Anyone who expects a rich harvest should fertilize their currants sufficiently at the right time. We will tell you what is important when it comes to fertilizing.
Even if you get the impression that currants (Ribes) produce their delicious fruit every year, that's not entirely true. Both red currants (Ribes rubrum) and black currants (Ribes nigrum) need to produce new shoots constantly. For this and also for the development of their fruits, they need nutrients from the soil. In a nutrient-rich soil, which may have been improved with compost during planting, the berries may go a few years without fertilizer. But at some point even this soil is exhausted. Shoot growth slows down, the shoots become weaker, yield and fruit quality continue to decline. So that it doesn't come to that, we'll tell you what you need to consider when fertilizing.
When should currants be fertilized? Which fertilizers are suitable and what is the best way to fertilize? We have summarized the answers for you in this article.
Fertilize currants: the best time
The vegetative growth, i.e. the growth of the shoots, starts early in spring with currants. The plants already need nitrogen for this. Since organic fertilizer usually takes a while before the nutrients are available to the plants, currants are fertilized very early. Preferably in early February. If you only fertilize with compost, we recommend a dose in late autumn. In this way, the organic material can already decompose a little and the currants can feed directly on new nutrient stores with the early budding. In early spring, add one or two more composts. This is not absolutely necessary for fertilizers with a higher nutrient density such as stable manure or organic commercial fertilizers. They are applied once in spring (March). It is best to use organic long-term fertilizers for this, such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer. This is particularly gentle on plants, soil and animals in your garden. Onea second, smaller dose of fertilizer can also be given at the end of April to support flowering and fruit formation.
Summary: when to fertilize currants?
- Compost in late autumn or early spring
- Basic fertilization in spring (March) with organic slow-release fertilizer
- Second application of fertilizer for flowering and fruit formation (end of April)
Tip from the professionals: Barn manure should be well rotted for a few weeks or better months so that it is suitable for fertilization. You can tell if the manure has rotted well by the smell. Rottemung no longer smells of its ingredients.
Currants and their nutritional needs
Currants need a lot of nitrogen to constantly renew their shoots. They also have an increased need for potassium. A potassium deficiency shows up in currants on the brown leaf edges, which curl upwards. Currants also want to be supplied with magnesium. However, these are very small amounts that are normally contained in organic fertilizers such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer anyway.
Suitable fertilizers for currants
As long as you fertilize early enough in spring, organic fertilizers work best for currants. They work for a long time and therefore provide the currants with good nutrients all the time. However, not all organic fertilizers are suitable for currants.
Fertilize currants organically
Nitrogen-based horn meal and horn shavings products contain too little potassium and magnesium and therefore do not provide currants with sufficient nutrients. In the case of rotting manure or compost, it is difficult to make precise recommendations for fertilizer quantities, since the nutrients vary greatly depending on the content of the compost, the composting process and the straw content in the manure. Basically, currants are very thankful for plenty of nutrients. It goes without saying that the amount of fertilizer must be adjusted to the size of the plant.
What also ensures a constant, small supply of nutrients with currants is mulching with lawn or clover clippings. We especially recommend this with currants because it keeps the soil nice and moist - just like the berries like it. Mulch also prevents grass or weeds from growing under the currants, which would rob the plants of nutrients. Nevertheless, you should apply an organic long-term fertilizer once a year in addition to the grass mulch. Depending on how much was mulched, you then stick to itthe application amount.
There are many reasons for using a slow-release organic fertilizer in the garden, both from a scientific point of view and specifically from a sustainable point of view. These also have many advantages when fertilizing currants, for example:
- Continuous decomposition by microorganisms and thus long-term nutrient supply to the currant
- Active, he althy soil life is promoted (good for microorganisms, earthworms etc.)
- Particularly gentle on people, pets and garden animals due to the absence of chemicals
Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer consists largely of organic, vegetable raw materials and is therefore ideal for fertilizing your currants. A high proportion of nitrogen promotes plant growth and leaf formation. Sufficient phosphorus and potassium continue to ensure rich flowering and lots of fruit. In addition, the production of the fertilizer from residues from the food, feed and semi-luxury food industry is particularly sustainable and resource-saving.
Fertilize currants correctly: instructions for ideal application
If your currants are not fertilized enough, this will of course have a negative effect on the yield. However, over-fertilization or imbalanced fertilization are also not desirable as they increase susceptibility to plant diseases. So that you can provide your currants with the optimal amount of nutrients, we have prepared precise fertilizer instructions for you below.
Organic long-term fertilization: instructions and dosage amounts for currants
- Before planting: Work 80 - 160 g/m² (6 to 13 heaped tablespoons) of our Plantura organic universal fertilizer into the upper soil layers
- Water the bush used well so that the granules can loosen
- Feed every spring (March) 90 - 140 g per plant (7 to 11 heaped tablespoons)
- A small dose of fertilizer for flowering and fruit formation (end of April) provides your plant with optimal care
Currants mineral fertilizer
Blue grain, liquid fertilizer and Co. are often used in the garden, as the nutrients they contain can be directly absorbed by the plant from the soil solution in their pure form. That makes for onerapid nutrient boost, but at the same time the easy solubility of the nutrient s alts also increases the risk of leaching into the soil. In the worst case, this can lead to contamination of the groundwater. In contrast, organic fertilizers work more slowly, but promote soil life through the ongoing decomposition by microorganisms and ensure a sustainably improved soil structure. In addition, there is hardly any risk of over-fertilization with organic fertilizers, since the nutrients are not as concentrated as in mineral fertilizers.
Regular pruning is also important for a rich currant harvest. You can find instructions and professional tips for cutting currants in this article.