Caring for Red Currant

Red currants need consistent moisture, especially from flowering in spring through to harvest in summer. Water regularly during dry spells—aim for a thorough soak once or twice a week rather than frequent shallow watering. Mulch helps enormously: top up the organic layer each spring to suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and feed the soil as it breaks down. Feed in late February or March with a balanced general-purpose fertiliser (such as blood, fish and bone) or a controlled-release granular feed, scattering a couple of handfuls around the base of each bush and lightly forking it into the soil surface. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds later in the season, as these promote soft growth at the expense of fruiting and winter hardiness. On poorer soils, a second light feed after harvest can help the plant build reserves for next year. Red currants are fully hardy and need no winter protection in temperate Europe. They flower early, so in frost-prone gardens consider draping fleece over bushes on cold spring nights to protect the blossom and ensure a good set of fruit. Watch for aphids on shoot tips in spring and early summer; squash small colonies by hand or spray with an insecticidal soap if numbers build up. Gooseberry sawfly caterpillars can strip foliage rapidly—check the undersides of leaves from late spring onwards and pick off by hand or use an organic contact spray. Powdery mildew and leaf spot occasionally occur in humid conditions; good pruning for airflow and avoiding overhead watering reduce the risk. Birds are the main harvest pest—net bushes as the fruit begins to colour if necessary.