Pruning Currant Bushes

November 17, 2024 Post a Comment

Pruning currant bushes

Prune in winter to leave between eight and ten healthy, strong main branches each year. On one-year-old bushes, prune back new shoots by half. Prune to an outward facing bud to influence the direction that the shoot grows, aiming for an open-centred goblet shape.

When and how do you prune a red currant bush?

In winter, remove any dead wood and low-lying shoots. Then spur prune all side-shoots by cutting them back to one to three buds from the base. Shorten branch tips by one quarter, cutting to a suitable outward-facing bud. In early summer, prune new growth back to two buds to keep plants compact.

How do you prune a red and black currant bush?

Cut out a quarter to a third of the branches each year, aiming to remove old unproductive wood, weak growth and low-lying branches. Make the cuts low down wherever possible to stimulate strong growth from or near the base, and remove weak shoots and any dead wood.

How do you cut back currants?

Use secateurs to prune off a 15-30cm (6-12in) long shoot of recent growth. Trim off the soft tip, making the cut diagonally just above a bud to enable rain to drain off easily (and also to make it obvious which end is up when you plant it!). Cut horizontally just below a bud to form the base of the cutting.

Can you prune currants in the fall?

Prune established currant and gooseberry shrubs annually in late winter (early March), before new growth appears, to encourage vigor and fruit production. During the first three years of growth, allow four or five canes to develop per year. Remove only weak or damaged wood.

What month do you prune blackcurrants?

Ideally pruning should be carried out immediately after harvesting or more practically, September. By the middle of summer the blackcurrant bush will be a mass of fresh young shoots surrounding the older fruiting branches.

How long do red currant bushes live?

Once planted, redcurrant plants will remain productive for almost 20 years. Even if you don't want to eat the fruit, redcurrants are highly ornamental and a great way of attracting birds to your garden.

Can you prune currants in spring?

Currant pruning requires the removal of the oldest wood annually in very early spring. Fruits are produced on three-year-old wood, which needs to be preserved. Broken and dead wood are removed annually and some thinning needs to take place to enhance air and light penetration.

Is it too late to prune blackcurrant bushes?

ANSWER: As a general rule prune blackcurrants from the end of December to mid February when they are dormant. I would not advise pruning "straight after growth stops in late summer/autumn" because the bush will still have leaves on at that time of year.

Can you prune blackcurrant bushes in summer?

Summer will be when the crop is still producing its sweet berries so you can gently prune away any dead leaves but getting rid of too much of the stems will mean less fruit yield. You can remove some of the healthy leaves however and these can be used to make herbal tea.

Can I prune red currants in summer?

Pruning currants: summer pruning Shorten the shoots that bear fruit. Remove excessively steep, excess shoots (leave a total of about 10 two to three-year-old shoots; 10 new shoots for black currants) or injured new shoots.

Do red currants fruit on old or new wood?

Redcurrants and whitecurrants fruit on old wood. In winter, cut back old or diseased stems; at the end of June, prune new growth back to two buds, to keep the plant compact.

Do I need two currant bushes?

The flowers are “self-fruitful,” which means that you don't need more than one variety for pollination and fruit production. Some sources recommend having two black currant varieties for better pollination, but if space is an issue, don't sweat it: I've had gardens with a single black currant that performed well.

Do you need two currant bushes to get fruit?

Currant bushes can pollinate their own flowers, so you only have to plant one variety to get fruit, although you'll get bigger fruit if you plant two different varieties.

How hard can you cut back Ribes?

With a large overgrown Ribes shrub, the best course of action may well be to prune it hard – down to ground level or near! That course of action can be carried out at virtually any time of year, but if you prune it too late, then it will not flower the following spring.

Why are currants prohibited in some states?

The nutrient-rich berries were banned in 1911 because they were thought to produce a fungus that could damage pine trees. As new disease-resistant berries were produced and new ways to prevent the fungus from damaging timber were developed, some states started to lift the ban in 2003.

Is it better to prune in fall or spring?

For most trees, the best time for major pruning is late winter to early spring because wounds close faster. Pruning in late summer and early fall may also stimulate new growth, which has little time to harden before cold weather comes.

Why is it against the law to grow currants?

turns out that in the early 1900s, the federal and state governments outlawed the growing of currants and gooseberries to prevent the spread of white pine blister rust. Although the federal ban was rescinded in 1966, some northern states still prohibit the planting or cultivation of black currants.

How long do black currant bushes live?

Blackcurrants are usually trouble free and may live for 10-15 years. Net the bushes down to ground level to prevent birds from stealing the fruit . Or grow in a fruit cage. Reversion and Big Bud Mite may reduce their life but frost can be a problem particularly in Northern regions with early flowering varieties.

How do you take care of black currant bushes?

Grow blackcurrants in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Feed with a high potash fertiliser weekly during the growing season and mulch the soil around the plant with well-rotted manure, leaf mould or compost. You may consider netting the fruit against birds. Prune in autumn.