Ribes – Currants

Common Names: CurrantsHello Hello Plants Nursery Campbellfield Melbourne Victoria Australia ribes red currant berries fruit
Origin: UK, Europe

  • Great addition to shrubberies
  • Tolerates a wide range of climates if protected from hot sun
  • Heavy fruiting

 

 

Currants produce masses of delicious berries during the summer. They are highly frost tolerant, enjoy cold winters but like sunny, semi-shade positions in summer. Varieties like the Red Currant are more sour than the others whereas the Black Currant produces fruit high in Vitamin C. Currants are ideal for cooking, often used to make jams, cordial and even liqueur.

 

Plant Type: Shrub

Uses: Jam-making, Winemaking, Desserts & Baking, Cordials, Autumn colour

Garden Types: Pots & Containers, Edible Garden

Hello Hello Plants Nursery Campbellfield Melbourne Victoria Australia ribes black currant red currant white currant fruit in bowls

 

Care

 

Sun Requirements: Full sun or a site that gets late afternoon shade.  Protect from strong hot winds.

Water Requirements: Regular watering.  Water more regularly when fruiting.

Soil Requirements: Rich, moist, free-draining soil.  Tolerant of heavy wet soils.

Fertilizing: Plenty of organic matter or farmyard compost when establishing.  Fertilise when new growth appears.

Pruning: Fruits on previous year’s growth.  Prune dead wood with old berry stalks showing. Red and white currants fruit on second-third, year growth.

Tolerances: Frost, cold climates

Diseases: Leaf-spot fungus, currant shoot borer, Coral spot/Dieback fungus, Currant maggot

Sow: Late winter, or early autumn in mild climates

Hello Hello Plants Nursery Campbellfield Melbourne Victoria Australia ribes black currant fruit on branch

Key Features

Flower: Small white star-shaped flowers on sprigs.

Hello Hello Plants Nursery Campbellfield Melbourne Victoria Australia ribes flower

 

 

 

 

 

Foliage: Aromatic green foliage in a palmate shpe, 4-5 cm long 

Hello Hello Plants Nursery Campbellfield Melbourne Victoria Australia ribes leaves and black fruit

Hello Hello Plants Nursery Campbellfield Melbourne Victoria Australia ribes leaves and red fruit

 

 

 

 

Fruit / Stem: Heavy cropping black, red or white berries on clusters

Hello Hello Plants Nursery Campbellfield Melbourne Victoria Australia ribes black currant fruit

Hello Hello Plants Nursery Campbellfield Melbourne Victoria Australia ribes white currant fruitHello Hello Plants Nursery Campbellfield Melbourne Victoria Australia ribes red currant fruit

 

 

 

 

 

Edible: Yes

Toxicity: N/A

Attracts: Birds for the fruit.  Net if necessary.