How to grow Blackcurrant
in the UK

Blackcurrants are a proper cracking bush fruit to have on your allotment, dead easy to grow, to be honest. You get loads of fruit for very little effort, perfect for jams, pies, or just freezing for later. They don't take up a massive amount of space either, so they're a good choice for most plots.

Sowing

Blackcurrants are usually started from bare-root bushes, not seeds or plugs, you know. You can plant these from November right through to March, when the plant is dormant. Dig a decent hole, making sure you plant them deeper than they were in the nursery, about 5-10 cm deeper. This encourages new shoots from the base, giving you a stronger, more productive bush in the long run. Space them about 1.5 metres apart if you're putting in a row. They're hardy, so no need for a greenhouse or anything like that for planting out.

Growing on

Once your bare-root bush is in, there's not much faffing about needed for "growing on" like you would with seedlings. Just make sure the soil is firmed around the roots. They don't need pricking out or hardening off, as they go straight into the ground. Blackcurrants are quite sturdy, so no real need for support unless your plot is particularly exposed to high winds. They can be grown in large containers if you're short on space, but a good deep pot is a must, like a half-barrel or something similar.

Looking after it

Keep them watered, especially when the fruit is setting and swelling, mind. A good annual mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base in spring will keep the weeds down and feed the plant. Remove the oldest wood each year after harvesting to encourage new, productive growth – that's how you keep them going strong, to be honest.

What goes wrong

The main things to watch out for are big bud mite and leaf spot. Big bud mite makes the buds swell up unusually large in winter; you'll want to pick those off and burn them. Leaf spot can make the leaves look a bit shabby, especially in wet summers. Keeping the air circulating by pruning properly helps. Companion planting chives and comfrey nearby can also help keep them healthy.

Harvest

You'll be picking your blackcurrants in July and August, about 120 days after they start growing properly, like. Wait until they're good and dark, proper ripe, then just strip them from the stems. They freeze whole a treat for smoothies and jams – just pop them straight into a bag. You can keep them in the fridge for about a week, but they're best used fresh or frozen sharpish.