My blackcurrants bushes are very old, and big. Did give them a big chop two years ago, have blackcurrants, but they are not very big, but they have gone black. Question is do I leave them to get bigger, or pick them tomorrow. After I have picked them I am going to cut all the old redcurrant and blackcurrant bushes down as they are getting ridiculous and not much fruit, but the birds seem to love them. Got enough recurrants to set my raspberry and strawberry jam, and have made redcurrant jelly. Blackcurrants may pick and make a drink with them, or leave for the birds.
Will you use the prunings for cuttings Borlotti? What does the fruit taste like. Ours will be left a bit longer but they are big fruits, Ben Sarek I think.
Which reminds me I want to take some blackcurrant cuttings and prune the early fruiting ones....
I only take the ones that are black and soft as they have a bit of sugar in them, the black and firm i leave on for another week. Unless you have lots of sugar on them of course and then just pick em!
Im loving the massive bowls of fruit from the plot at the moment even enough rasps to freeze for winter snacks , yipee!
x sunloving
I remember hearing on a gardening programme a very long time ago. Pick prune feed root. I used to prune off as much of the fruit as possible and then pick it sitting in a comfortable charge, and then stuff the branches in the ground to root.
It worked brilliantly for years until I got bid bud and reversion. I am hoping my newer ones will be a bit resistant, though someone on site has planted an old bush which clearly has reversion. Leaves are the wrong shape. I do hope it does not spread.
The cuttings I put to root last year each has three good strong branches so looking forward to loads of blackcurrants next year. And I have bought some more different varieties.
I am going to wait for the sunshine before I pick them. I will do the pruning and picking at the same time. The weather forecast for Enfield is looking better, but I am not holding my breath. Soon we will be moaning about the heat, August will be brilliant, that is what I think and September and maybe October. ;D ;D
Janny... the white currant bushed have taken well now since I re-plotted them to their final place at the plot.. Got a small handful so next year they should do well as no more moves planned for them!!