Currant bushes?

[nao57]

So I heard of this interesting berry bush; currants. Or currant bushes...

I don't know much about them but was curious to ask here. Have any of you tried planting them? They are pretty hardy it seems. And the fruit is edible. When I was a kid there seemed to be a bunch of nonsense and false information on them. So I don't know much.

In the pioneering era of America, they used to be around and people did them. Then some idiots made them illegal for awhile for no good reason. But its a low maintenance food source. That's the interesting part about them; being low maintenance. As a gardener you are always wanting to find stuff that can give you the best benefits for the least amount of maintenance! This seems to be one of those plants. (LOW MAINTENANCE means NO WORK, except for watering and picking! This part is the best; because you are trying to make yourself as efficient as possible.)

(There are red, black, and a sort of white or pink currant type.)

Can these be propagated from root shoots like raspberries?

How do you propagate them from the seed berries?

Can you grow them just from seeds being in the ground, or do you have to do more than that?

Thanks.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I don't know how they propagate, sorry. We have a couple in our yard. I can tell you that they are absolutely zero maintenance and that the berries are edible. My mom used to make jellies and jams out of them in Denver although I don't know where she got them from as I don't remember having bushes there and I don't remember her making me pick berries. That's the good news. The bad news is that birds love them. So, here in SE MO, I don't get berries off my bushes. The birds seem to get them all. If I wanted more bushes I would probably order them from Stark Bros or some place like that. I think it would take years to grow a bush from a berry, if it's even possible. Maybe you could get a root cutting from an existing bush, or a start from a branch but I don't really know. Maybe Google knows. Good luck.

 

[Dontworrybequacky]

At my old farmhouse I had a row of red currants alternating with gooseberries along the walk. They were so pretty when they were laden with fruit and they fruited prolifically. I agree that they don't require much. Once a year some kind of looper caterpillar would invade but one sprinkle of sevin dust was all that was needed. BT would be a better option. I loved the jams and jellies. It tastes a little like cranberry. I've just planted two tiny starts from H D at our beach place and expect them to do well here. Happy Planting!

 

[nao57]

Very cool. Thanks for the reply. Especially plants that produce with no effort and no labor that work for you = awesome.

 

[chickengr]

my mother lives in zone 7b. she has black and red currants. in her climate she cuts branches and plant them where she wants them to grow. I live in zone 9a. I planted black, red and white currants. black died and the other 2 fight the heat. I still don't know if they will make it.

black currant juice is the best juice I have ever had. I also like black currants in yogurt. red currants can be eaten fresh. never tasted white currants.

 

[Sally PB]

growing currants

Well, I'm intrigued.

 

[nao57]

my mother lives in zone 7b. she has black and red currants. in her climate she cuts branches and plant them where she wants them to grow. I live in zone 9a. I planted black, red and white currants. black died and the other 2 fight the heat. I still don't know if they will make it.

black currant juice is the best juice I have ever had. I also like black currants in yogurt. red currants can be eaten fresh. never tasted white currants.

Wow. I wouldn't have guessed that currant juice would be at the top! This sounds more fun now to try. XD

So... for the ones fighting the heat that you are trying to save. You can cut some cardboard in a U shape and put it around the base of them to shelter the roots from the heat. I do this with raspberry bushes and works very good. You can also find videos on youtube about this on a channel called, Candlelight bees and gardening. It can save a lot of deaths on berry plants.

I'm curious to ask, you say your mother does propagation of currants just by putting cut branches in the ground?? That sounds very interesting. I'd like to hear more about that. And what kind of watering schedule does she do? Do they have to be wet all the time??

 

[chickengr]

Wow. I wouldn't have guessed that currant juice would be at the top! This sounds more fun now to try. XD

So... for the ones fighting the heat that you are trying to save. You can cut some cardboard in a U shape and put it around the base of them to shelter the roots from the heat. I do this with raspberry bushes and works very good. You can also find videos on youtube about this on a channel called, Candlelight bees and gardening. It can save a lot of deaths on berry plants.

I'm curious to ask, you say your mother does propagation of currants just by putting cut branches in the ground?? That sounds very interesting. I'd like to hear more about that. And what kind of watering schedule does she do? Do they have to be wet all the time??

it is too hot here. I protected berry plants but they barely stay alive. I might plant some trees for shade.

my mother plants branches when dormant in the spring. it rains a lot there so she waters only when needed. it propagates somewhat like grapes.

 

[saysfaa]

...Then some idiots made them illegal for awhile for no good reason. ...

I assume this is about the white pine blister disease. How do you conclude that is not a good reason?

 

[Sally PB]

The Tree Store has red currant:​

Cannot Ship To: AK, HI, MA, ME, NC, NH, NJ, RI, VA, WV​

Burpee said they can't ship black currant to my address (Michigan) and all these locations:
AA,AE,AP,AS,CN,FM,GU,HI,MH,MP,PR,PW,VI,AK,DE,MA,ME,MI,NC,NH,NJ,OH

even though "Developed by Agriculture Canada, Consort Black is an old variety with resistance to White Pine Blister Rust"

Shrub hub, however doesn't say anything about not shipping to certain locations on the ordering page. Maybe on the ship page they'll disappoint you and say, sorry, nope, we can't ship it to you.

So, while I'd like to have more "plant once and watch it grow and produce" items, I'm not going to order any currant bushes. White pine is the state tree in Michigan. It's also my husband's favorite tree, and we've planted dozens on our property. Not worth the risk.