Currant Shrub Growing Guide
The following are some tips to grow your own currant shrub. These are based on experience and research.
You may need to experiment with different methods or combinations of them in order to get the best results. Please do not take any of these steps lightly! They will require a great deal of time, patience, and dedication!
1) Choose a location where you want your plants to thrive!
2) Do not plant too close to your house.
You don’t want to disturb neighbors who might complain!
3) Plant in full sun or partial shade.
Full sun is better because it provides more light for photosynthesis, but partial shade is much better if you have problems with pests such as spider mites or aphids. If you live in a hot climate, then it’s probably best to plant your plants under a shady tree rather than directly on the ground.
4) Make sure that your soil is well drained before planting.
Water thoroughly after each watering so that the roots don’t rot.
5) Mulch around the base of your plants to protect them from wind and rain.
Use a mulching device like a straw bale or even leaves!
6) Prune the top of the plant in the spring to promote new growth.
You can even train some of your stronger vines to grow on a trellis or arbor to give the vine more support.
7) In the fall, you should prune back your vines so that they don’t suck up all of their nutrients and leave none for flowers the following spring!
If you prune them back enough, you may even be able to harvest some fruits!
Sources & references used in this article:
Growing currants and gooseberries in your home garden by BC Strik, AD Bratsch – 1993 – ir.library.oregonstate.edu
Small fruits in the home garden by SA Beach – 1895 – Agricultural Experiment Station
Diversity of currant (Ribes) species and cultivars infested by Cecidophyopsis mites in Latvia by RE Gough, EB Poling – 1997 – books.google.com
Improvement of currants and gooseberries. by A Stalažs – X International Rubus and Ribes Symposium 946, 2011 – actahort.org
Currants and gooseberries by GM Darrow – Improvement of currants and gooseberries., 1937 – cabdirect.org
The relation of cultivated red currants to the white pine blister rust in New York state by HN Ellacombe – 1884 – W. Satchell and Company
Soft Fruit Growing for the Amateur-What to Plant, How to Prune and Manure, with a Chapter on Nuts, One on Mushrooms and Another on Composting by GMM Darrow – 1919 – books.google.com
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