Redcurrant
Ribes rubrum
Redcurrants are hardy bushes that produce glossy strings of tart red berries, used in jelly, sauces and summer puddings. They crop well even on shady walls and can be trained as cordons.
Photo: Thue (Wikimedia Commons) · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, Partial sun
Watering
Moderate
Water in dry spells while fruit develops.
Soil
Well-drained, moderately fertile soil; pH 6.0–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
-30–28 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed in spring with a potassium-rich fertilizer.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings
In winter, keep an open goblet shape and shorten side shoots to 1–2 buds to form fruiting spurs.
Redcurrants are safe to eat.
Top Cultivation Tips
Net bushes against birds.
Pick whole strings and strip berries with a fork.
Good on north-facing walls.
Hardy in USDA zones 3–7.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →PestSawfly larvae
Caterpillar-like larvae of sawflies that can strip gooseberries, currants and roses of their leaves in days.
How to treat it →
