Grow Currants From Planting To Harvest

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  • Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
  • Forbidden fruits: Berries, banned? That's right. In the USA currants were banned from being grown or sold for many years. This ban has since been lifted, and while UK and European gardeners are familiar with this fruit in their gardens, many Americans are yet to discover the wonders of currants.
    In this week's episode, Ben reveals the reason why these delicious nutritious fruits were off limits and why they're now (mostly) back on the menu in the States, while demonstrating how to grow these treasures from planting to harvest.
    Get ready for the new currant trend! ❤️💙
    For more on how to grow soft fruits, see our video:
    • Grow Healthy Berries F...
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Комментарии • 638

  • @dhawthorne1634
    @dhawthorne1634 2 года назад +209

    Black currants were banned for commercial growers and importers, but home growers were still welcome in most states and red currants were quickly legalized once it was found to not be a vector for WPBR.

    • @laurahastings59
      @laurahastings59 2 года назад +6

      Thank you!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +24

      Interesting insight, thank you.

    • @dhawthorne1634
      @dhawthorne1634 2 года назад +31

      @@miblvd431 White Pine Blister Rust, it was mentioned in the video.

    • @Writerdust
      @Writerdust 2 года назад +8

      @@dhawthorne1634 Some people are more visual and auditory and they like to read it as well as hear it.

    • @Vicariously_gifted
      @Vicariously_gifted 2 года назад

      I got a pink current bush this year. propagated at hardy fruit tree in Quebec

  • @shibibi1
    @shibibi1 4 месяца назад +5

    As an Australian, I laughed when you said red currants like full sun. The sun here fried mine for years till I thought it was dead and moved it to the area for recycling pots, in the shade. It's now thriving with nearly full shade every day 😂

    • @MaekarManastorm
      @MaekarManastorm Месяц назад

      Derp

    • @annefricker8474
      @annefricker8474 Месяц назад +1

      Full sun uk is a lot different to Australian full sun.
      Glad you have saved your currants.

    • @keepdafaith
      @keepdafaith Месяц назад +1

      So glad I found your comment re planting in the shade. Thank you

  • @Hin_Håle
    @Hin_Håle 2 года назад +101

    My grandparents had currant bushes in their garden when I was a kid. I remember walking around in what seemed to me like an endless maze of high, lush bushes full of berries. It's quite a magical memory.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +15

      Sounds like a very special memory - wonderful! :-)

    • @ian_b
      @ian_b Год назад +2

      That's beautiful!

    • @Warutteri
      @Warutteri Год назад +4

      My father's family has a summer cabin on an island where the forest is full of wild currant bushes of all three varieties, I have many wonderful summer memories of trekking through the forest picking and eating currants as I went, it was absolutely wonderful 😍
      The white currants were always my favourite, bit more acidic and fresh tasting than black currants but more sweet than red currants, sort of the perfect combination of the best aspects of both of the other two varieties.

    • @andruloni
      @andruloni Год назад +2

      We had just a few blackcurrant bushes in the garden and I remember full buckets of fruit. Recently I noticed a 'wild' redcurrant mixed in with some greenwall bushes of a neighbour building. Some bird must've carried it in.

  • @WordsInVain
    @WordsInVain 7 месяцев назад +8

    All children should have the opportunity to experience the wonders and pleasures of naturally grown berries and fruit. My grandparents cultivated both red and black currants in their garden, and the occasional red currant bush was not an uncommon sight to spot in the rurals.

  • @craftypam9992
    @craftypam9992 2 года назад +87

    When picking blackcurrants, it can be a real pain in the back! Some years ago it was suggested that, instead of picking berries or strigs, wait until nearly all the berries are ripe, then remove the entire branch, fruit and all. This gets the pruning of the fruiting branches done, the berries are picked from the branch and the leaves separated out for leaf mould whilst sitting in a comfy chair! So I've done this for several years, with great success - the bush has grown well and is very productive. However, this summer in the UK has been kinda unusual, and the fruit ripened in dribs and drabs. So, I had four harvests (all good sizes), and will have to try and remember to prune come winter.

    • @WaddedBliss
      @WaddedBliss 2 года назад +4

      This is how I pick sloes in autumn.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +12

      What a great idea Pam. :-)

    • @heathersbeading
      @heathersbeading 2 года назад +4

      That's exactly what I do too Pam, it's usually pretty hot at harvest time too.

    • @AnnaMaria-zm8cv
      @AnnaMaria-zm8cv 2 года назад +3

      Use a fork to strip them from the branch. Super easy. And wear gloves the juice is equal like cherries able to ruin your fabrics.

    • @916619jg
      @916619jg 2 года назад +2

      That's exactly how we harvest pot here

  • @mavisbritton6257
    @mavisbritton6257 2 года назад +133

    I'm in the UK and I grow Big Ben blackcurrants. They are so sweet and huge in size. I freeze them on a tray and then eat all through the winter in my porridge oats. I use my redcurrants in jam with raspberries about 80 / 20 ratio because the RC is high in pectin. Delicious 😋

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +9

      Great use of currants there Mavis. :-)

    • @dianeroome972
      @dianeroome972 2 года назад +4

      Thank you for this information.

    • @robertpatrick3350
      @robertpatrick3350 2 года назад +3

      You missed blackcurrants pie! Growing up near some of the largest growers in the UK they were so plentiful we would half a freezer full. Either hot of cold they were a delight

    • @ericpode6095
      @ericpode6095 Год назад

      Don't know if they're suitable (can't see why not) but having made sloe gin, sloe sherry and blackberry vodka I can see they could be used for a nice Christmas after dinner drink.

    • @BradyAlley
      @BradyAlley Год назад

      Can you use diluted peppermint oil to scare off insects? What do you use to deter them?

  • @ironmaiden3751
    @ironmaiden3751 7 месяцев назад +5

    Growing up on a farm surprisingly we didn't have currants but the house on the corner had a hedge full of Red Lake. We looked forward to clearing the bushes every year plowing handfuls into our faces as the family there didn't like them!
    I went ahead and planted 5 colours last year in my food forest in Eastern Canada. Black, red, pink, white and golden. Only the black fruited and just a few, but they were marvelous. I anticipate a lot more fruit this year now that I know how to care for them!
    Thank you once again for an incredibly helpful video.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  7 месяцев назад

      You'll have a lovely variety of currants to pick this summer I'm sure. Lovely stuff! :-)

  • @andrewgcrowhurst
    @andrewgcrowhurst Год назад +11

    Wow. I grew up on currants (NZ). After moving to the states I did wonder why no one knew what I was talking about.

    • @davidthedeaf
      @davidthedeaf 4 месяца назад

      It is sad too. I found as a teenager a bag of 2 plain red currants at Fred Meyers and cheap. My mom had said she remembered my great gramma having yellow gooseberries and making the best gooseberry pie. I had never seen that either in stores.
      So I planted them and in a year had this lovely dangling red jeweled bush on either side of the entry door. Although supposedly best when cooked, I did not know at tasted them. I thought they were the most unique berry flavor, a pleasant taste.
      I never saw any again until a decade later in a specialty nursery in Oregon, where I found what I think is called Pink Pearl, or a white variety that was super sweet. I grew it but one year when it was thriving must have pruned poorly as it died.
      Not one nursery in Vancouver, WA today has them, but Portland Nursery has several, and several gooseberries. I bought a Pink Champagne and put it in a planter, and a golden gooseberry that is low growing in the ground. What is also exciting is the seeds that fell off the old white currant sprouted a few years ago, and now I have surviving 2 very tiny sapling plants too.

  • @Sky-Child
    @Sky-Child 2 года назад +9

    My Uncle always grew currants - black, white and red. His currant wine was much celebrated. I hope to grow some blackcurrants in my forever garden.

  • @clamshell3898
    @clamshell3898 2 года назад +34

    Greetings from East Tejas (Texas)! Our backyard was a natural forest habitat with 100+ft pine trees and others closer to the house and with the storms we get it was dangerous to say the least so sadly we had to cut them. Also when we cut them we decided we could then garden! ANYWAY to make a long story longer we were told once we cut them to watch and wait a couple of seasons and see what native plants come up...well we were amazed, we have boneset,goldenrod,rain lilly,pink honeysuckle beautyberry, wood violet,muscadine grapes, and to the point of your video reference finally; CURRANTS!! Out the wazoo! plus several other cool native plants but the currants oh and blackberry too but the wild currants are delicious and make great jams Im told? Great video and information your gardening station has helped me in my garden and I thank you for your time and helpfulness. May you and yours be blessed.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +3

      How wonderful to discover wild currants growing - what a treat! They will make great jams I'm sure.

    • @obfuscateidentity2329
      @obfuscateidentity2329 2 года назад

      what part of Texas are you in I thought it was all desert and dry

    • @daviddeane3163
      @daviddeane3163 Год назад

      @@obfuscateidentity2329 there are actually 8 different climate zones here in Texas. From dry arid (like you imagine) to sub-tropical.

  • @thesqueedler
    @thesqueedler 2 года назад +59

    North America has a native version called golden currants (ribes aureum) which were one traditional ingredient of pemmican.

    • @klm20079
      @klm20079 2 года назад +3

      yeah the white/yellow veriant grows really bad. I worked at a growing farm of fruit plants. we had black/red/white version and I like the currant black version / red to sour and white doesn't grow that good

    • @samlaine3315
      @samlaine3315 2 года назад +3

      here in the rockies of Colorado we have wild wax currants they grow everywhere.

    • @kensmith5694
      @kensmith5694 2 года назад +2

      There are also native black currents. They grow more plant and less berry than the domestic ones but in places with enough rain they do fine in the shade of large trees.

    • @simonesmit6708
      @simonesmit6708 2 года назад +2

      @@klm20079 really? Weird. I have a golden/white currant bush and I have to move it due it growing out it's space. And the crops are huge. But it's in a semi shaded area.

    • @theanalmarauder
      @theanalmarauder Год назад +4

      American black currant (distinct native species) tastes pretty bad. No acidity, sweetness, or appealing texture. I spent a summer excitedly monitoring a huge thicket intending to collect kilos of it for wine, and after trying a couple different berries, I can see why the birds didn't take it before I did.

  • @austinhaacke67
    @austinhaacke67 4 месяца назад +1

    I used to work at a private school and we took the kids to pick raspberries and several acted as though it were alchemy. All seemed to enjoy the process especially when we made jam!

  • @susielove6012
    @susielove6012 2 года назад +13

    My mother often baked w dried black currants. I loved the tiny 'raisins' when I was a little kid. I've wondered why I hadn't seen dried currants in many years.

    • @brucetidwell7715
      @brucetidwell7715 2 года назад +9

      The tiny raisins are "Zante Currents" which are made from a variety of grape and different from actual current berries.

  • @monkeytoes90
    @monkeytoes90 2 года назад +19

    American here, Incredibly concise and excellent framing of information. I am in Colorado, USA and the Ribes Aureum, common name Golden Current, (not touched on here) is a native currant that has delicious sweet golden berries that have the finish of its common name "Clove Currant", with a wonderful warm aftertaste of cloves. Great Video, I would recommend the golden currant as I've personally found the flavor to be more desirable than both the red and white currant, and on par with the black currant; while being incredibly drought and salt tolerant.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +5

      I've never heard of the golden currant - it sounds very appealing indeed. :-)

    • @realstatistician
      @realstatistician 3 месяца назад

      I have found golden currants in the wild too (I’d call them orange) and some of them were amazing tasting, so sweet like candy but with a lot of flavor, maybe like a sour candy.
      But I’ve also found some that were very undesirable. You never know.
      I’ve propagated some cuttings from a good one so I can have some in my garden soon.

    • @monkeytoes90
      @monkeytoes90 3 месяца назад

      @@realstatistician VERY true, and the colors shift based on genes and time of year(some turn black as the summer progresses; where others remain orange) though I find it to be a two part issue, some are bad from genes, others bad from the growing conditions. The available propagates coming to online or to box stores have been reaching production and desirableness of ribes nigrum.

  • @peterriley2763
    @peterriley2763 2 года назад +6

    We found out that when making black currant jam if you leave the piece that was flower on there is no need to add pectin ie lemon juice as some recipes advises,slightly loose easy to spread.

  • @shorgoth
    @shorgoth Год назад +2

    Had them in my garden in Quebec Canada when I was a kid, I miss em.

  • @ThePoorStudent
    @ThePoorStudent 2 года назад +20

    I have been drinking Ribena since childhood. I finally got around to obtaining a bare root cutting and it's now growing nicely in a container. The leaves are very good for making tea.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +2

      Great that you're already getting a use out of your cutting.

    • @wendyspicer8588
      @wendyspicer8588 2 года назад

      I had forgotten about Ribena. A warm drink when you had a cold.

    • @ThePoorStudent
      @ThePoorStudent 2 года назад

      I'll have to try it as a hot drink this winter. It's usually a cold one for me.

    • @AnnaMaria-zm8cv
      @AnnaMaria-zm8cv 2 года назад +2

      Love Ribena too, but sadly they put aspartame in it here :( I have it from another brand. Black currant juice has always been my favorite. In many parts of Europe you can buy it as a soda, named cassis.

    • @ThePoorStudent
      @ThePoorStudent Год назад

      @@AnnaMaria-zm8cv We have two versions of Ribera here in Canada - the one with aspartame and another one with just sugar. I agree the aspartame one is not good.

  • @russmitchellmovement
    @russmitchellmovement 2 года назад +6

    Used to live in Hungary and love blackcurrants, have missed them. Doubtful they'd survive in Texas but thrilled to hear we're getting them back.

    • @BradyAlley
      @BradyAlley Год назад

      What do you use to keep bugs from off them? Can peppermint oil be used?

  • @sarahgee8365
    @sarahgee8365 2 года назад +15

    What a harvest we - and our local wildlife - have enjoyed from our dozen or so blackcurrant ‘trees’ this year, which we inherited in a very neglected berry patch along with about 20 gooseberry bushes, three summers ago. It’s been overwhelming! What bounty. The bushes are pretty old and woody, and we pruned them quite seriously in our first autumn here. Then in that winter we removed several of them, in order to create some air, light and space around them. And this year we have been rewarded by finding a redcurrant and a whitecurrant bush among them, as well as pounds and pounds of fruit. We will continue to process of reclaiming space in the berry patch again this autumn. I just love the challenge of making sure we don’t waste our crop.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +2

      Ensuring nothing's wasted is a great aim to have Sarah - good on you. :-)

    • @BradyAlley
      @BradyAlley Год назад

      What do you use to keep bugs off them?

  • @lauralee7112
    @lauralee7112 2 года назад +7

    I live in southern Quebec, Canada and have grown several black currant bushes for the last 5 or so years in 35 US gallon Smart Pots. My mom used to make black currant jam/jelly which I loved, but now I watch my sugar intake and instead of jam or jelly I make wine! I make a black currant/ black raspberry wine that is totally awesome especially if I use honey as the sugar. Creme de Cassis is also a favorite recipe I make. Love them, love them, love them!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +1

      Mmmm... black currant/raspberry wine must be delicious!

  • @EnchWraits
    @EnchWraits 2 года назад +3

    Currants are the best, my grandma has a great bush (now moved to my parent's garden, as my grandma moved to an apartment)

  • @kensmith5694
    @kensmith5694 2 года назад +5

    Black current jam is a very good thing on toast.
    You can make tarts etc with them also.
    Adding a few to apple based things adds a nice complex flavor.

  • @galvanizeddreamer2051
    @galvanizeddreamer2051 2 года назад +5

    For those trying to grow these central-East-Coast (Carolinas/VA), be aware that our birds are too smart/desperate for the whole "light = underripe" trick. We grow exclusively green grapes, and the birds will eat them as soon as they become ripe unless we cover them. I am unsure as to the blueberries however, ironically enough.
    Peaches have no issue however when it comes to birds, racoons on the other hand...

  • @PlantObsessed
    @PlantObsessed 5 месяцев назад

    I always wondered why I couldn't find them here in the US. My family is from the UK so I grew up only having dried currents. I now grow them and was so amazed at the fresh taste. Thanks for the lesson. 👍🏼🥰

  • @junglie
    @junglie Год назад +2

    My currants were loaded this year, the branches weighed down to the ground with berries, picked a few & all my redcurrants but the birds got the rest, nothing is wasted in nature.

  • @dianeladico1769
    @dianeladico1769 2 года назад +27

    I've had two black currant bushes for years. Completely neglected and overgrown and each is 5-6' across. I still get large harvests but I will be more dedicated in my pruning and I'm sure I'll get even more. I leave some for the birds, the bonus being I get baby plants popping up here and there. I will look into taking cuttings because I'm thinking a black currant hedge would be wonderful. Thank you, Ben!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +5

      I think the pruning will only help Diane. Well done on leaving some for the birds. :-)

  • @heathersbeading
    @heathersbeading 2 года назад +2

    Titania is my favourite blackcurrant, huge fruit, also have a few of the Ben varieties. I have about 40 bushes altogether, they're great.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +1

      That's a great number of bushes - you must be picking load! :-)

  • @derickl436
    @derickl436 2 года назад +8

    Absolutely love blackcurrant jam and have done so since I was a kid. We used to have three really big blackcurrant bushes which had to be netted otherwise the birds stripped them bare 🤣 They loved them too!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +1

      The birds can be very quick at hoovering up all the currants!

    • @tracycrider7778
      @tracycrider7778 2 года назад +1

      Going to have to do this to my elderberry bush next year! Birds have gotten all berries this year 💜😭

    • @AnnaMaria-zm8cv
      @AnnaMaria-zm8cv 2 года назад

      I took over an allotment which had like 20 very much neglected bushes on it grown very close together. It took birds few days to strip it completely. I had to take them all out as they were so neglected it wouldnt be worth it to keep them. I had to abandon this whole allotment anyway as it was all neglected, a huge greenhouse on the bringe of collapsing... too much frustration and work for me to bring it back to full glory. It was awesome with an old plumtree and cherry tree and this wooden greenhouse.... So sad. It was like heaven on earth.

  • @johndyer9232
    @johndyer9232 2 года назад +5

    I already have wild gooseberries growing on my place. They turn the shade of black currants when they are ripe. They are tasty, and the birds think so as well.

  • @annas.697
    @annas.697 4 месяца назад +1

    I have black currants and love them. Their leaves make excellent tea.

  • @j.h.8971
    @j.h.8971 Год назад +1

    I'm growing Ben Sarek & Titania Black Currants - they are fruiting for the first time this year. I've also added 2 White Currants, and a red gooseberry this year. Can't wait!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  Год назад +1

      You'll be picking plenty!

  • @KatySimpsonLive
    @KatySimpsonLive 2 года назад +7

    Fascinating to hear this! I had 2 kg of redcurrants this year ….. and 6 blackcurrants! I’ve moved this young blackcurrant bush into the sunshine now as you have recommended and look forward to a bigger harvest!

  • @insimplebeing
    @insimplebeing 2 года назад +3

    My grandparents grew red currants. We made the best jelly from them.

  • @lulabelle4760
    @lulabelle4760 2 года назад +3

    I've had red, black and white for years here in Washington state. They are abundant producers!

  • @ravmok846
    @ravmok846 Год назад +2

    i got only one black currant bush and god ohh god, i still have jars of jam since last year season and obviously half a dozen jars from this year.... amazing plant and fruits....

  • @rosactaylor
    @rosactaylor 2 года назад +2

    I have 6 black currants plants. I removed the leaves with those yellow blisters on its leaves. I have 1 red currants. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

  • @laurawilliams8952
    @laurawilliams8952 Год назад +3

    I just love this channel! Every time I’m looking up a new plant, if this channel has a video it’s the first I watch! Great blend of interesting things, facts, not too much fluff - I never fast forward through sections - just super well made. Nice work!!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  Год назад

      Thanks so much Laura, that's really kind of you to say. :-)

  • @reecewood1918
    @reecewood1918 4 месяца назад +1

    Thanks for this. I bought one on impulse and decided I'd learn about it after. Very helpful

  • @JackHaveman52
    @JackHaveman52 2 года назад +2

    When I was growing up, in the sixties, every farm in our neighbour hood, had currant bushes as well as plums, apple and pear trees, gooseberries and raspberries. The currants required very little maintenance and were covered in fruit every year.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад

      Sounds like an idyllic neighbourhood you grew up in Jack.

    • @JackHaveman52
      @JackHaveman52 2 года назад +1

      @@GrowVeg
      It most definitely was. A lot of hard work and hard play. No sitting inside. "Get outside and play" was the most common order our parents gave us.

  • @abigailgarrido8149
    @abigailgarrido8149 Год назад +1

    Thank you , I was just getting ready to plant 7 currant plants and needed to know distance between. 🙏

  • @toniedalton5448
    @toniedalton5448 2 года назад +5

    I’ve never eaten currants. I should try some. Love goose berries, but had no.luck with them.Thanks again for the great info !

  • @d-padqueen1103
    @d-padqueen1103 2 года назад +3

    I love currants! Tastiest fruits on earth!

  • @Tybold63
    @Tybold63 2 года назад +4

    Here in Sweden it is a rather popular berry but think has a bit "adult" taste and complex aroma and perhaps even an acquired taste for some. Also the leaves can yield a lovely "tea" infusion..

  • @beyondskyhomestead
    @beyondskyhomestead 2 года назад +2

    I love them my parents and grandparents always had and have them in the garden in Germany.
    Now I will plant them here in Virginia.

    • @autiemuse
      @autiemuse 2 года назад +1

      @Beyond Sky Homestead we are Habitat Homestead in SW VA. Do you know of a good regional supplier for starter vines?

    • @beyondskyhomestead
      @beyondskyhomestead 2 года назад +1

      @@autiemuse sadly not but I will check my nearest nursery and find out if they have them, if not I will ask my parents to send me some seeds.

  • @oneanddonetzone3673
    @oneanddonetzone3673 Год назад +2

    I grow a lot of them they are wonderful kind of a medicinal back flavour

  • @BritishBeachcomber
    @BritishBeachcomber 2 года назад +9

    The real problem is not the currents, or the disease. It's the obsession of the horticulture, food and forestry industries with propagating plants from clones rather than naturally occurring seeds.

    • @OsirusHandle
      @OsirusHandle 4 месяца назад

      While true, from what I can see if the disease has already existed with a similar population for a long time, its possible the species HAS NO resistance genes at all, at least in >99% of specimens. Chestnut species around the world are so closely related as to easily hybridise, but only the chinese and japanese chestnut grew up with chestnut blight. The result is almost all american and most european chestnut trees need to die before any individuals with resistance appear.
      Of course, if nobody plants seeds, there is no chance for recovery at all.
      Same is happening with red squirrels in the Uk: perhaps all but 1% might die out. Garlic and rust is the same, even the nearest species have no resistance, because theyve all coevolved for like 10 million years: the ones that really didnt have resistance died off already and we are left with only resistant ones... and one hell of a fungus!
      Humans fortunately have sufficient diversity to survive plagues and what not and we arent very old, so perhaps you just need to seed, diversify your species (after all, is american chestnut not arguably a non-resistant "subspecies" of the global chestnut, if they all hybridise so easily?) and pray.

    • @erukaseven
      @erukaseven Месяц назад

      Right?? I get it for things like seedless figs, but it just makes sense to let things seed. Especially if you are growing them slightly out of the best zone for them, it can lead to more tolerant plants. I'm excited to start growing up my long term plants, trees and the like. I'll take a couple of cuttings from the fig and plum trees in the yard, but I've also got seeds and pits saved.

  • @silverrose7554
    @silverrose7554 Год назад +2

    I am in utah in USA . I was a missionary in Manchester and wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 in 1993-95 in my 20s . I loved currents . I have tried to buy them and have not found any one saling them . I will keep trying . I am 52 now .

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  Год назад

      Hope you manage to find them for sale somewhere.

  • @mikeamirault8741
    @mikeamirault8741 2 года назад +2

    I began growing red currants about 5yrs ago; fantastic berries with many uses. We had very heavy yields up until this year when we had a currant fruit fly infestation. The fly inserts its larvae into the berries when they are green and the larvae stay there until the berries fall off. The larvae then overwinter in the soil and the whole cycle starts over again in the spring. I will have to set sticky traps and install floating row covers to try and break the cycle. Not many gardeners on this side of the "pond" are aware of this great plant.
    Nova Scotia.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +1

      Sorry to hear you're struggling with fruit fly. Hope next year is troublefree for you.

  • @_Painted
    @_Painted 2 года назад +4

    Currants are delicious. Also in the USA, if we grow them in greenhouses, then we shouldn’t need to worry about them acting as a vector for tree disease.

  • @lolamiller5657
    @lolamiller5657 2 года назад +2

    I think I might try to grow currants. I have hardy kiwi, mulberry, and 2 cherry trees in a very small yard.

  • @praisesol2740
    @praisesol2740 Год назад

    I was fortunate enough to have a grandmother that snuck in some currants and planted them. I've been nibbling on these awesome berries every summer my whole life, nearly 30 now.

  • @brandondishman3955
    @brandondishman3955 2 года назад +4

    Had no idea. Grew up on multiple currant types. It must not have been a very strict ban.

  • @Sethyfisher
    @Sethyfisher Год назад +1

    my first Currant and Gooseberry bushes just arrived, thanks for the help on how to plant them! super excited

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  Год назад +1

      Exciting stuff. Hope they grow really well for you. :-)

    • @Sethyfisher
      @Sethyfisher Год назад

      @@GrowVeg thank you!!! I have a quick question if you don’t mind! The two bushes are very small, around 8” high, both in 4” pots. Would you recommend continue to grow them in pots before planting them? Or would it be okay to stick them in the ground right now?

  • @angelynnwichman102
    @angelynnwichman102 2 года назад +4

    I'm so excited to see this video. We have a couple acres of property that aren't doing much right now. We have been toying with the idea of starting a current farm, since it's a fairly rare crop in our area (Pacific Northwest in the US). Thank you for the great information, I will definitely be looking deeper into this idea now. Also, as a bonus, we have these crazy, thorny bushes with unusual red fruit growing around the perimeter of the pasture right now and I had no idea what they were....until that picture of a gooseberry popped up! This tells me we might actually have luck with a current farm! Thanks Ben, you are always so helpful!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +1

      That sounds like a great plan! Very best of luck with your project.

    • @GhostCharacter
      @GhostCharacter 2 года назад +1

      Much of the PNW has a climate comparable to that of the UK, where these thrive! Your currants should do beautifully!

  • @MarkBohland
    @MarkBohland Год назад +1

    Thank you. While I’ve had curr1nts for years, I’m just now trying to increase the number of plants I have. T
    Hanks for your help.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  Год назад

      Your very welcome. Great to be expanding your plants at least. :-)

  • @Marastife
    @Marastife 2 года назад +3

    I live just outside of Atlanta Georgia and my mom used to have a hard time finding currents when we lived in Western New York since we came to Georgia at the dekalb Farmers market you will find like five different types of dried currants and I love it because they are so amazing in all of my breakfast breads and my sweet style baked goods they're amazing on pies I never thought of growing them but I use them like f****** crazy I don't even really use your typical blueberries or raspberries anymore because currents have just such more depth of flavor and just work so much better as a jam or jelly or pie filling or bread addition or topping. I'm going to have to look into growing some of these in our garden now because I completely forgot about the possibility of doing that

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +1

      They do have such a superb flavor. Glad you're getting to enjoy them so much. :-)

  • @abbyhanson919
    @abbyhanson919 5 месяцев назад

    Thanks so much for this video! My bare root currants arrived today and I wasn't sure how to give them a good start. Can't wait for my first currant harvest!

  • @kdavis4910
    @kdavis4910 2 года назад +3

    I love the idea of frozen Popsicles with fruit inside. I think it's a wonderful idea and I can't wait to try it. Thank you for your efforts here.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад

      Great idea!

    • @Falcodrin
      @Falcodrin Год назад

      Make sure you dont just do like water and fruit. Maybe try mixing in fresh fruit with a can of something like peaches where the liquid has that light syrup infused with the peach flavor!

  • @WW-ec4qu
    @WW-ec4qu 2 года назад +3

    I will watch your video a few times . I am super excited to try my hand at growing them . Thank you from Florida 🦩

  • @karachristen6484
    @karachristen6484 Год назад +1

    My mother in law has a red & a black currant bush in her back yard. I love the red ones! And they really are prolific! One smallish bush produced several large bowls full of berries! (Probably a couple quarts worth!)

  • @C.L.Hinton
    @C.L.Hinton 2 года назад +2

    I'm so excited to learn that it should be easier to get and grow currants! Thank you for this informative video on them.

  • @anaisa0987
    @anaisa0987 2 года назад +5

    I bought a few blueberry bushes and a couple other fruit tree/bushes earlier this year, one of which was a small black currant plant. I was pleasantly surprised to see the black currant being the plant to give the most fruit. It's been such a breeze taking care of it and I'm hoping to add another one to the garden next year. HIGHLY recommend. (zone 8b, Pacific Northwest)

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад

      That's really great to hear - it is a very giving plant once it gets settled in.

    • @BradyAlley
      @BradyAlley Год назад

      How do you keep bugs off?

  • @SerHuntsReviews
    @SerHuntsReviews 2 года назад +4

    Sadly they are still illegal here.. thanks for the video Ben!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +1

      What a shame. :-(

  • @RalseiGaming
    @RalseiGaming Год назад +1

    thanks for giving me the current information on currants.

  • @noneofyourbusiness9369
    @noneofyourbusiness9369 Год назад +1

    I never knew that Currants were band. My grandparents had a garden full back in the 50s through the 70s before they moved.

  • @brigittacarlsson2745
    @brigittacarlsson2745 Год назад +1

    Just watched - very helpful. I am in Sweden and my grandmothers bushes I’d red currant are amazing and will harvest today and look forward to pruning etc for next year.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  Год назад

      So pleased you are getting something tasty to harvest. :-)

  • @lourias
    @lourias Год назад +1

    My auntie had a huge red currant bush on her farm... AWESOMENESS!!

  • @yuliadudina
    @yuliadudina 2 года назад +1

    Fresh leaves of black currents make excellent tea with very unique flavor!

  • @pumpkineater_69557
    @pumpkineater_69557 Год назад +1

    Such a thoughtful and thorough lesson on currants where other videos fall short

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  Год назад

      Thanks so much. :-)

    • @BradyAlley
      @BradyAlley Год назад

      What should I use to keep insects off? What about diluted peppermint oil?

  • @debkincaid2891
    @debkincaid2891 2 года назад +3

    Love, love, love this video! I think I'll plant myself some currants. ❤️ Thanks for this video. 😀

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад

      Great work Deb!

  • @christineortmann359
    @christineortmann359 2 года назад +1

    We have been growing them for10 years in Illinois, USA we love them in pancakes

  • @thebackyardbrewer5611
    @thebackyardbrewer5611 2 года назад +2

    This is currently my favourite video on RUclips 😋

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад

      Kind of you to say! 😀

  • @calonstanni
    @calonstanni 2 года назад +1

    Easy to grow? I'm intrigued and indeed, have never even heard of growing currents. Now I know why! thanks!

  • @mrsmrth322
    @mrsmrth322 Год назад +2

    Unfortunately, currants are still banned in Maine, but you can find them somewhat wild near old homesteads.

  • @simplifygardening
    @simplifygardening 2 года назад +1

    Great video Ben packed with useful info for new gardeners. Currants are great to have in the garden but net the fruit if you want any yourself

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад

      Yes indeed Tony - definitely need to keep them netted - the birds had most of mine this summer!

  • @randyjenkins8896
    @randyjenkins8896 Год назад +1

    I have a small redcurrent bush and it prefers less direct sunlight and warm summer days for fruiting.

  • @carolsuch5646
    @carolsuch5646 2 года назад +3

    Hi Ben
    Love your video
    For a lot of years I've grown red, white, black and pink currants and they're so easy to grow. I've made red currant jam and a mix of currant compote, pies and and sprinkled on my porridge every morning.
    Carol from the UK.

  • @imalwayslast3170
    @imalwayslast3170 2 года назад +2

    I would give them a try because I think my wife would like them, but our severe weather changes where I live would probably be an issue. On top of that, I have no clue where I would put one. I have, after 2 years, finally gotten this back yard looking great and I don't really want to dig a hole in the yard I strived so hard to make almost perfect. I planted my Fig tree I grew from cuttings earlier this year, so I know that will take up some space and I don't have a huge back yard. Very cool video though.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +2

      Well done on growing a fig from cuttings - very impressive!

  • @WhatAboutZoidberg
    @WhatAboutZoidberg 2 года назад +2

    Already have some currants on order for the Midwest. So excited to grow fruits I cant just buy at the store!

  • @GypsyBrokenwings
    @GypsyBrokenwings 6 месяцев назад

    I just bought black and red currents and a goose berry. I'm glad I found this video!

    • @danielz4111
      @danielz4111 6 месяцев назад

      They are not fruit trees. They really do need the soil amendments. I’m in South Carolina and watched 3 die over a 2yr period for poor soil prep. Jostaberry which is a black currant/ gooseberry hybrid is the only one left. I have more coming and will do more soil prep. Anthracnose was a huge problem. Weekly spraying with Daconcil

  • @edenoutpost
    @edenoutpost 4 месяца назад

    I just planted three varieties of black currants: tahsis, consort, and an unknown variety. I also planted some white currants. I took 20+ cuttings from the unknown variety and planted them along my creek in a side meadow on my property. I love the taste of the black currants. They are so easy to propagate and the deer are not too interested in the plants.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  4 месяца назад +1

      That's really wonderful to hear - you'll have so much to pick! :-)

  • @myzmaria
    @myzmaria Год назад +1

    I planted some native Missouri gooseberries and at first they were not doing well due to the attack of some pesky non native beetles the first two years, but now they are thriving with minimal care really. I have recently done some cuttings after watching a few of your videos and have peeked to find some roots are growing. TYVM for your videos. This year I am experimenting with electo-culture gardening as well.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  Год назад

      So pleased that the cuttings have taken. That’s really great news. :-)

  • @chadachwilliam5515
    @chadachwilliam5515 Год назад +1

    I have a variety of them growing wild. With hops now growing in amongst them. I think the Colorado hops growers are now having birds redistributing the hops, but the the currents are wild I think.

  • @Yataro79
    @Yataro79 2 года назад +3

    In Germany they're called John's berries ("Johannisbeere") and are very common in private gardens. In fact, you will rarely come across a garden in the eastern states without at least 2-4 small bushes of them. White currants are kind of rare here, though.

  • @seiyuokamihimura5082
    @seiyuokamihimura5082 Год назад +1

    Hell yeah! Ive aquired one of the currants my gma had, one down, 3 to go!

  • @michaelhemmingartist
    @michaelhemmingartist 2 года назад +3

    Great presentation as usual and really informative, thanks for the video.

  • @terikruse7809
    @terikruse7809 2 года назад +1

    I have two currants in large pots, a white and a pink. This is the second summer for both of them and I was well rewarded with beautiful fruit and lots of it. Thank you for the information in your video

    • @jacksonpeterson6899
      @jacksonpeterson6899 2 года назад

      Hi! You've a gorgeous picture on your profile 😊 just decided to stop by and say hi. I hope my compliment is appreciated 😊

  • @insanebe1
    @insanebe1 2 месяца назад +1

    missed off a currant, i just started growing PINKCURRANT Gloire De Sablons, The berries are a unique pink color and tend to be sweeter and less tart than redcurrants, making them great for fresh eating, Like other currants, it has a bushy growth habit require slightly different pruning to maintain optimal productivity, Pinkcurrants fruit on older wood, so it's important to balance removing old, unproductive wood while preserving enough older canes that will bear fruit.

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 месяца назад

      Sounds great! :-)

  • @GIJoe-nk2pt
    @GIJoe-nk2pt Год назад +2

    I only learned about blackcurrant a few weeks ago. I was eating gummy worms and the package said that was the flavor and I really liked it.

  • @avermontlife
    @avermontlife 2 года назад +2

    I am not familiar with currants being banned for home growers, perhaps for commercial? I have grown currants for years and know of many homesteaders who have as well for generations. I find currants one of the easiest to grow from cuttings. I can pop them all over and most take care of themselves. I feel you've covered everything, and agree with your methods. It is very hard for us to know what is really going on over the pond, and there is a lot of misinformation both ways, especially on the internet. I find it's best to be dubious about what you read and hear regarding life in America. Our reality and our infamy are often diametrically opposed. Our politics are not our people, and our country is massive, hard to comprehend unless you've been here. Think of us as fifty little countries, six distinct cultures, and remember that our federal laws are often in conflict with local laws and mores. Keep up the good work!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +2

      Thanks so much. Completely agree about a lot of misunderstanding. I lived in Portland, Oregon for nine months and really loved it - and I imagine New England where you are is pretty awesome too. Carry on gardening! :-)

    • @avermontlife
      @avermontlife 2 года назад +1

      @@GrowVeg Thank you! When I visited England, I fell in love at the sight of it. New England is the last bastion of that heritage. We are old Americana, small towns, community, local food, and here in Vermont, we bleed maple syrup and appreciate that we have more trees than people. It's up to us stewards to keep the land happy. Thank you for all you do to enrich this lifestyle.

  • @Elemiriel
    @Elemiriel Год назад +1

    Just bought 2 currant plants and 2 gooseberry plants! Really excited to give it a try!

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  Год назад

      Great stuff Katherine. I hope they grow well for you. :-)

  • @fabricdragon
    @fabricdragon Год назад +2

    i just planted a hedge of black currents, looking forward to the berries!

    • @fabricdragon
      @fabricdragon Год назад

      i just added a red currant bush, and a red gooseberry bush, to my garden! the black currant bushes are fruiting already and i am looking forward to the ripe berries

  • @kirill2525
    @kirill2525 Год назад +5

    currents are grown a lot in russia and other slavic countries as well as gooseberries. they are really good but hard to find in america

  • @nigelkthomas9501
    @nigelkthomas9501 Год назад +1

    Awesome! I love ❤️ my Redcurrants and Blackcurrants! 😋

  • @williamchamberlain2263
    @williamchamberlain2263 Год назад

    Red, black, and white currants are all great, and the leaves smell really pleasant.

  • @honeymcdonald9120
    @honeymcdonald9120 2 года назад +2

    It's why a lot of purple flavoured things in the UK and other countries are blackcurrent, but in the US they are grape

  • @robb4044
    @robb4044 Год назад +1

    Mmmm. I wanna grow them now that I know more about them. Good vid.

  • @watrgrl2
    @watrgrl2 Год назад

    It’s the black currants that are the best! It will be so cool to be able to grow those now. I’ve seen red currants everywhere in the Pacific Northwest for years but not black currants.

  • @inelouw
    @inelouw 6 месяцев назад

    We used to have black currants, red currants, and gooseberries in our garden when I was growing up, but I never cared much for the taste of black currants except in jams! Maybe it's time to try and revisit them.

  • @kostiantynnifantiev8473
    @kostiantynnifantiev8473 2 года назад +2

    Black currant leaves are quite popular additive to tea (just as lemon or thym) in Ukraine (as well as black currant itself is quite popular plant)

    • @GrowVeg
      @GrowVeg  2 года назад +1

      Thanks, will have to give this a try. :-)