General
Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) is a hardy fruiting shrub valued for highly aromatic berries rich in vitamin C and anthocyanins. It thrives in cool, moist climates and is well suited to most of Sweden. Fruit is borne mainly on 1–3‑year‑old wood, so annual renewal pruning is essential. Space bushes about 1.5 m apart. Choose modern, disease‑resistant cultivars like ‘Titania’, ‘Ben Tron’, ‘Ben Hope’, or Swedish ‘Öjebyn’. Mulch heavily to maintain moisture and suppress weeds; bushes dislike drought and heat spikes. Netting may be needed against birds in good berry years.
Light
Full sun to light partial shade; 6–8 hours of sun gives best yield and flavor.
Soil type
Moist, fertile, well‑drained loam rich in organic matter; mulch to keep roots cool and evenly moist.
Water requirement
Even moisture, especially from flowering to harvest. Aim for ~25–30 mm per week; avoid waterlogging.
Nutrient requirement
Moderately high. Annual compost and a balanced, low‑chloride fertilizer in spring; avoid excess nitrogen to limit mildew and soft, frost‑tender growth.
Precultivation
Typically propagated vegetatively, not from seed. For indoor pre‑rooting, take 20–25 cm hardwood cuttings from healthy 1‑year shoots during late winter (Feb–Mar). Insert in pots or crates with a free‑draining medium (50% compost, 50% sharp sand/perlite). Keep at 5–12°C with bright light and steady moisture; rooting takes 4–8 weeks. Softwood cuttings can be taken in early summer under high humidity. Seed propagation is slow, variable, and not recommended for named cultivars; if attempted, expect ~3–6 weeks to germination at 18–22°C.
Planting
Plant during dormancy in early spring as soon as soil is workable, or in autumn while soil is still warm. Set the bush 5–8 cm deeper than it grew in the nursery and slightly tilted to encourage multiple basal shoots. Water in well and mulch 5–8 cm with composted bark, leaves, or wood chips, keeping mulch off the stems. Ideal spacing: 1.2–1.8 m between bushes, 2.0–2.5 m between rows. Blackcurrants prefer pH 6.0–7.0 and steady moisture; incorporate well‑rotted compost before planting.
Pruning
At planting, cut all shoots back to 2–3 buds above ground to stimulate strong basal shoots. Thereafter, prune annually during dormancy (Nov–Mar): remove at ground level 1/3 of the oldest, darkest stems (4+ years old), any weak, crossing, or diseased wood, and low shoots lying on the ground. Aim to maintain 10–12 healthy shoots per bush with a good mix of 1–3‑year‑old canes. A light summer tidy (Jul–Aug) can remove spent, diseased, or overly vigorous tips to improve air flow.
Maintenance
Keep evenly moist with deep, infrequent watering; mulch to reduce evaporation and weed competition. Feed in early spring with 2–5 L compost per bush plus an organic fertilizer (e.g., 4‑3‑6) at label rates; a light potassium‑rich top‑up after harvest supports bud formation. Avoid heavy cultivation around shallow roots; use hand weeding or living mulches. Net against birds when berries color. Protect from late spring frosts during bloom with fleece if needed. Encourage beneficial insects and maintain good air flow to minimize mildew.
Harvest
Harvest when berries are fully black, glossy, and aromatic; pick entire trusses (strigs) for speed and quality. Berries on a strig ripen over several days—pick for juice/jam when most of the strig is fully black; for fresh eating or freezing you can pick slightly earlier for firmer, tarter fruit. Harvest in dry weather, cool promptly to 0–2°C or freeze, and process within a few days.
Common issues
• Big bud mite (Cecidophyopsis ribis) and reversion virus: look for swollen, round buds; remove and destroy affected buds or entire stems; replace severely affected plants and replant on a fresh site; choose resistant cultivars (e.g., ‘Titania’). • American gooseberry mildew: white felt turning brown; prune for air flow, avoid excess N, mulch to reduce splash, remove infected tips; sulfur sprays can be used where permitted. • Currant sawfly: sudden defoliation; handpick or use biological controls (Bacillus thuringiensis for young larvae where labeled), encourage birds and ground beetles. • Aphids: distorted shoots; wash off, use insecticidal soap, support predators (hoverflies, lacewings). • Nutrient/water stress: small berries; ensure steady moisture and adequate potassium.
Pollination
Mostly self‑fertile, but planting 2–3 different cultivars increases fruit size and yield.
Companion plants
Comfrey (dynamic accumulator mulch), clover and other low legumes (living mulch), chives/garlic (aphid deterrence), borage (pollinator support), yarrow and dill (beneficial insects).
Incompatible plants
Avoid planting near drought‑loving Mediterranean herbs (e.g., lavender, rosemary) that prefer dry soils. Keep distance from five‑needled pines (white pine blister rust hosts) and from other Ribes with disease issues if space is tight.
