Relocating Fruit Bush

[DavidW]

I planted some prunings of gooseberry and blackcurrent in the autumn, which are now starting to bud, when is the best time to relocate these to their final growing position.

Thanks
David

[DavidW]

[jennym]

Now.

[misterphil]

sorry to ask what is probably an obvious question - what did you do with your prunings prior to planting to be able to get them to grow, and how did you plant them (hormone, compost/soil, indoor outdoor etc)?

I have tried various ways so far, but to no avail as yet, so any guidance would be welcome.

thanks

[Larkspur]

Hi mrphil, I have a dozen blackcurrent cuttings taken in autumn and planted out about 3 weeks ago now budding up nicely. They were rooted in a container of water!! ::)

[the_snail]

Good practice for taking blackcurrant cuttings is in autumn take a stem about 9 inches to 12 inches long of the current (no pun intended!) years growth and make sure you cut bellow a leaf bud. Place cutting in trench. If you can put some horticultural sand in the base of the trench but this is not really important. I like to leave them for 12 months then the following autumn move them to the final positions.

Also take of the top of the cutting as this helps with it branching out when it starts to grow. Water well in summer.

The_Snail

[jennym]

Larkspur, you might find that although they are budding, there aren't many roots yet, I agree with Snail, leave them a while.
Misterphil, you can still take some cuttings now and try though, it won't hurt, Also, blackcurants should be planted in their final positions a bit deeper than they were when you dug them up, this encourages the shoots to come up from below ground, which is what you really want, lots of straight stems coming up from below ground. The branching method is better really for redcurrants and gooseberries, where you want to develop a leg (like a small trunk) and then branches (like a little tree).
Blackcurrants fruit on second year wood, and fruiting tends to deteriorate on older wood, so once its got going, you cut out a third of the stems (the oldest ones) at ground level each year to promote a supply of fresh stems. They are hungry nitrogen feeders too, so a feed in spring will do them good.

[Larkspur]

Jennym, they had well developed roots when I planted them. They are just in a trench as Snail describes waiting to be planted on next winter. I was trying to help out misterphil by pointing out that sometimes very simple methods work. :)

[jennym]

They certainly do work ! But I had an unpleasant surprise once when I thought I had a lot of cuttings - I'd taken them in the late autumn and by spring, leaves and all had appeared - but roots - none to speak of. Most disappointing! And why didn't I see your statement about rooting in water - must be getting old....

[Robert_Brenchley]

Keep them in the shade, keep them damp, and they'll be OK. I find a bell jar over the top is a great help.