Blackcurrant Black'n Red Premiere - Ribes nigrum

The Black n Red Premiere Blackcurrant Bush is a highly ornamental new variety, native to Switzerland, selected for its foliage colour and abundant fruit production. Semi-late, it produces long clusters of 5 to 7 black berries in July, of medium size, with fleshy and juicy pulp, very sweet, with sweet and pleasant aromas, marked by a slight hint of acidity. Under the influence of the sun, the leaves turn red. The bush completely changes colour from mid-summer with the appearance of tender green shoots that gradually turn red as they age. In autumn, the foliage becomes burgundy red, while the leaves inside the bush remain green. Highly decorative and highly appreciated for its delicious fruits, it offers many possibilities for integration in the garden, on a balcony, terrace, or in the design of small urban gardens. For abundant fruiting, Black'n Red requires the presence of another variety of blackcurrant bush nearby, allowing for staggered harvests and increased productivity through better pollination. It is an easy-to-grow variety that prefers a sunny exposure, but not scorching. Resistant to cold and adapting well to all well-draining and fertile soils, the blackcurrant bush can be grown in all regions of France.

The Blackcurrant Bush, also known as Blackcurrant or Gadellier noir, belongs to the Grossulariaceae family, like redcurrants and gooseberries, from which it is distinguished by its black fruits. Its origins in the temperate regions of Northern Europe to Asia give the blackcurrant bush excellent cold resistance. Cultivated since the 16th century, the blackcurrant bush grows spontaneously in the cool woods of northeastern Europe. Historically, it has been mainly used as a medicinal plant, with apothecaries and healers attributing powerful properties to it. It is a bushy, non-thorny shrub with a clump-like habit, with slightly stiff and sparsely branched branches, and soft wood with abundant pith. This very hardy bush will reach about 1.20 m (4ft) in all directions. The foliage is deciduous, composed of palmate, lobed, medium green leaves. It is particularly aromatic and pleasantly fragrant when crushed. Leaves, fruits, and buds are intensely fragrant due to the presence of glands containing essential oils, which are used in perfumery.

Flowering occurs in spring, in April, in the form of clusters of small inconspicuous greenish to brownish flowers, intensely visited by bees. Fruit formation mainly occurs on two- and three-year-old branches and becomes less common on branches four years and older. The bush is then covered with numerous clusters of round, black berries filled with juicy flesh and small seeds. The Black n Red Premiere blackcurrant bush is a vigorous and self-sterile variety, meaning it requires the presence of another variety of blackcurrant bush nearby, such as Noire de Bourgogne, Andega, or Blackdown, for good fruiting. In a blackcurrant plantation, it is important to alternate varieties and species, when space allows, to promote pollination and limit the risk of disease. Harvesting takes place as the fruits ripen and is simplified by the size of the berries. A blackcurrant bush produces about 3 to 5 kg of fruit per plant depending on the age and growing conditions. All blackcurrant varieties are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals, trace elements, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, making them real assets for health. Moreover, they are among the least energetic fruits (50 kcal per 100 g).

The Black'n Red Premiere blackcurrant berries, with their fragrant and sweet flesh and a mild flavor with a slight hint of acidity, are exquisite when enjoyed fresh to benefit from all the nutritional benefits of the fruit. They are excellent in jellies or jams and can also be used to garnish tarts and make cakes. They are perfect for making sorbets, ice creams, or milkshakes. The flavor of the fruit adds a real plus to fruit salads, red meats, or as a small touch in mixed salads. They can also be used to make juices or syrups, not to mention the traditional blackcurrant liqueur, which can flavor kir, cocktails, and sangria.

In summer, the blackcurrant bush is very decorative with its long clusters of black berries that are a pleasure to pick and eat. In the garden, it fits well with redcurrants, raspberries, or other varieties of small fruits to form a tasty hedge. It can be grown in a pot, but be careful to choose a container that is at least 40 cm (16in) tall and to regularly water with non-calcareous water.