Inherited Redcurrants

[redrichwen]

HI All

I've inherited a number of redcurrant bushes on my lottie. They are along the back perimeter  and form part of the hedging. Not aware of what variety they are. I'm happy to leave them there as part of the security measures, but wondered the following:

There is some fruit on them that is starting to turn colour, but not masses like i've seen on some bushes - should i prune them after fruiting to improve production next year. When is best to prune them.

Can i take cuttings with a view to situating them in a specific fruit bed. Can i take the cuttings home, and pot them up until they root heathily and then transplant back at the lottie when i have a bed ready? Can someone describe what the cutting should be like, length, fruit buds, new wood, old wood?

Should i feed them with anything specific. Lottie hasn't been worked for several years so am hoping the ground is fertile and full of nutrition.

Are there any more tips??

Thanks in advance
Wendy

[redrichwen]

[emmy1978]

Hiya. I've inherited redcurrants too. I would think the low fruit yield would be due to the lack of pruning etc over the years the plot has not been used and possibly they may be a bit suffocated with weeds as mine were.
I know you can transplant the whole bush in autumn, not so sure about cuttings but some one will be along in a mo no doubt. I know with goosegogs you prune out the middle to allow lots of circulation. Possibly the same for currants but will wait for someone bit more knowlegable!!  ;D

[OllieC]

The cuttings are pretty easy to get to root - I just remove most lower leaves & put in a pint glass kept half full(ish). Discovered by mistake as I was meant to identify the variety. I've still not got round to that. There may be an easier way...

It's been a funny year for reds - my neighbour normally can't give enough away, but only has one variety & this year had almost none due to a late frost just after flowering. It's a good idea to have a few varieties for this reason (I have 3 varieties). Also, they'll spread the harvesting slightly & you get to eat fresh fruit for longer.

Reds fruit on old wood & it's a good idea to buy a guide as I've gone astonishingly wrong in the past. There are several different ways to prune; against a fence would be ideal for a couple of the more interesting ways (if you ever get a chance to go to Wisley, they have an excellent fruit garden which shows the different patterns in the flesh).

[Tee Gee]

There is a bit of information here that might help!

http://tinyurl.com/38k9fh

[Si]

Prune in early spring before leaf-break. Remove 1/2 the old wood down to 1 or 2 buds. Aim to remove diseased branches as well.

Cuttings should be 6-7". Remove all the lower buds except the two nearest the top and plant into a simple slip trench. No special care, but remember to water well for the first year.

I'd be tempted to give the bushes a liquid feed now. A sprinkling of blood, fish and bone or a manure mulch should also help in early spring. You can also remove any dead/diseased branches now.

[redrichwen]

Thanks to all for the advice.

I guess they were suffocated with weeds, as we didn't even know they were there till we'd strimmed the whole plot.

All advice welcome, and i'll crack on with the suggestions.

Thanks again

[fluffygrue]

When are reducurrants ready for harvest? I only ask because I have a whitecurrant and can't quite tell when it's going to be ready.. I suspect about a month after the birds have stripped it. ;)

[Doris_Pinks]

Fluffy, I inherited a "redcurrant" bush last year, sat waiting for the berries to turn red, when the birds stripped it I finally realised that it was a whitecurrant! ;D :-[ :-[
Think mine is ready now, the fruit has changed colour, looks more umm  see through and the fruits are dropping, so was going to give it a pick and then wonder what I do with white currants! ;D ;)

[fluffygrue]

Ah, ta for that.. :)

I suppose if I pick them a bit unripe I can probably chuck them in with some raspberries and make jam, or something like that.