Growing Currants and Gooseberries

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Growing Currants and Gooseberries
By Dr. Robert Tomesh
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Overview of the Genera

• 150 species worldwide
• Most originate in the northern hemisphere
• Ribes sativum-red and white currants
• R. nigrum-black currant
• R. hirtellum-American and European gooseberry
• R. aureum and alpinum-ornamentals

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Black Currant
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Red, Black and White Currant
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Gooseberries
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World Production

• Europe 475,000 metric ton
• New Zealand 2500 metric ton
• Asia 60 metric ton
• North America 46 metric ton

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Historical Popularity

• Very rich in vitamin C
• Fruit, leaves and fruit many medical uses
• Vitamin C to combat scurvy
• Tea for sore throats
• Native american Indians used inner bark to treat
  intestinal worms, uterine disorders, dysentery
  and fevers

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Vitamin C comparisons

• Apple 3 20 mg/100mg fruit
• Orange 44 79
• Gooseberry 14 40
• Red currant 16 65
• Black currant 90 355
• Wild black currant 200 800

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Currant products

• (Black currants have a strong and unique flavor
  enhanced by processing.)
• Jams, jelly, juice, liqueur, and dried
• Currant flavored carbonated mineral water
• Juice cocktail to flavor Crème de cassis (Fr.),
  white wine, brandy and vodka
• Flavor candies, honey and yogurt

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Currant Botany

• Upright bush-like growth habit
• Plants are spineless
• Black currants have a musty order
• Mature plants reach 3 5 feet in height
• Cold tolerant to -45 degrees (zone 2)

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Flowering and Fruit Set

• Flower buds are terminal buds on short stems
  called strigsone year old wood
• Flower initiation mid-June to mid-July
• Flower development not complete until 7 to 10
  days before flowering
• Peak pollen shedding between 2-6 PM
• Currants are self-steriletwo cvs. Needed

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Factors leading to poor pollination

• Large part self-sterile
• Rely on insects for pollination
• Weather conditions at pollination
• (Poor pollination can result in 80 fruit loss)
• Inadequate nutrient fertilization
• Drought

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Yields

• European countries 3 12 /bush
• Canadian regions 2 5 /bush

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Plant Propagation

• Seed propagation
• Vegetative propagation
• Hard and soft wood cuttings
• Layerage
• Tissue culture

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Cultivars

• Red Currant
• Red Lake
• Rovada
• Zante
• Wilder

• Black Currant
• Consort
• Crusader
• Titania
• Ben Lomond
• Ben Leer

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White pine Blister Rust
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Climate and Site Requirements

• Cold hardy (zone 20
• Prefer full sun, partial shade
• Protect from drying winds (reduce fruit size)
• pH 5.5 to 7.0, prefer slightly acid soils
• Loam soils with organic content, mulch
• One inch per week

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Because currants and gooseberries begin growth
very early in the spring, you should plant them
in the early fall or very early in spring, before
the plants begin to grow.
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Planting

• As a general rule, plants should be spaced 3 to 5
  feet apart.
• Trellising gooseberries increases air
  circulation (decreasing disease problems),

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Fertilization/Nutrient Management

• Benefit from compost and mulch
• ¼ to ½ pound of 10-10-10 per plant

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MulchingMulch keeps the soil cool in the summer,
retains moisture, and controls weeds. Spread 2 to
3 inches of mulch around plants and replenish it
yearly. Suitable mulches include straw, lawn
rakings, composted manure, compost, wood chips,
or similar materials.
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Training and Pruning

• Train to 9 to 12 stem per bush
• Save 3 to 4 new canes each year
• Fruit canes through 3rd year and remove

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Disease Management

• White pine blister rust (black currants), leaf
  spot and powdery mildew are the most common
  problems that plague currant and gooseberry
  plantings. All disfigure or damage leaves, and
  can cause defoliation.

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Insect Management

• Aphids
• Currant borers
• Gooseberry fruit worm

• Leaf curl Insecticidal soap or Horticultural
  oils
• Stem wilt Remove infested canes
• Fruit color early remove infested fruit or
  consider insecticide schedule

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Thank You