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How to plant a blackcurrant bush

Find out how to plant a blackcurrant bush, in our practical How-to guide.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
To do
To do

Do To do in January

Do To do in February

Do not To do in March

Do not To do in April

Do not To do in May

Do not To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do To do in September

Do To do in October

Do To do in November

Do To do in December

Blackcurrants are easy to grow and more tolerant of heavy soils than other currant bushes. Just one plant can provide a generous crop of berries. If blackcurrant bushes are kept well fed and watered you could be harvesting fruit a year after planting.

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You Will Need

  • Blackcurrant bush
  • Garden fork
  • Garden spade
  • Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
  • Fertiliser
  • Secateurs

Total time:

Step 1

Choose an open and sunny site. Fork over a wide area of ground, then dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots of your fruit bush.

Planting a blackcurrant bush - digging a hole
Planting a blackcurrant bush – digging a hole

Step 2

Tip plenty of garden compost into the hole and fork it deep into the soil.

Planting a blackcurrant bush - adding compost
Planting a blackcurrant bush – adding compost

Step 3

Sprinkle a handful of fertiliser in the hole and fork it into the soil.

Planting a blackcurrant bush - adding fertiliser
Planting a blackcurrant bush – adding fertiliser

Step 4

Spread the roots of the blackcurrant bush out evenly across the hole area, teasing them out carefully.

Planting a blackcurrant bush - planting the bush
Planting a blackcurrant bush – planting the bush

Step 5

Fill in around the roots with soil, firming it down with your foot as you go, to remove any air pockets.

Planting a blackcurrant bush - filling in the soil
Planting a blackcurrant bush – filling in the soil

Step 6

Water the plant in well, soaking the area to help settle the soil down around the plant’s roots.

Planting a blackcurrant bush - watering it in
Planting a blackcurrant bush – watering it in

Step 7

Prune all the shoots right back to encourage new growth from below soil level.

Planting a blackcurrant bush - pruning out stems
Planting a blackcurrant bush – pruning out stems

Step 8

By summer the bush will have formed plenty of new shoots that will carry fruit the following summer.

Planting a blackcurrant bush - young leaves
Planting a blackcurrant bush – young leaves
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Mail order fruit nurseries have a great range of bare-root plants in autumn and winter.

Boots. Photo: Getty Images.