3 replies to this topic

[Noelle]

I did a search and didn't find anything on currants. If I missed it, I apologize for the reposting of the subject.

The thread on the bush cherries reminded me to ask about currants. I was considering the cherries as well but might have to rethink that.

Anyway, January, tis the season for garden dreamin' and as I was looking through the catalogs, I saw currants. I want to get as many permanent food sources installed in my yard as possible.

It sounds like some varieties bear heavily. It also seems like the dark currants carry more nutritional value than the red.

We have black raspberries, 2 baby apple trees, 1 grapevine, ordered another, very few strawberries here and there, which I also intend to remedy, so far for installed fruit. I'd like to perhaps add blueberries if it's possible and was considering a couple other things and was just wondering about the success of the currants.

[Leah]

I have 2 bushes of unfertilized red currants.
Used fresh, there is enough for 2 pies. Dried, there is enough for one batch of cookies.
I don't do anything special to them. Using fertilizer would increase the yields. I'll be using chicken droppings this year, so I expect to get a larger amount.

[ChelleAlaska]

Hi Noelle~ I planted eight red currant bushes about 4 years ago. They are doing fantastic and I haven't done much to them. This year I picked about 2 gallons - plenty for jelly. They are good mixed with raspberries too. I ordered mine as bare root plants from Raintree Nursery. Here is a picture of them - they are on the far side of the garden just in front of the storage shed.


And here are a few pictures of the berries:




Here they are now - in the foreground under all the snow!

[Noelle]

Oh those are so pretty.

It doesn't look like they get gigantic, that's great! Thanks so much to both of you for the very helpful information.