How do I cut currants properly?

The redcurrant is one of the small fruit bushes, like the raspberry and blackcurrant, that fits in perfectly with the garden. To give it every chance of producing abundant fruit, it needs to be pruned properly.

Small fruit bushes

Having small fruit bushes in your garden means you're guaranteed harvests of fruit packed with vitamins and flavour. Growing them is relatively easy, you just need to observe a few principles. In particular, pruning redcurrants, like pruning raspberry bushes, is important in a number of ways.

Characteristics of the redcurrant

The currant bush is a small, bush-like shrub producing round berries, ripening between June and July. The basal stems of the shrub bear fruit in their third year. The branches of these stems set fruit in their second year. Thereafter, this will take place every year on all of these supports.

If no pruning is carried out, there will initially be an increase in branches and fruiting at the same time. But later on, fruit production as well as fruit quality will tend to decrease, due to the weakening of the currant bush. To avoid this situation, all you need to do is prune the shrub every year, especially as this task presents no major difficulties. And it's very quick to do.

How to prune a currant bush

When you reach the fifth year, it is advisable to completely renew the stems. This operation involves cutting them back to the base. It allows the sun and air to exert a favourable action on the fruit. The result is better quality, higher yields and longer life for the shrub.

Some branches need to be removed regularly. They are easy to identify as they are darker, or even almost black, at the base. Make sure you leave a total of fifteen branches on the shrub, which is more than enough to get a decent yield.

Particulars for pruning gooseberries

When it comes to pruning gooseberries, this requires a slightly different operation, due to the vegetation having distinct characteristics. For this variety, the pruning operation must be carried out in the centre of the shrub, in order to thin it out while maintaining the original habit. In addition, all stems over five years old should be cut back to the base. The aim of all these operations is to prevent the appearance of powdery mildew on the redcurrant.