How to Grow Redcurrants
Ribes rubrum
Redcurrants thrive in full sun or partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil. Plant bare-root bushes in winter, spacing 150 cm apart. They fruit on old wood, so prune to an open goblet shape on a short leg — shorten side shoots to 2–3 buds in winter and to 5 leaves in summer. Feed with high-potash fertiliser in spring and mulch with compost. Net against birds as fruit ripens. Pick whole trusses when berries are bright red and glossy. Can also be trained as cordons against walls or fences to save space. Very hardy and long-lived with minimal care.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Early spring with a high-potash fertiliser. Mulch with compost.
Watch For
- Gooseberry sawfly
- Aphids
- Big bud mite
- Birds
Companions
Chives, Tansy, Marigolds
Track your Redcurrants care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Sun or part shade, good for north walls as cordons
Full sun or partial shade. Tolerates more shade than most fruit bushes, making them useful for north-facing walls when trained as cordons.
💧 Watering
Water from flowering to harvest in dry spells
Water during dry spells, especially from flowering to harvest. Mulch to conserve moisture. Avoid waterlogging.
🌱 Fertilizing
High-potash feed in spring, mulch with compost
Feed in early spring with a high-potash fertiliser such as sulphate of potash. Mulch with compost to maintain soil fertility.
✂️ Pruning
Winter and summer prune for open goblet shape
Winter prune by shortening side shoots to two or three buds. Summer prune new side shoots to five leaves in June. Maintain an open goblet shape on a short leg.
🍎 Harvesting
Pick whole trusses, net against birds
Pick whole trusses when berries are bright red and glossy. Strip berries from stalks with a fork. Net bushes before fruit colours to protect from birds.
Growing Tips
Shape the bush early
Prune to an open goblet on a short leg for good airflow and easy picking.
Summer prune for fruit
Shorten new side shoots to 5 leaves in June to concentrate energy into fruit.
Net before birds notice
Net bushes as berries start to colour — birds will strip a bush in hours.
Harvest by the truss
Pick whole trusses rather than individual berries; strip with a fork at the kitchen table.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Gooseberry Sawfly
Identification: Pale green caterpillar-like larvae with black spots, feeding from the centre of the bush outward. Leaves reduced to bare veins.
- Inspect bushes regularly from late April — check the centre of the bush first
- Hand-pick larvae on sight
- Apply nematode biological control (Steinernema carpocapsae) to soil
- Spray with a pyrethrin-based insecticide at first sign of larvae
Pest Aphids (Currant Blister Aphid)
Identification: Raised red or yellow blisters on upper leaf surfaces. Colonies of pale aphids on leaf undersides.
- Tolerate minor damage — it is cosmetic and does not affect fruiting
- Spray with insecticidal soap before leaves curl tightly
- Apply a winter tree wash to reduce overwintering eggs
- Spray with a pyrethrin-based insecticide at bud burst
Pest Birds
Identification: Missing or pecked fruit. Damaged trusses.
- Net bushes with fine mesh as fruit begins to colour
- Use a fruit cage for permanent protection
- Bird scarers offer limited help
- Not applicable
Disease Coral Spot Nectria cinnabarina
Symptoms: Bright orange-pink raised pustules on dead or dying branches. Branches die back.
Treatment: Cut out affected branches well below the infected area. Sterilise tools between cuts.
Prevention: Remove dead wood promptly. Avoid leaving pruning stubs. Keep bushes well-maintained.
Disease Powdery Mildew Podosphaera mors-uvae
Symptoms: White powdery coating on young leaves and shoot tips. Leaves may curl and become distorted.
Treatment: Prune out affected growth. Improve air circulation by thinning congested branches.
Prevention: Prune to an open goblet shape. Avoid dry roots. Mulch and water in dry spells.
Popular Varieties
Jonkheer van Tets, Red Lake, Rovada, Stanza, Laxton's No.1
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 150 cm |
| Row spacing | 180 cm |
| Mature height | 150 cm |
| Mature spread | 120 cm |
Grown as individual bushes. The row spacing allows for easy picking and good air flow.
Log Redcurrants in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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