The easiest way to harvest modern varieties, such as the ‘Ben Sarek’, ‘Ben Hope’, ‘Ben Lomond’ and ‘Ben Connan’, is to cut whole fruit trusses (known as strigs) once the currants turn black. Older varieties ripen less uniformly, with currants at the top of the truss ready first.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=kpfdO73ilok
How do I know when black currants are ready to pick?
Tug blackcurrants slightly to check for ripeness.
Pull the blackcurrants off their stems in the areas of the bush you’d like to harvest from. Ripe blackcurrants should be full of juice, so they should easily fall into your hand.
How do you pick blackcurrants UK?
Blackcurrant fruit may not be immediately obvious but searching beneath the leaves of the blackcurrant plant will reveal an abundant crop. Blackcurrants are most easily picked individually. When the crop is particularly ripe the fruit can be gently shaken from the plant into a waiting container underneath.
How do you store blackcurrants after picking?
Rinse in cold water and dry completely. Line a baking tray with baking parchment and arrange the berries on top in a single layer. Freeze until the berries are solid. Tip the frozen berries into a freezer bag and expel any excess air.
Do I need to top and tail blackcurrants for jam?
If you have grown your blackcurrants yourself you will need to remove the tails (stalks) and wash your currants. Some people also prefer to remove the tops as well. It does take ages (and I mean ages) so you may prefer not to do this. Make sure you have removed all debris, bugs or leaves from the currants.
Do black currants ripen after picking?
Harvesting. The berries on a currant bush ripen over a 2-week period. However, once a berry ripens it can usually be left on the bush a week or more without dropping or becoming over-mature.
How do you pick and freeze blackcurrants?
Instructions
- Rinse your destemmed currants under cool water to remove any bugs, leaves or other debris.
- Then spread them out on a tea towel to dry.
- Once the berries are fully dry measure them into freezer bags.
- Remove the air from the bags and then place them in the freezer in a single layer until frozen solid.
How long does a blackcurrant bush last?
15 years
A well established blackcurrant bush can yield 10 ibs or more fruit and will remain productive for up to 15 years.
Can you eat blackcurrants raw?
While black currants have a strong taste, they’re delicious to eat raw when they’re ripe. You can also use them in a variety of recipes. Some ways to prepare black currants include: Cooking with sugar and other fruits to make a jam.
How do you clean black currants?
For best success when you are trying to de-stem currants, I recommend: Rinse and dry your currants before you de-stem them. Using this method occasionally breaks apart the currants, so rinsing them afterwards may wash away or water down some of the fruits.
How do you prepare blackcurrants?
To prepare: To remove the berries from the stalks, hold each stalk at the top with the berries at the bottom and run a fork down each one. The berries should come away easily, without being damaged. To cook: To stew blackcurrants add a little water and 50g sugar per 450g of fruit, simmer gently until just tender.
Can you freeze freshly picked blackcurrants?
Blackcurrants can be frozen for up to 6 months. Spread blackcurrants out onto a baking tray, freeze for a few hours before bagging them up and storing them in the freezer for the longer term.
Can fresh blackcurrants be frozen?
The best way to freeze berries – including raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, and blackberries – is using the ‘open freeze’ method. This means spreading them out on a non-stick tray (or a tray lined with parchment) and putting directly into the freezer for a couple of hours.
What do you do with blackcurrants in the garden?
Check out our best ever blackcurrant recipes for more delicious ideas.
Our favourite blackcurrant recipes
- Blackcurrant jam.
- Summer pudding.
- Blackcurrant sorbet.
- Berry crumble.
- Blackcurrant vodka.
- Blackcurrant sauce.
- Blackcurrant compote.
- Blackcurrant pie.
What do you do if blackcurrant jam doesn’t set?
For each quart of jam or jelly to be fixed, mix 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water or white grape juice, 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice, and 4 teaspoons powdered pectin in a large pot.
How long do black currants last in the fridge?
However, when properly cooled and refrigerated, they can last one to two weeks. If frozen, they may last ten to twelve months.
What time of year do you pick blackcurrants?
Blackcurrant fruits are ready for picking in the mid to late summer (July and August) and are at their best about seven days after they have turned blue-black. They can be gathered individually or, if you want them to stay fresh for a little longer, you can harvest them as whole trusses.
What can you not plant with blackcurrants?
Blackcurrants do not grow well with companion plants, so it is best to plant them alone. However, they do tolerate other currant varieties, including white currant and redcurrant, and, as a major exception, wormwood.
What is the sweetest black currant?
Ebony
Blackcurrant ‘Ebony’ is the sweetest blackcurrant! This outstanding dessert variety is so exceptionally sweet that it can be eaten straight from the bush when fully ripe. Heavy crops of large, firm currants – each one up to twice the size of a normal blackcurrant – are produced for harvesting from early to mid July.
How do you pick currants?
Fully ripe currants possess the characteristic color of the variety (red, white, or black), are slightly soft and juicy. For jellies and jams, harvest currants before the berries are fully ripe. Fruit harvested for jellies and jams should be well colored, but still firm.
Is it too late to prune Blackcurrants?
d. 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.
Gerardo Gonzalez loves cooking. He became interested in it at a young age, and has been honing his skills ever since. He enjoys experimenting with new recipes, and is always looking for ways to improve his technique.
Gerardo’s friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of his delicious cooking. They always enjoy trying out his latest creations, and often give him feedback on how he can make them even better. Gerardo takes their input to heart, and uses it to continue refining his culinary skills.