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My blackcurrant bush arrived (bare root) this morning, so I've had to hurriedly clear a patch of ground for it.

I didn't have any well-rotted manure, so I put a mix of not-very-well-rotted manure, garden centre compost and soil in.

I tried to keep the manure away from the roots, so by the time they grow into it, I'm hoping the manure will be more mellow.

Am I making a mistake? would it be better with no manure than fresh manure?

And if you've got some, bone meal, to encourage root growth.

valmarg

The blackcurrant is dormant at this time of year so by the time it wakes up and starts growing the manure will have mellowed enough soas not to do any harm.

phew that's good news!

Can I top dress with bonemeal next year or should it have been dug in now at planting valmarg?

QuoteCan I top dress with bonemeal next year

Yes!

Quoteor should it have been dug

Whats the point the plant/s are not growing to take the nutrients up.

Tip;

Next spring watch for the weeds growing around the base, remove them then apply your feed.

The weeds are a sign that the ground is warming up so your currants will be waking up also and need a feed!

Quote from: Tee Gee on November 12, 2008, 20:40:05
Tip;

Next spring watch for the weeds growing around the base, remove them then apply your feed.

The weeds are a sign that the ground is warming up so your currants will be waking up also and need a feed!

good tip :)

Yes that is a good tip!

personally, I would be wary of using too much manure around fruit as you could get foliage at the expense of fruit - fruit like potash more so be sparse with the manure and not every year either, would be my advice, others might say different   :)

that does sound logical. But gardening books all seem to say blackcurrants like manure and are 'heavy feeders'

our heaviest haul of blackcurrants have always been in the years we've piled the manure on  ;D

I feel confident that the bush will be fine. They do seem to thrive in all sorts of soils.

I think that the best thing for growth is liquid manure on a regular basis and I always have a water butt with a shovel full of fresh manure and rain water.