How to grow Redcurrants

Learn how to grow Redcurrants in your garden with this easy to follow guide. Sun requirements, planting tips, feeding and harvesting information included!

Redcurrants require well draining soil with plenty of compost mixed in. 

 Plant Redcurrants prefer a full sun position, however will tolerate part sun or afternoon shade. 

Yes, Redcurrants are generally frost tolerant, but may need protection from severe frosts. 

Plant Redcurrant plants roughly 1m apart. 

Late autumn or early spring is the best time to transplant most dormant plants. Plants, with the exception of bare-root, can be transplanted at anytime between when the ground thaws and when it freezes (so anytime if you are in a frost free climate). However, if transplanting in the heat of summer, you'll need to be diligent in watering and provide extra shade for your plant in the first few weeks after transplanting. 

Dig a hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball. The hole should allow the plant to sit at the same level in the soil as it was previously. Fill the hole with soil ensuring the crown of the plant, where roots and stem meet, is level with the soil surface. 

Plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn. 

Each spring, top-dress the soil around your Redcurrant plant with a fresh layer of well rotted compost, some potash and an organic fertiliser. Mulch the soil well. An organic fertiliser can also be used throughout the season, particularly if the leaves start showing signs of nutrient deficiency. 

Harvest your Currants consistently throughout the season when the berries are red. Redcurrants can be eaten fresh, or frozen for future use. 

Pests that can affect Redcurrant plants include: Aphids, Mites, Weevils, Slug, Snail, Common Gooseberry Sawfly. 

Diseases that can affect Redcurrants plants include: Cane Blight, Gray Mold, Raspberry Leaf Spot, Spur Blight, Yellow Rust, Fire Blight, Leaf Curl, Mosaic Virus, Raspberry Ringspot, Phytophthora Root Rot. 

At the end of the season, prune your Redcurrant plant in order to remove old or unproductive wood. Open up the centre to let light and air in by removing any overlapping branches, this will help prevent disease.