Allotments 4 All

Hi all, just realised that the scraggly 'hedge' next to my fallen over shed is actually three blackcurrant bushes ;D  They have a tiny bit of fruit on them but it isn't very nice since the light can't get to it. 
I think they might need some pruning to restore them to their former glory but I can only find info on how to prune young bushes.  Has anyone ever had to rehabilitate a fruit bush without causing it any damage? ???

Blackcurrants - these are lovely fruit. Start rejuvenating them now. You can do this by:
Copious watering and include a high nitrogen feed. Cut out one third of the stems down to ground level right now. New stems should start to grow, and the fruit for next year will come from this new growth. You can also cut down around a quarter of ther old stems in February next year, and that will also make new growth, which may or may not fruit next year. Basically, cut down one quarter to one third of the stems every year in early February to maintain a supply of fresh stems. The newer stems that come are less woody looking and paler in colour. Blackcurrants produce stems from ground level, they shouldn't really have a 'trunk'. So, you can earth up around the base of the plant too.
I've just started picking, and gathered 1.5kg today with more to come. (5 year old bush).

mine (inherited) have 'trunks' and are covered in fruit....

The branches you remove could be used as cuttings, if you wish to increase your stock.

If you want cuttings take them in the autumn.

Ok, thanks very much everyone.  That's a job for the weekend ;D
Also:  there are a few brambles and thistles entwined in the bushes, will it hurt the blackcurrants to hoik them out by the roots or should I just keep them cut back?

If you can get the roots of the weeds out without disturbing the black currant roots then yes, if not, don't. You may take cuttings at any time, not just Autumn as long as the pieces are not the very new stuff or the very old. Just stick them in, in a cool spot.

There's another method of pruning blackcurrants which is doable if you have enough bushes ie multiples of three (which you do).

Each year, cut one bush right down to ground level during late winter. It will grow lots of new shoots.  First year they're just growing so will be green then shading to pale tea as the summer progresses and will just be covered in leaves.
Second year they'll start off tea coloured and will be mostly leafy, maybe a few flowers on the previous year's growth.
Third year they will flower and fruit a lot and have dark brown branches.
The winter after this third year, prune back to ground.

Prune the other two bushes to ground at 1-year intervals, so each year you have one bush fruiting, one bush a year away and one with just new growth.

It's an extreme way of doing it, but if the plant has big bud for instance and you want to get rid of the infested buds, then pruning the whole thing to ground and burning the branches is a very good way of doing it.  I'm probably going to do this to a bush in my second plot, as it's sprawling everywhere with weak shoots and doesn't really have any fruit.  I was ruthless with the first plot's bushes and now I have loads of fruit and new shoots each year!

moonbells

That's a good idea; if it wasn't for the fact that my daughter objects to currants, I'd try it with my hopeless bushes, but as it is, I think I'll get rid of them and plant goseberries, since these get eaten with no problems. I'm sick of it:

'Dad, that has raisins! Euch!'

'No, they're currants.'

'I don't like them!' And so on.

Yes, I moved mine. Wait till the autumn, and just do it, they'll be fine.

best way to take a cutting ? how to cut ? any particular place etc etc

cheers

carl

Cut the stems out and plant them deep. They'll grow.

cheers rob

I agree with the cuttings, take them whenever!  I cannot throw something away if there is a chance of it growing, and rather foolishly, when I prune my red/black currants, or goosegogs, I stick the 'twigs' around the parent.  Nine times out of ten they all sprout and grown, thus I have more redcurrants than I know what to do with this year, and I am giving little plants to everyone I know!