I have a blackcurrant from Lidl it has been very slow to take off, and is now smaller than the ones I put in last year to root.
It has now become surrounded by stinging nettles and some of the roots went right under the plant.
So the question is. Do I dig it out remove the nettles and replant, or just weed out the nettles as best I can? Will it might being disturbed? Or is it just a waste of space, and it would be better to get rid of it altogether it has been very slow getting going?
But in its favour it has a nice big shoot just at ground level.
Because of the progress to date I think I would lift it,wash off all the soil from the root system to remove the nettle roots and potentially self sown nettle seeds.
Then I would pot it up int pot of a size that suits the size of the root system in a good compost and store it in a cool greenhouse or coldframe for the winter.
When it starts to throw new leaves in spring plant it out in a suitable location.
Alternatively grow it on in the pot for a year to see if it develops into a better plant.
If it doesn't improve bin it!
Sorry I can't be more helpful....Tg
I agree with Tee Gee, dig it up, take all the nettle roots out of it, lightly prune it if necessary and put it in a pot. I took a lot of cuttings this time last year and didn't put them inside my greenhouse but in a sheltered spot behind the greenhouse and they all grew well.
Thanks I will repot it. There is nothing to prune off. It has the one really good shoot at the bottom, the rest is hardly doing anything a couple of side shoots about four inches long, if I cut the top off to encourage the new shoot, I will not be able to find the plant.
The ones I put in last year as cutting now all have good new growth a foot or more high, and even some this years cutting look better.
Just read it is a good time to root blackcurrants, I normally do it after I pick the fruit when I prune it.