Taking blackcurrent cuttings

[GlentoranMark]

I notice a blackcurrant plant in a hedgerow close to my site. Would I be wise to take a few cuttings and using them for my own benefit?

How would I take the cuttings as I've never done it before?

TYIA.

[GlentoranMark]

[goodlife]

Wait untill you see and taste if the fruit is worth while..if you find that they taste ok..next autumn/winter take some 8 to 10 inch long cuttings from the new growth and stick them in half way in into slits where you have put handfull of grit or sand in bottom..leave them in untill you see new growth in spring/early summer..dig out and plant them to proper position or grow on in pots...and don't forget to get the cuttings in the ground right way up.. ;)

[Tee Gee]

I agree with GL.

Last year I was trimming my two bushes and stuck a few of the offcuts into the ground along side my bushes.

Had a look today and they all have seemed to have rooted, at least they are in leaf.

I will just leave them there until planting out time and give them to those that want them on the allotment.

Two bushes are enough for me!

[lincsyokel2]

Best way to do it is by french layering.

[:(]

I pruned my bushes a couple of months ago and used the prunings as cuttings. Cut them below a bud at the bottom, above a bud at the top and dibbed them in so that 2 buds are in the ground. All 9 have got leaves now. did the same with the gooseberry prunings and theyve all taken too.

[allaboutliverpool]

Blackcurrants are one of the easiest to grow from cuttings.

Just take stem and shove it in the ground,  late Summer Autumn or Spring.  You will get nearly 100% success.

Look at these cuttings in March[attachment=1] taken in August after fruiting.

http://allaboutallotments.com/index.html

[PurpleHeather]

I agree with what has been said and you can take stems off now. Either plant them in moist ground or put them into a little bit of water like a flower vase. Interesting to watch the roots appear this way. Pot them up when there are some nice roots on the stem. (have a go at both ways, it is all a learning curve). You may need to change the water to stop it going off if you do want to use the water method. I like to do it that way to show children how the roots appear, and use a plastic bottle with the top cut off so that they can watch it happen.

Try the fruit from the bush in the hedgerow in autumn for flavour and make your decision. If the cuttings you took now have not taken, you can try again.

It is not rocket science but sometimes it needs a little confidence. Black currants produce the new growth in autumn for next years fruit. Red currants produce that in the Spring which is often a good way to identify which bush is which before waiting for the fruit.

[allaboutliverpool]

Easy as I said before.
[attachment=1][attachment=2][attachment=3]
[attachment=4][attachment=5]

They are planted in the final bed and trained as cordons.

http://allaboutallotments.com/index.html

[GlentoranMark]

Many thanks for all your replies. Looks like I'll have to wait until autumn!