be well watered. For easier watering in the growth phasea casting ring can be formed from the excess soil. This ensures that the water only seeps away in the area directly around the currant bush and thus reaches the plant.
Tip: A special feature of the standard is that a permanent support post is required. About a third of this is buried in the ground. The black currant is then tied to the support post at the stem, at the grafting point and at the leader of the crown.
Pruning should be done before or after planting. For this, only the 5 to 6 strongest shoots are selected, all weaker shoots are removed at the base. The selected trellis branches that are allowed to remain on the plant are now shortened to 3 to 5 buds above the ground. This guarantees vigorous budding after growth and a good structure of the bush.
Summary: How to plant blackcurrants
- Time: In late autumn, also possible in spring if the water supply is secure
- Planting distance: 1 to 1.5 meters between plants and 2.5 to 3 meters between rows
- Planting depth: Up to 5 cm above the root base
- Earth: rich in nutrients, humic, loose; heavy soil and waterlogging unsuitable
- Watering: Regularly in case of drought, help with a watering ring during the growth phase
- Pruning: Leave 5 to 6 branches and shorten to 3 to 5 eyes
Blackcurrant Care
In the hot summer months, it is very important to water the bushes regularly, as they are very sensitive to drought and otherwise the harvest could be lost.
Fertilize black currant
In addition to sufficient water, the plants need new nutrients after two years at the latest in order not to use up the soil's reserves. Organic long-term fertilization is best. Since blackcurrants start their vegetative growth very early in the year, it is important to fertilize even earlier, ideally in early February. We recommend using a primarily organic fertilizer, such as the Plantura organic universal fertilizer, as this supplies the currant bushes with nutrients and, in particular, covers the high potassium requirement. If the currant is properly fertilized, the harvest of the following year is as good as secured.
Pruning Blackcurrant
Apart from regular fertilization, the annual pruning of blackcurrants is also crucial. It is best to leadthis right after the harvest, so that the plant can put its energy into the remaining shoots and start the new year stronger. The aim of cutting is a light bush where the sun can reach all places. To do this, the diseased and weak branches, as well as particularly disturbing and cross-growing ones, are cut out. Side shoots that are very flat on the ground or very thin should be removed completely. Another special feature of the black currant compared to red and white currants is that all shoots that are more than four years old are completely removed from the ground, because the older shoots only bear a few berries. The young shoots have a light, smooth surface and are therefore clearly distinguishable from the darker, rough old shoots. Cutting out the old shoots is therefore easy for every gardener.
Diseases and Pests
Black currants are very robust and rarely suffer from diseases. However, a typical currant disease is leaf fall disease - a fungal disease in which the leaves are shed prematurely. In order to contain it, infested leaves should be removed and disposed of in late winter at the latest so that the fungus cannot spread again. Rotpustula disease, the death of affected branches with the formation of orange-red pustules on dead branches, can also occur. On the other hand, a generous pruning of the affected parts of the plant and the disposal of the sections usually helps. Blackcurrants are much more susceptible than other varieties to nettle leaf disease, a viral infection. A vigorous pruning of the affected parts of the plant can also help here. Action should also be taken against the nettle gall mite, as it transmits the infection. In addition to diseases, pest infestation can also occur. In the case of black currants, aphids, scale insects, spider mites, gall mites and glass winged insects are known to be the most common pests. Various home remedies can help here. A stinging nettle decoction or a 3 percent soft soap and water mixture that is sprayed onto the pests with a spray bottle have proven to be particularly effective.
Tip: Drainage is often misinterpreted as a disease. Incompletely covered infructescences are not only caused by frost, but also by a lack of pollinators. This can be remedied by a bee pasture near the bushes, which also supports the bees in the garden. This way you have fewer problems with poorly bearing currants.
Propagating blackcurrants: This is how it works
The easiest way to propagate blackcurrants is vegetative propagation by cuttings. This creates clones of the mother plant, which is particularly recommended if you are satisfied with your own variety in terms of taste and yield. To propagate cuttings, choose a strong, he althy shoot of your currant plant that is no older than two years in spring. Cut this off with clean, sharp pruning shears. From this shoot you cut one or more sticks about 20 cm long, each with 2 to 3 eyes. These should be beveled at the top to avoid water stagnating when it rains and the fungal infection that often accompanies it. The stick can then be inserted so deep into the potting soil that at least two of the eyes are still sticking out. Regular watering and patience are then important, then nothing stands in the way of the new currant bush. We have compiled tips from professionals and how to propagate currants in different ways in an article for you.
Harvest and Use
You can harvest the ripe fruits from mid to late July until late August. This means that they ripen a little later than the red currant berries. Blackcurrants can be used in many different ways: the berries can be eaten raw, in a fresh fruit salad or simply as a snack. But only fully ripe berries should be harvested. Unprocessed, the berries contain many vitamins, especially vitamin C, but also he althy tannins and minerals. The berries can also be easily frozen and stored for later use. The black currants are often processed into jelly or jam, you can bake cakes with them or make liqueur out of them. The berries also taste great in smoothies or add a sweet note to a hearty sauce. Do you already know the more unconventional use of the leaves as soup greens? These are particularly he althy because of the flavonoids, essential oils and anthocyanins they contain.
It's not obvious at first glance, but another species of the genus Ribes is the gooseberry. Here you can read everything about the cultivation and care of the gooseberry plant, as well as its propagation and utilization.