Blackcurrant Delbard Robusta - Ribes nigrum

Created by Georges Delbard Nurseries, the Delbard Robusta® Blackcurrant Bush is a self-fertile variety that abundantly produces clusters composed of large black berries with delicious, sweet and tangy flesh. The high pectin content of the blackcurrant fruit makes it ideal for making jellies and jams. The juicy berries are also great for making liqueurs, and their sweet and tangy aroma works wonders in pastries or as an accompaniment to savoury dishes. 'Robusta' is a disease-resistant variety, particularly resistant to powdery mildew. Its easy cultivation in non-scorching sun, in well-drained, even poor soil, allows for its use in both open ground and containers. The presence of other blackcurrant varieties nearby will stagger the harvest and increase productivity through better pollination. Planting is done from October to March for a harvest around July.

Blackcurrant bushes belong to the Grossulariaceae family, along with Redcurrants and Gooseberries, from which they differ in the black colour of their fruits. Its origins in temperate regions from Northern Europe to Asia give the blackcurrant excellent hardiness. Cultivated since the 16th century, blackcurrants grow spontaneously in the cool woods of northeastern Europe. Historically, they were mainly used as medicinal plants, as apothecaries and healers attributed powerful properties to them. It is a bushy, non-thorny shrub with a clump-like habit of slightly stiff, sparsely branched stems, with soft wood and abundant pith. This very hardy bush reaches about 1.30m (4ft) in all directions. The deciduous foliage is 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 used in perfumery.

Flowering occurs in spring, in the form of clusters of small, inconspicuous, greenish to brownish flowers that are intensely visited by bees. Fruiting mainly occurs on two- and three-year-old branches and becomes rarer on branches four years and older. The bush then becomes covered with numerous clusters of round black berries filled with juicy flesh and small seeds. This self-fertile and vigorous variety produces abundantly in August. The picking, done gradually as the fruits ripen, is simplified due to the size of the berries. Indeed, it produces clusters of large black fruits with fragrant, juicy flesh and a sweet-tangy flavour. A blackcurrant bush can produce about 3 to 5 kg of fruit per plant, depending on the age and growing conditions of the plant. All blackcurrant varieties are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals, trace elements, as well as potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, making them true health assets. Furthermore, they are among the least calorific small fruits (50 kcal per 100 g). It is preferable to grow blackcurrants in a sunny but non-scorching location in well-drained, even poor soil.

The delicious, highly fragrant and sweet, mildly tangy flesh of Delbard Robusta blackcurrants makes them exquisite when enjoyed fresh, to benefit from all the nutritional value of the fruit. They are excellent for making 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 flavour of the fruit adds a real touch to seasonal fruit salads, red meats, or as a small addition to mixed salads. They can also be used to make juices or syrups, not to mention the traditional blackcurrant liqueur, which adds flavour to Kir cocktails and Sangria.

In summer, the blackcurrant bush is very decorative due to the colour of its long clusters of black berries. In the garden it fits perfectly alongside Redcurrants, Raspberries, or other small fruit varieties to form a delicious hedge. It can be grown in a pot, but be careful to choose a container at least 40 cm (16in) high and to regularly water with non-calcareous water.