BLACK
CURRANT
Planting- Dig plenty of organic matter, animal manure or commercial fertiliser into the soil before planting. Plant with roots spread out. Trim cane to 30cm after planting to prevent cane fruiting early. Allow 1.5 metres between rows.
Care of crop- Grow crop against a wall or fence, or support with a fence or trellis. Sprinkle with general fertiliser each spring. Cut off suckers that emerge between plants. Apply mulch in spring to conserve moisture in summer, and increase fruit yield.
Pruning- Black currants are different in their growing habits to the red and white currant, in that the black currant produces most of its fruit on the previous years growth. Thus the bush should be pruned to encourage a supply of new wood each season. To do this, cut all stems of the newly planted bush to about two buds above soil level. New shoots emerge from these in the first season and will bear some fruit in the second. The bushes from a clump of canes which, each season, make new suckers from the base. Once the bush is established, (ie. in the second season), prune out some of the older canes by cutting back to just beyond a strong new shoot near the base to make way for new growth. Leave about six or eight upward growing main shoots to form the bush. Follow this routine each winter. No shoot rising from the base of the plant should remain in place longer than three years. Keep the centre reasonably open at all times.
Pests/Disease- Currants are generally trouble free, however aphids and red spider mites should be watched for. These two can be controlled with commercial sprays specifically intended for this purpose.
Tips- Black currants require some cold winter chilling. They are best grown in areas that have winter minimum temperatures as low as 0C.
