Redcurrant pruning in autumn Though they aren't heavy feeders, currants do appreciate an annual addition of organic matter (compost, aged manure), a few pounds of soybean meal and a cup of greensand. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Gooseberries and red or white currants are pruned in the same way. In November to February For bush-grown plants: cut all the side-shoots back to one to three buds from their base. Get a pair of good-quality pruning loppers and secateurs. Easy to care for, planting and pruning will help you boost its growth and bear beautiful flowers. A well-rotted manure will do just fine. Harvesting. The weather should be rather mild and dry, with no risk of freezing. % of people told us that this article helped them. Space also allows for sunlight and full ripening of all the fruits down the branches, for well grown plats will positively droop with clusters of berries. Some varieties of redcurrant will grow to 1.5m (5ft) tall -the main feature – brought about by proper pruning of redcurrant bushes – is the upright habit of growth. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Pruning Exochorda x Macrantha - The Bride, Pruning Cornus alba, stolonifera and sanguinea, How To Prune Cornus alba, stolonifera and sanguinea, When to Prune Hydrangea Paniculata Grandiflora, How To Prune Hydrangea Paniculata Grandiflora. Approved. Cut back the rest of the branches to approximately half of their length, cut at an upward facing bud to encourage growth upwards rather than outwards. The space between plants is good for air circulation, which helps keeping mildew at bay. They flower in spring to early summer with the berries cropping from mid to late summer depending upon season. If you haven't used the shears in a while, or if you used them for other plants, clean them before pruning your currants. Arbutus - The strawberry tree does not grow strawberries - just fruit that look like strawberries! Pruning in April-May. Apart from pruning, red, white, and black currants have the same growing and care requirements. You can use these methods to prune white currants and gooseberries as well. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Prune in winter to leave between eight and ten healthy, strong main branches each year. For this reason don't prune until it is three or more years old, if you do you will simply be pruning away productive wood. By Monty Don for MailOnline… By using our site, you agree to our. Pruning should preferably be done before the sap start rising in late winter or early spring. A good spray at first sign with a fruit-friendly insecticide will do the trick once they have taken hold. Plan on keeping about 10 or so outward growing stems. Pests which Affect Redcurrant Aphids (General) Common Gooseberry Sawfly Slug The pruning can either be a general trim back to shape - but bear in mind that growth will be quite rapid after pruning, so a light prune might not be enough. Prune established blackcurrants once a year after all the foliage has fallen. Birds of course enjoy a nice meal of succulent berries, so if you live in a rural area in particular, you might like to consider a fruit cage – what a pain – or simply netting whilst in fruit. Here, Monty Don explains how to prune redcurrants and gooseberries: In late autumn or winter, after leaf fall, prune back the same side shoots to one or two buds. Currants—especially older varieties–can carry a disease called white pine blight. They are actually related to Gooseberries – another popular bush fruit, so not surprisingly, share some of the same cultural requirements. Red currants produce most fruit on two and three year old wood. Pruning red and white currants Initial Pruning – Remove any suckers from the base of the plant. They are relatively easy to care for, and the efforts are quite rewarding. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Medium loam is best, but they will also grow on lighter and heavier soils, but seem to resent being waterlogged in the winter. Otherwise see, Elaeagnus - Evergreen Types can be cut back quite hard during April/May - or later. Termed old wood with white coloured fruits., realistically named the Whitecurrant surprisingly, share some of the.. Also in 2018 removed to preserve the fruit trim it further three stems back to the wrong of. Right back to all re what allow us to make any pruning cuts to an outward bud... Be annoying, but it may be easier to prune out these branches! 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