Topic: 2 Year Old Blackcurrants

[af20001]

I have found a supplier of 2 year old Blackcurrant plants that I intend to buy. I have read that when you plant blackcurrants you should cut the stems of the plant right down. Does this apply to 2 year old plants as well?

[teresa]

Check this out, looks like its to get a good root system, but I have not done it but growing mine as a wind break on lottie from cuttings but never cut them down only old wood out and opened the centre.

http://gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/blackcurrant_page2.asp#blackcurrant_plant

Be interesting to hear what others do. 2 year old bushes should have a good root system?

[calendula]

I would wait until you receive the plants and see what condition they are in and then prune out any damaged wood and then to shape only -  wouldn't be too harsh with the pruning as you want to get fruit next year - once they are well established you can then prune out about a third if necessary each year to keep from getting huge - once established b/c's are very tough usually

[laurieuk]

I would cut them done completely so as not to get fruit in the first year but allow the plants to build a really good root system for future years.

[Robert_Brenchley]

You'd do better to cut it back and leave the fruit for a year. You won't get much the first year anyway, and by the time they've established and grown back from ground level you'll get a much better crop in two years' time. After that, cut back a third every year. you're supposed to cut out the oldest (and darkest) wood but that won't be a factor at first. Just cut the weakest until you can see a colour variation appearing.

[teresa]

Of course if you cut down all the cuttings you can put in for extra bushes nothing wasted ;)