How Do You Propagate Currants?

Take 12″ (30cm) cuttings from the one-year old stems and you have all you need for new plants. Simply stick them into the ground in early spring and let nature do the rest. These cuttings are often made when pruning the plant, which is commonly done in early spring.

Is it difficult to propagate currants?

Starting new currant bushes from cuttings is a simple process that takes only a few minutes of work. It’s easy to start many new plants every year or as needed to expand your garden or to sell to make extra money.

When can I take cuttings from currant bushes?

Simply wait until the plant has lost all of its leaves (indicating that it is dormant), and remove strong, healthy stems from the base of the bush. The cuttings don’t need any special treatment – all they need to take root is well-drained soil in a sheltered border or cold frame. You could even propagate them in a pot.

Can you take cuttings from a flowering currant?

It is very easy to propagate flowering currant through cuttings at the end of winter. Collect the cuttings around March. Remove lower leaves, keeping only the topmost one or two pairs at the crest. Dip the base of the cuttings in powdered rooting agents.

Can you take cuttings from red currants?

Free redcurrant bushes are easy from cuttings. They require no equipment, just a small spare patch in the garden. The best time for hardwood cuttings in your area is the third week of October. Look for a two year old main stem and then identify a side stem on it which is about 30cm / 12in long and has grown this year.

Do currants need a trellis?

In Wisconsin and adjacent states, currants and gooseberries (two closely related fruit crops) are generally grown without trellises, as extension publications recommend.

Can you grow currants in containers?

Plant currants in pots 12 to 18 inches wide and deep or wider; currant roots do not grow deep. Currant roots do not mind growing in a tight space. Plant currants in an organic potting mix. Keep the soil evenly moist; feed plants an all-purpose fertilizer.

Can you take currant cuttings in summer?

However, the truth is that blackcurrant cuttings root well at any time of year if, and it’s a big if, you have the time to keep them watered.

How do you root fruit bush cuttings?

Insert the cuttings to about half their depth, spacing them about 20cm apart. Firm the soil back around them, then water in well. Water in dry spells and the cuttings should be ready to transplant in about a year’s time.

How long do red currant bushes last?

As long as the soil is reasonably good quality and not alkaline, they will usually do well. 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 hard prune flowering currant?

When to Prune Flowering Currants. 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.

Is flowering currant fast growing?

They will root in pots of sandy compost and produce youngsters that can be planted out where they are to grow the following spring. Flowering currants are fast growers, putting on a good foot or 18in a year, but if this worries you, just copy my dad and give the plant a haircut with a pair of shears.

Will flowering currant grow in shade?

They grow and flower best if planted in full sun but they will tolerate a little shade too. Pruning is not essential but it will keep your plant more tidy and compact. Prune out some of the older stems or give them a prune all over immediately after the flowers fade.

How do you propagate redcurrant?

You can propagate redcurrants by taking hardwood cuttings about 30cm (1ft) long. Use prunings from young plants, but not from older plants, as these may carry disease.

Can you grow redcurrants in pots?

Planting of redcurrant with bare rooted bushes can take place from October to April and is the most convenient time to plant them. But you can also plant from pot grown bushes into larger containers you have obtained and this can be done at any time during the growing season.

Where do currants grow best?

Currants grow well in sun or partial shade and appreciate afternoon shade in warm climates. Currant shrubs prefer the cool conditions in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 5. Plants may drop their leaves when temperatures exceed 85 degrees F.

Do you cut back currant bushes?

Pruning established blackcurrant bushes
Prune sprawling branches laden with fruit for easy picking, cutting back to strong upright growth, but delay the main pruning until winter. Cut out a quarter to a third of the branches each year, aiming to remove old unproductive wood, weak growth and low-lying branches.

Are currants poisonous to dogs?

True currants (including black, red, and white currants) belong to a different group of plants (genus Ribes) and are not considered toxic to dogs, though stomach upset could occur if a large amount is ingested.

Why is growing currants illegal?

In 1911, a federal ban made it illegal to grow all Ribes, including currants and gooseberries, because these plants served as an intermediary host of white pine blister rust.

Why are black currants illegal?

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.

Are currants worth growing?

All currants have attractive flowers and maple-like leaves that make them desirable in the edible landscape. They can be planted in the understory of a permaculture food forest or hedgerow. They are one of many perennial crops that can tolerate moist areas.