Blackcurrant Bush - Ribes nigrum

The Blackcurrant bush, Ribes nigrum in Latin, is a fruit bush cultivated for its pendulous clusters that bear small black and shiny fruits when ripe. With a tangy and fragrant flavour, they are known for their high content of vitamins and fibres. Blackcurrants can be enjoyed as they are or used in jams, jellies, and syrups. This plant is partially self-fertile: multiple plants or varieties are required for a good harvest. The Blackcurrant bush thrives best in regions with cold winters and temperate summers (oceanic, semi-continental, or montane), in rich and deep soils. The fruits are harvested in June-July.

The Blackcurrant bush belongs to the Grossulariaceae family, like Redcurrants. It is a deciduous bush native to regions ranging from the Pyrenees to Central Asia. Cultivated since the 16th century, the Blackcurrant bush grows naturally in cool woods in northeastern Europe. When the fruit has not yet appeared, a Blackcurrant bush can be distinguished from a Redcurrant bush by its leaves which are aromatic when crushed.

The fruits of the wild Blackcurrant bush appear on 2-year-old branches and become rarer on branches 4 years and older. Harvesting is done when the fruits are fully black and start falling to the ground. Wait for the fruits to ripen completely before harvesting them, otherwise, you'll have a very acidic and not very sweet harvest.

The Blackcurrant bush forms a vigorous and perfectly hardy bush. It reaches a height of 1 to 1.50 metres (3 to 5 feet) with a spread of about 1 metre (3 feet). It needs cold temperatures to bear fruit, doesn't tolerate summer drought, and dislikes very chalky soils. The leaves, which are deciduous in winter, are large, composed of three to five lobes with toothed edges, bright green, 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.

The flowering occurs in spring, in the form of small greenish to yellowish bell-shaped flowers that are often not very visible. As the bush is partially self-sterile, it requires the proximity of another Blackcurrant bush to bear fruit well. In the garden, when space permits, create a small fruiting hedge by mixing Blackcurrant bushes, Redcurrant bushes, and Raspberry bushes, for example, or plant the Blackcurrant bush within a flowering shrub bed.

Tip: beware of powdery mildew, treat with Bordeaux mixture outside of the flowering and harvesting periods.