Redcurrant Delbard Giganta - Ribes rubrum

Established by Georges Delbard Nurseries, the Delbard Giganta® Bosron redcurrant bush is an extremely productive, vigorous, and cold-resistant variety. The bush produces very large and compact clusters of translucent redcurrants with fragrant flesh and a sweet and tangy flavour. The high yield and large size of the clusters ensure an abundant and easy harvest. These small fruits, rich in pectin, are ideal for making delicious jellies. This redcurrant bush is resistant to diseases. It is planted from October to March, and the fruits are harvested around July.

The redcurrant category, Ribes rubrum, belongs to the Grossulariaceae family, like the gooseberry. Its origins in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and the Andes give the redcurrant excellent hardiness. It is a bushy, non-thorny shrub with a clumped habit of slightly stiff, sparsely branched shoots, with soft wood and abundant pith. This bush will reach 1.30 m (4ft) in all directions. The foliage is deciduous (absent in winter), composed of palmate, lobed, and aromatic leaves, of medium green. Flowering occurs in spring, in the form of clusters of small, insignificant greenish to brownish flowers, intensely visited by bees. Fruiting mainly occurs on one- and two-year-old shoots. The shrub then becomes covered in numerous clusters of small round and translucent berries, resembling pearls, containing small seeds.

With Delbard Giganta, the harvest can be done gradually as the fruits ripen, thanks to the size of the clusters. The yield of a redcurrant bush is approximately 3 to 5 kg of fruits per plant depending on the age and growing conditions of the plant. All redcurrant varieties are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals, trace elements, as well as potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Moreover, redcurrants are among the least calorific berries (50 kcal per 100 g). Picked from the bush, redcurrants are exquisite when eaten fresh, and for extra indulgence, they can be sprinkled with a little crystallised sugar. They are excellent in jellies or jams, and can also be used to garnish tarts and make cakes. They are perfect for making sorbets or ice creams, accompanying red meats, or adding a touch to mixed salads.

In the garden, the redcurrant bush fits perfectly with other varieties of small fruits that will only enhance its multiple culinary advantages. 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 it with non-calcareous water if possible.