Allotments 4 All

Is there a BRV free available?    I used to have wonderful blackcurrants in the garden.  Used to make loads of jam and free lots.  Then the big bud struck and within a couple of years that was it.   I have tried reintroducing blackcurrants but it deos not take long before they also go down.

Have you tried some of the modern varieties, as they seem to be much better at resisting big bud? Since I threw out all my old bushes and replaced them with modern varieties, the problem is no more.
See the bottom of this page for suggested varieties :- http://www.growyourown.info/page69.html
I have had Ebony for two years and so far it is free of big bud.

Jostaberry seems to be completely immune.

It can be used for all the same things as a blackcurrant if you take into account that it is slightly sweeter but without the same intensity of flavour. So use more fruit and less sugar.

I find it preferable straight from the bush, (unfortunately so do the pigeons - especially since it tends to sweeten up a couple of weeks earlier).

It is less productive per cubic metre because the bushes are maybe 2x bigger (even if you prune them as a blackcurrant) - this together with the weaker flavour means you'd probably only get half as much blackcurrant cordial per square metre of ground.

On the one hand the bigger berries are easier to pick to get a bowlful for breakfast, but on the other the berries on each strig ripen so gradually it's seldom sensible to pick the whole strig, so they will never be a commercial crop.

Swings and roundabouts, horses for courses.

I grow both and enjoy both.

Cheers.

Once you've got the virus you have to root out the plants, but you can get rid of big bud easily. Cut the plants down to ground level, and burn everything.

I have a jostaberry but it failed to produce more than 6 flowers.  So very little fruit.  Next year is its last chance.  It is already a large plant so had expected something this year.

Blackcurrants have always grown well in my garden, replaced them with raspberries but after only three years they are already dieing off.  

Many thanks for the suggestions.

Josterberry's are very intermittent in thier fruiting in my experience. I was given 6 and they choose when or wether to bother.
In end they took up too much room and stopped bothering to fruit so they went.
Good luck.

I luckily given mine free by an allotmenteer in MK.  The mother plant was well covered in fruit.  I would have been well miffed if I had paid £7.99 from the local garden centre.   I think is it missing MK.  Perhaps it wants to see the Dons or go to the snow dome. ;D

Quote from: Digeroo on December 08, 2011, 15:57:17
I have a jostaberry but it failed to produce more than 6 flowers.  So very little fruit.  Next year is its last chance.  It is already a large plant so had expected something this year.

There are two ways to prune jostas (like a blackcurrant or like an apple).

Which way do you use?

It might be worth trying the other way (I use both).

If you are pruning as a blackcurrant already and don't want an even bigger plant then you can always try pruning them as an apple cordon or a tight pyramid.

Cheers.