Currants

The red currant, like the raspberry, is one of the red fruits so appreciated all summer long. The red currant, a small fruit bush that is easy to grow, deserves its place in the garden. Its fruits are delicious naturally but also in salads, pies, juices, jellies, sorbets... The redcurrant belongs to the Grossulariaceae family. Among the varieties of redcurrants, we can mention the Jonkher von Tets, the Red Lake, the Rolan or the Mulka.

This small fruit tree is easy to grow, in isolation or in low hedges. It is hardy and adapts to most of our climates. The currant is planted directly in the ground in the fall and until spring, avoiding periods of frost, but the ideal period is from September to November. It is installed isolated or against a wall, choosing a rather sunny but not hot situation. It tolerates half-shade and well-drained soils, with a contribution of manure or compost at the time of the plantation.

We prune the currant at the end of winter, in February-March. The center of the shrub is aerated to let the light penetrate, the tangled branches and the oldest wood (stems older than three years) are removed. The currant needs to be watered to bear fruit properly. A mulch at the base of the plant allows to keep the necessary humidity. The harvest of the currants extends from the end of June to August depending on the variety.