Gooseberries and currants are the common shrubs people grow here in Russia. And by "grow" I mean just neglect)) We even don't fertilizer them and still get a good harvest. And Russian botanists also created quite a big number of cultivars of gooseberries. The sweetest variety is the red gooseberries. I love them so much! I'm not a big fan of currants, although I have all of the colors in my yard: red, white and black ones)) By the way, the black one is veeeery good for you: it's the healthiest of all other currants.
catmint. I agree. My grandpa never cared for currants and gooseberries, except for pruning. They grew both in heavy shade and in open space, and always, i mean always yielded good crops. I do the same.
This makes currants sound complicated. I just stuck a currant bush in clay rich soil, water right after planting, and never watered again. They grow fast and well
I grew up with English grandparents and currents are a long time favourite memory flavour for me! There are online recipes for one of my absolute faves, black current syrup! It can be found ready made, the well known brand being Ribena, and generally you mix it with still or fizzy water for a refreshing beverage! It's so yummy! Thanks for another great vid!😊
Great information. I love to use compost in the Fall on my currants and since I'm not super organic, I use a 10-10-10 fertilizer about 4-6 weeks before they come out of dormancy in the spring. My Imperial White currants produced almost 18 lbs of berries last year on one 3 year old plant. So delicious. Use them fresh, jams/jellies, wine, or my favorite, a good sour beer!
I have a semi-shady spot in my yard and wanted to plant something a little unusual, so decided to plant either a gooseberry or currant plant and finally chose a red currant and planted it a couple of weeks ago. I've never tasted or even seen them before, so your video is perfect timing.
I grew up with gooseberries, red, white and black currants. Been growing and multiplying my red currants here for over 20 years, transplanted some several times, never fertilize - except when planting, then they get compost. We have very heavy clay soil, they bear like crazy! I do not net them, because I get plenty even with the birds feasting! gooseberries I prefer to do without, they have nasty, nasty thorns, they are a bit hairy, more like a kiwi in taste and appearance, just smaller and less 😆 I got these thorns in my figers as kid plenty times, do not miss them! oh, the black currants are very different from red ones as well and need different pruning ! mine do well with full sun too, just like they grew at home. Japanese beetles seem to like the leaves.
I think if you tried another variety of gooseberry you'd like them more! There are varieties out there that have little to no thorns :) Gooseberries are my favorite!
Wow. I didn't know there were care requirements. We had red and black currants growing up in zone 5 that received no care for well over twenty years. They seemed to do just fine. We must have had them in the right soil and sun conditions.
Ive got a hinnomaki red gooseberry growing at already about 5 feet diameter so some varieties can get larger. Also from my experience you want to top the plant when it has about 5-6 side shoots so it will grow into an open goblet shape with good airflow since mildew can effect some ribes more. As well as look out for aphids around the new growth since every year so far ive had to spray the plants for them. Luke I highly recommend black velvet gooseberry might be the sweetest variety and jostaberry is a flavorful (black currnat x gooseberry). I have also heard a lot that ribes much prefer to get morning sun with afternoon shade. Keep up the growing guides... might i recommend hardy kiwis, pixie grapes, paw paws..
John Doe I've been wondering about kiwi, my daughter bought one for a snack, and I asked her to do research how to grow them, alas she got sidetracked lol.
Actinidia arguta 'ISSAI'. www.fast-growing-trees.com/ISSAI-Hardy-Kiwi.htm?gclid=CMSfzZnBiNQCFdC2wAod0n4KFQ Its self pollinating but fruits more with two, you just need about 10ft for it to grow up or across a sturdy structure.
Growing currants just makes you feel fancy.The two I planted last year got stressed but there are still alive, I ordered like 8 more plants i have some nice shade under my huge maple in my garden
From your experience, do they grieve much better in the shade or can thet also be grown in full sun? I'm in southern California and I just ordered two currants and a gooseberry and trying to decide where to plant them.
We've been here at our northern MI home since 1977.Currants-black and goose berries grow wild, as well as all the bramble berries. The sweetest smell in the spring is the current blossems. Thank you for the info. I'm going to try to start some cuttings this fall and follow the tips you shared. I ate what few currants the birds left me. The goose berries aren't ripe yet, but when they are I'll try maling wine with them.
I planted 2 gooseberries a jostaberry a black currant and a red currant in full sun and they love it. Add lots of organic matter and prune them constantly and you'll thank yourself later. Pro tip: take all your prunings and try to root them in pots, (30% success rate). They make great gifts.
OK. A couple of things missed by MIgardener. Currants are not gooseberries. Both are ribes. 1- Currants are thorn free. The thorns of gooseberries will pierce leather gloves. 2- Ribes NEED cold winters to produce berries. If you live in zone 6 or 7 do not plant them because you will not get berries. 3- Currants grown in fertile soil are almost as carefree as any plant. Leave the end of season blown in mulch (leaves) around the base of the plant and that is sufficient to maintain the needs of the plant. 4- There are a number of states that do NOT allow currant bushes to be planted... transported... sold (you get it) This includes some or all varieties. Off the top of my head the states who implement this are Michigan, one of the Carolinas and a New England state. For more information look up White Pine Blister Rust. 5- The flavor of currants is all to it's own. Think rhubarb crossed with raspberries crossed with cranberries... sort of. The pink berries are sweeter than the red. The black currants have a musky flavor. Goose berries taste like crunchy grapes.
Nannette Piasini you sound like you know quite a bit about these plants. I bought three of these before I knew about white pine blister rust. I have a windbreak of white pines on my farm. I live in NJ zone 7a. I bought pixwell and it's supposed to be resistant but I'm leery about keeping them. NJ allows it with no restrictions. I know someone who has these here in NJ and they are loaded with fruit. But is it worth the risk? What are your thoughts?
Regarding point 2: I'm in zone 8a, and my currant bush has berries. So if you're saying that zones 6 and 7 are too warm over the winter, I'd suggest rechecking those numbers. I'm not alone in this, either. Several growers have successful currant harvests in 8a.
My method worked for me. I Planted red black and white currants and a few types of gooseberries and even a jostaberry. Then i severely broke my ankle at work and was stuck in bed for 8 months. then i cut down the 3ft tall grass around them and they have berries on them 😆😆😆😆😆😆they all survived total neglect because I have them in really good soil in my food forest under the fruit trees.
They USED to be popular here, but there was a ban a while back due to the threat to white pine. Some still come with a warning to plant far enough from any white pines. But nowadays there are resistant cultivars. These berries are even more delicious in jam/jelly or compote. Or black currant merengue pie! :)
Alex K I just bought three bushes, and planted them next to my white pine windbreak. I found out about white pine blister rust after this. I called my local extension and they told me to dig them up and get rid of them or I run the risk of all of my white pines dying.
These are really easy to propagate as well. Simply take a pot half fill it with soil....bend a branch down onto the soil......cover with a few more inches of soil and mulch .......wait a few weeks and cut the branch from the original plant. you are basically air layering directly into a pot with no rooting compound or work.... I often do this when pruning larger branches......Here in eastern Canada these plants go for $12 - $20 each. I have 3 plants that are 6-7 years old that I pull 8-10 additional plants from each year and sell at plant swaps or farmers markets.
You can also put some damp compost in a plastic sandwich bag and place a shoot end from the plant in the bag and tie it, rather then bending the shoots down, or for the shoots that wont bend and touch the ground etc. I don't usually need to add extra water to the bag in the few weeks it takes to root, if I do I use a syringe through the sandwich bag.
Actually, there is a difference between Currants and Gooseberries - Currants produce their fruit in bunches and are thornless, while Gooseberries produce fruit in ones and twos and have thorns.
My gooseberries don't have thorns... some of my currants do. Some of my gooseberries produce in clumps, some of my currants do... Some don't. I have 3 varieties of gooseberries, 5 varieties of currants, and jostaberry.
I must have been lucky. We haven't fed ours in 4 years, and ours are doing amazing. They are on a slight hill. We do out wood chips around the base. We also let them go wild. We have a woodchuck who volunteers to prune them. ;)
@@Adrian-cw8yu they were delicious. Not a lot of them but I'm expecting bigger crop next year. They were gooseberries. Taste was different but interesting
@@alfredawoods9949 I ordered a 2x hinnonmaki green 2x hinnonmaki red and 6x captivator gooseberries a few months ago, plants were 2-3 foot high, well established plants, all have flower buds now it's spring, so I will get to try the gooseberry this year for the first time in like 30 odd years 😂the hinnonmaki green has tons of flowers.
I placed 2 white currant cuttings in a pot full of peat moss last year, which many people know is acidic. Not only have they survived the winter with hardly any roots and leaves, but this year they've filled the pot with roots. I haven't fertilised them once. They've started shooting out new stems and the pot has been bone dry for a few days straight and they haven't been severely affected by that. There's a very small amount of yellowing on some leaves but no wilting.
Im an arborist and always keep an eye out for plants when I am on people's properties. I found a big patch of ripe red currants and they didn't know what they were so he said i could take them. They are well established and spreading out in my food forest. They are small but they are kinda sweet sour but good enough for eating. I love finding good stuff in other places and bringing it home whether its whole plants or clones i have gotten a lot of stuff this way
Gooseberries are not the same thing as currants! What is this madness of an idea? I’ve grown up eating gooseberries. Now that I have a house I’ve planted some and hope to get a lot of jams, pies, and cakes! I will fill the entire fence line with berries. I am ordering black currants now, which is what brought me here.
I think he means "Ribes" family, which currants and gooseberries are a part of, you can cross a currant with a gooseberry to get a fruit called a jostaberry etc.
id go 4 feet on the spacing ive had one growning here in minnesota here just popped up wildly, a white currant that sucker got huge like 5-6 feet in diameter any maybe 3.5 -4 feet high its been growing for 10 yrs or so i use it to make mead ive even cloned it and started another 4 plants in other parts of the yard
No wonder I have a forest floor covered in thousands and thousands of gooseberries, my soil pulls very hard neutral, and although I do have some clay, the forest soil is soft and nutritious. First green I see in spring are the gooseberries all over the forest and the red elderberries that are everywhere. Beautiful! Just getting my currants going and happy to see I'm on the right track with a semi shady part of the berry patch. They propagate very easy, take a cutting, shove it in the dirt.
I have been going big into gooseberries and currants. Living in zone 3B, they are some of the best berries for this region. I really love White Pearl currants for fresh eating. For gooseberries, I have Tixia, Invicta and Hinnomaki Red.
How did that go? did you get to taste any? and what varieties did you get? I just bought a gooseberry hinnonmaki green and red and a whitecurrant plant, so I will have to wait until next year at best to hopefully get to try them.
I dont really understand why so much effor. Its the most simple friuting plant. It will grow in any conditions like crazy, even in alkoline or acidic soil and without any fertilizers. It will only effect the size of the friut, which will bake in full sun, true. What is the most important in my opinion is that after 4 years and every year after that you have to prune it a lot, and use insecticide agains clearwing moths, if you have it.
I'm going to have to grow currants. We have a family recipe for a currant jelly raisin and orange sauce for the Christmas ham. last year I went to 5 markets searching for currant jelly for the recipe. No one was carrying the currant jelly in my area any more! So if they are gaining in popularity it most certainly is not following through in food made from these unique flavored berries and I'm in New England where such traditions are upheld, so I will have to grow one of these and ALSO learn how to make the jelly, though I think i may experiment and see if a preserve is possible and see how that works with the sauce. They have a very tart flavor that is unique. Sad they seem to be passing out of food in such a way in my area. I don't know of anyone who makes that sauce, never even heard of anyone who makes that sauce!
I have heavy soil in uk and my currants blueberries and gooseberries grow like mad. The only real problem is sawfly they are really attracted to the gooseberries and currants. They need netting.
guloguloguy I found a very large golden currant Tree on a plot of woods for sale in Denton County north of Dallas Texas and somebody told me Dallas is at the edge of the Prairie but this is a pretty dense woods with lots of cedar trees
I'm new to gardening. Should you not fill the containers all the way? I feel when I don't part of the lid shades the plant and reduces the sun available? IDK how this works, thanks!
Luke, Question: Will the suckers/ volunteers be as fruitful as the parent bush? I am planning on planting to a new location from a bush that's 5 years old. I'm prepping soil this weekend and would like to get it done right the first time. Perhaps I should do as you and test the location using large containers? The other option is to take a stem and add rooting hormone from a willow bark tree solution. Any recommendations?
I am living in Massachusetts. I have a gooseberry black currant and red currant. Prepare yourself when you get it to fight with a very badly disease It is powdery mildew
Ribes, some varieties more than others, hosts white pine blister rust, which wiped vast areas of native eastern white pine. It also attacks other 5 needle pine and is currently killing and threatening stand of them, including limber and bristlecone pine in the West. Currently there are stands dying in Glacier, North Cascades, and Crater Lake National Parks from blister rust. Please research to inform yourself and use caution and judgement about where and what varities you plant (and don't wear your muddy gardening shoes to go hiking in places like Bristlecone National Park) :)
I have my gooseberry plants and currant in full sun all day. They are huge plants. I never water. They’ve naturalized I guess. I get huge amounts of fruit every year. The gooseberry are even spreading . Oh I never fertilize either. I’ve been growing them for 10 years.
Interesting. I'm in California and the places I have available to plant are in full sun mostly. I've got one spot worg a tiny bit of shade but not much. Hopefully they do okay because it's hot here right now and thetre on their way in the mail. What state are you in ?
I have 1 wild prickly gooseberry growing very happily up one of my sugar maples. I just so happened to go to a small farm/nursery that had some potted up that they were planning to sell, but they looked pretty much dead so they asked me if I wanted to take them. Now I have 7 thriving gooseberry bushes under my maples.
PS:. Last Question Luke. I appreciate your great info. You have a new subscriber. I had no idea Gooseberries were the same as currents. I thought currents were small grapes. Anyhow, I have a soil tester, unlimited wood ash (K), as much organic compost and mulch as I need. I have a location near Eastern Hemlock trees that seems to be out of the way and right amount of sun. The soil there is acidic but can adjust to get the 6+/- pH. Should I go for that idea OR plant in the middle of the yard where it's less desirable location but better water and drainage? I have a lot of soil that can be used either way.
Sounds like they're a little more fussy over the pond in the States. In my northern English home, I've grown black, red and white currants and red and white gooseberries for years. Basically they have been neglected for 2 years and they STILL pumped out fruit with no help or feed from me, even sat in pots. They are being cared for now and I'll apply these lessons to my crops. Just interests me that they love this grey, soggy pond of a town 😂 They're in dire need of a cut back, they are 4ft tall
To be honest, in the UK, the only wild berry plant that we have growing in any common occurrence is the blackberry. Not to say there aren't others, but you're not really going to find them unless you know where to look. Blackberry bramble is everywhere though.
I have a wild blackberry bush that has been growing strong for 20+ years at least, growing just outside my fence/boundary on the other side on a public field, this year I took up 7 random shoots to grow them in big containers, they say all blackberries can get mildew, these have never ever had mildew or any issue ever and they are growing in clay soil, Mildew is also all around here (London,UK), it's a super hardy plant and has nice fruit! it will be good to see how they fair growing in my large containers with good airy rich soil and fertilizer.
Love this video too! We have a gooseberry growing on the property we purchased last year so we really needed this information!!!! I was wondering id the darker colors of the berry mean they will have sweeter fruit? Also do you have a favorite verity that you recommend the moat? Thank you again for all your videos they are truly making a difference in our garden!
Thank you! We just purchased our lot last fall and have been working hard to get the yard in order it was badly over grown. It had be neglected for years. Our goal is that eventually it will be as close to 100% edibles as possible. The picture below is a work in progress Photo! We have a long way to go but its getting better every day (as long as its not raining that day lol). Thank you again for all you do you are an inspiration to us! Keep Growing Big! _lh3.googleusercontent.com/R_tCmjzaAbeQvbkUXcZuSCxqQWeOGs2V2YX13QZFcAYzOmxSm8hqe27OUJ_NUvqErgxZ8bKTcQ_
Say, now that you've had your currants and gooseberries a while, have you noticed if their leaves have changed colors? For some reason, the leaves on my one currant bush is turning yellow, and the leaves on my gooseberries are turning red. I'm not sure about the why.
In my experience if you let them grow you may end up with a 7 feet diameter bush that grows more fruits than leaves. So, fair warning, in good conditions some will spread like they own your garden. Mainly the red ones.
Well Luke, there are restrictions on growing some Ribes species (which includes currants and gooseberries) in US, as they are the main alternate host for white pine blister rust (fungus), where it is an invasive species causing serious damage to the American white pines, which have little genetic resistance, consequently causing huge amount of damages/death to the pine trees. So that's one of the main reasons to why currants aren't so popular in US nowadays.
try feeding them with nettle feed...watch out for cattapillers. they ruined one of my plants this year lol...they will eat the leafs so quickly you'll be shocked....as a result the fruits grow small and fall of the tree...
Was just gifted my first plant in a zone 5 climate that is currently ranging from 10-40 degrees but can go down to -15. Curious if I should keep it indoors? I can bring it outside during the day?
Hi, you are mentioned that you are keeping current in the pots until you find a right place to plant them in your garden. For how long you can keep them in the pot? Thank you
Fun Fact: Currants were actually quite popular in America, but in the early 1900's, the government made currant farming illegal since they harbored White Pine Blister Rust which was a huge threat to the logging industry. In fact, growing currants are still illegal in several states (MA, NC, and I think a few others). This is why a lot of Americans have no clue what they even are.
I planted mine about decade ago by the fence, kind of shady spot under the peach three. They have been bearing like ton of fruits every single year. Other then watering during summer I never do anything to them, never fertilized mine.
Question: i live in south east idaho, we just moved here last year. I bought 2 currants and 1 goosberry i think. I covered them over the winter in big bubblewrap and a sweatshirt over and put a black trashbag over. They did well over the winter and unfolded their beauty and little fruits for me. Now i found some golden currants i have some on their little stem. How do you grow them from their little fruit?
I only prune gooseberries from year 5 onward, unless branches are damaged or hanging too low, I get tons of berries, the bushes are about 5-6ft around, I dont worry about the open vase shape too much either as I grow gooseberries that are resistant to Mildew and fungal infections, Hinnonmäki red and Captivator are the best.
My mom bought a couple black and red plants back in 1972 and had them forever. I propagated from them all over my house from her original plants. I start a lot of them from seed because I like brand new plants. I have 32 planted and I have so many currents i don't know what to do with them all. I might start making wine.
I don’t really like the red or black currents, but white currents are very tasty. I didn’t know the gooseberry was the same plant, I like the green coloured ones, but planting some red ones this year. I spaced my currents too close years go, 4 in a 4 foot bed. They have not suffered plant wise, they have fruit wise, but they are big and healthy. We have not given them the food we should have, but they are not far from the septic drain field…. So I guess we have fed them well
They are NOT tricky to grow, I put 5 plants in, forgot them for 3 years, this year hundreds of fruit on every plant, I’m in a awful growing area, awful soil. Put mine on the east side of a north south fence, that seems to be ideal, I don’t fertilize but give it my homemade compost. That’s all.i will do his pruning idea, I planted mine about 2 feet apart, guess I’ve gotta move them because they are touching already at 18” high, plant at least 5’ apart.
I've had some interest in growing gooseberries/currents in the past but I would only be able to grow them in large containers. would you recommend trying to grow them in containers? and if so how big?
gooseberries and currents can get pretty large and Luke said that they're going to plant then once he's figured out a good location, I'd like to grow them to full size permanently in a container.
@@billthegreet1 I know it's been literally five years, but I'll comment this for the sake of others who come by. Currants can be pruned and trained using bonsai techniques, but one should definitely be careful if new to bonsai. If putting it in a large container for full-size growth, put the container on wheels to make it easier to move.
Looks like you're zone 9a? I'm in zone 8a and have beautiful currant bushes, loaded with fruit right now! Mine are planted on the east-facing side of my house and chicken coop in soil that has been extensively amended with compost. They get morning sun for approximately 4 hours, no afternoon sun. I prune into a goblet shape with open center in the fall and top dress with composted manure.
Gooseberries and currants are the common shrubs people grow here in Russia. And by "grow" I mean just neglect)) We even don't fertilizer them and still get a good harvest. And Russian botanists also created quite a big number of cultivars of gooseberries. The sweetest variety is the red gooseberries. I love them so much! I'm not a big fan of currants, although I have all of the colors in my yard: red, white and black ones)) By the way, the black one is veeeery good for you: it's the healthiest of all other currants.
I like pink ones better)
catmint. I agree. My grandpa never cared for currants and gooseberries, except for pruning. They grew both in heavy shade and in open space, and always, i mean always yielded good crops. I do the same.
Another fan of red gooseberries :)
Do you guys vote for anything in Russia
Same here in England.
They love the neglect, I've noticed
This makes currants sound complicated. I just stuck a currant bush in clay rich soil, water right after planting, and never watered again. They grow fast and well
That’s all I did, 5 plants, this is 3 years later, no care, hundreds of fruit on each plant, try some they are so delicious.
Can we all just appreciate that this is basically one-take!!! Gotta respect the deep knowledge!
I love stumbling on these old MIGardner videos
I just bought a gooseberry plant on clearance. So glad that I found this to help me plant.
How is the plant doing 3 years on
Every time I have a question about my new garden homestead plot, MIGardner has a video for it!! ALSO, ALL MY mIGardner seeds were top notch.
I grew up with English grandparents and currents are a long time favourite memory flavour for me!
There are online recipes for one of my absolute faves, black current syrup! It can be found ready made, the well known brand being Ribena, and generally you mix it with still or fizzy water for a refreshing beverage! It's so yummy!
Thanks for another great vid!😊
Great information. I love to use compost in the Fall on my currants and since I'm not super organic, I use a 10-10-10 fertilizer about 4-6 weeks before they come out of dormancy in the spring. My Imperial White currants produced almost 18 lbs of berries last year on one 3 year old plant. So delicious. Use them fresh, jams/jellies, wine, or my favorite, a good sour beer!
WOW! Eighteen pounds! That is awesome! We just started 4 black velvet gooseberries this year.
I have a semi-shady spot in my yard and wanted to plant something a little unusual, so decided to plant either a gooseberry or currant plant and finally chose a red currant and planted it a couple of weeks ago. I've never tasted or even seen them before, so your video is perfect timing.
I love your channel. My family is Russian. First thing my I'm did when she bought her house in the us is plant current!!!
I planted my currents last year I've got my first tiny fruit on them I'm excited to try them!
*Currant
chigimonky currants I planted multiple plants 😝
I grew up with gooseberries, red, white and black currants. Been growing and multiplying my red currants here for over 20 years, transplanted some several times, never fertilize - except when planting, then they get compost. We have very heavy clay soil, they bear like crazy! I do not net them, because I get plenty even with the birds feasting!
gooseberries I prefer to do without, they have nasty, nasty thorns, they are a bit hairy, more like a kiwi in taste and appearance, just smaller and less 😆 I got these thorns in my figers as kid plenty times, do not miss them!
oh, the black currants are very different from red ones as well and need different pruning ! mine do well with full sun too, just like they grew at home. Japanese beetles seem to like the leaves.
I think if you tried another variety of gooseberry you'd like them more! There are varieties out there that have little to no thorns :)
Gooseberries are my favorite!
@@TheGreatDrAsian tempting!!! Also need a new blueberry, one of mine died.
Took a clipping from my Uncle's garden, planted them in mine, and they're thriving. I never fertilise and they still produce.
Wow. I didn't know there were care requirements. We had red and black currants growing up in zone 5 that received no care for well over twenty years. They seemed to do just fine. We must have had them in the right soil and sun conditions.
I have a wild one growing in my yard
There almost in possibal to kill
@@jellyjoshing2069 exactly I don’t know why he’s saying they are so hard to grow, darn I’m having more problems with raspberries.
Ive got a hinnomaki red gooseberry growing at already about 5 feet diameter so some varieties can get larger. Also from my experience you want to top the plant when it has about 5-6 side shoots so it will grow into an open goblet shape with good airflow since mildew can effect some ribes more. As well as look out for aphids around the new growth since every year so far ive had to spray the plants for them. Luke I highly recommend black velvet gooseberry might be the sweetest variety and jostaberry is a flavorful (black currnat x gooseberry). I have also heard a lot that ribes much prefer to get morning sun with afternoon shade. Keep up the growing guides... might i recommend hardy kiwis, pixie grapes, paw paws..
John Doe I've been wondering about kiwi, my daughter bought one for a snack, and I asked her to do research how to grow them, alas she got sidetracked lol.
Actinidia arguta 'ISSAI'. www.fast-growing-trees.com/ISSAI-Hardy-Kiwi.htm?gclid=CMSfzZnBiNQCFdC2wAod0n4KFQ Its self pollinating but fruits more with two, you just need about 10ft for it to grow up or across a sturdy structure.
thanks so much!
@@tontymarshall458 I've got a self fertile kiwi variety growing in mid England. Full sun and space to climb as they are almost a vine...
Growing currants just makes you feel fancy.The two I planted last year got stressed but there are still alive, I ordered like 8 more plants i have some nice shade under my huge maple in my garden
From your experience, do they grieve much better in the shade or can thet also be grown in full sun? I'm in southern California and I just ordered two currants and a gooseberry and trying to decide where to plant them.
We've been here at our northern MI home since 1977.Currants-black and goose berries grow wild, as well as all the bramble berries. The sweetest smell in the spring is the current blossems. Thank you for the info. I'm going to try to start some cuttings this fall and follow the tips you shared. I ate what few currants the birds left me. The goose berries aren't ripe yet, but when they are I'll try maling wine with them.
I planted 2 gooseberries a jostaberry a black currant and a red currant in full sun and they love it. Add lots of organic matter and prune them constantly and you'll thank yourself later. Pro tip: take all your prunings and try to root them in pots, (30% success rate). They make great gifts.
Zone 5b
Ohhh I love josta berry!
How hot are your summers? I'm thinking of planting in full sun but it's really hot here right now
Kelly Kittinger zone 5 b I don’t know if you can get away planting them now
@@StreetMachine18 The bottom part of the cutting, prune right under a node, that should up the success rate.
ALL of these cultivars, seem to be VERY Productive!... And TASTY!!!
Very good as ice cream toppings
OK. A couple of things missed by MIgardener. Currants are not gooseberries. Both are ribes.
1- Currants are thorn free. The thorns of gooseberries will pierce leather gloves.
2- Ribes NEED cold winters to produce berries. If you live in zone 6 or 7 do not plant them because you will not get berries.
3- Currants grown in fertile soil are almost as carefree as any plant. Leave the end of season blown in mulch (leaves) around the base of the plant and that is sufficient to maintain the needs of the plant.
4- There are a number of states that do NOT allow currant bushes to be planted... transported... sold (you get it) This includes some or all varieties. Off the top of my head the states who implement this are Michigan, one of the Carolinas and a New England state. For more information look up White Pine Blister Rust.
5- The flavor of currants is all to it's own. Think rhubarb crossed with raspberries crossed with cranberries... sort of. The pink berries are sweeter than the red. The black currants have a musky flavor. Goose berries taste like crunchy grapes.
Nannette Piasini you sound like you know quite a bit about these plants. I bought three of these before I knew about white pine blister rust. I have a windbreak of white pines on my farm. I live in NJ zone 7a. I bought pixwell and it's supposed to be resistant but I'm leery about keeping them. NJ allows it with no restrictions. I know someone who has these here in NJ and they are loaded with fruit. But is it worth the risk? What are your thoughts?
Regarding point 2: I'm in zone 8a, and my currant bush has berries. So if you're saying that zones 6 and 7 are too warm over the winter, I'd suggest rechecking those numbers. I'm not alone in this, either. Several growers have successful currant harvests in 8a.
They grow wild everywhere here in zone 6
My method worked for me. I Planted red black and white currants and a few types of gooseberries and even a jostaberry. Then i severely broke my ankle at work and was stuck in bed for 8 months. then i cut down the 3ft tall grass around them and they have berries on them 😆😆😆😆😆😆they all survived total neglect because I have them in really good soil in my food forest under the fruit trees.
They USED to be popular here, but there was a ban a while back due to the threat to white pine. Some still come with a warning to plant far enough from any white pines. But nowadays there are resistant cultivars. These berries are even more delicious in jam/jelly or compote. Or black currant merengue pie! :)
Alex K I just bought three bushes, and planted them next to my white pine windbreak. I found out about white pine blister rust after this. I called my local extension and they told me to dig them up and get rid of them or I run the risk of all of my white pines dying.
These are really easy to propagate as well. Simply take a pot half fill it with soil....bend a branch down onto the soil......cover with a few more inches of soil and mulch .......wait a few weeks and cut the branch from the original plant. you are basically air layering directly into a pot with no rooting compound or work.... I often do this when pruning larger branches......Here in eastern Canada these plants go for $12 - $20 each. I have 3 plants that are 6-7 years old that I pull 8-10 additional plants from each year and sell at plant swaps or farmers markets.
You can also put some damp compost in a plastic sandwich bag and place a shoot end from the plant in the bag and tie it, rather then bending the shoots down, or for the shoots that wont bend and touch the ground etc.
I don't usually need to add extra water to the bag in the few weeks it takes to root, if I do I use a syringe through the sandwich bag.
Actually, there is a difference between Currants and Gooseberries - Currants produce their fruit in bunches and are thornless, while Gooseberries produce fruit in ones and twos and have thorns.
Yes still the same
@@earthisflat how? he literally just told you how they are different... the only worse thing about an ignorant is an ignorant that refuses to learn.
My gooseberry produces in clumps
My gooseberries don't have thorns... some of my currants do. Some of my gooseberries produce in clumps, some of my currants do... Some don't. I have 3 varieties of gooseberries, 5 varieties of currants, and jostaberry.
Might be that some have different genes, although usually gooseberries have thorns and currants are thornless, at least in my experience.
I must have been lucky. We haven't fed ours in 4 years, and ours are doing amazing. They are on a slight hill. We do out wood chips around the base.
We also let them go wild. We have a woodchuck who volunteers to prune them. ;)
My woodchuck likes to "prune" just about everything.
I planted a bush in a container last year and it's growing great. It's full of blooms. Can't wait to taste them. Never had them before.
How were the fruit and what variety did you have and was it currants or gooseberry?
@@Adrian-cw8yu they were delicious. Not a lot of them but I'm expecting bigger crop next year. They were gooseberries. Taste was different but interesting
@@alfredawoods9949 I ordered a 2x hinnonmaki green 2x hinnonmaki red and 6x captivator gooseberries a few months ago, plants were 2-3 foot high, well established plants, all have flower buds now it's spring, so I will get to try the gooseberry this year for the first time in like 30 odd years 😂the hinnonmaki green has tons of flowers.
I don't know about these plants but I can't wait to see them grow. Great video.
We've started 4 black velvet gooseberries this year! Can't wait to see how they taste! I'm hoping to make jam!
I placed 2 white currant cuttings in a pot full of peat moss last year, which many people know is acidic. Not only have they survived the winter with hardly any roots and leaves, but this year they've filled the pot with roots. I haven't fertilised them once. They've started shooting out new stems and the pot has been bone dry for a few days straight and they haven't been severely affected by that. There's a very small amount of yellowing on some leaves but no wilting.
Hi☺ Just planted a pink currant. ..so a timely video.Thanks! You guys are going to have so many amazing treats with all the fruit your planting🌼
Im an arborist and always keep an eye out for plants when I am on people's properties. I found a big patch of ripe red currants and they didn't know what they were so he said i could take them. They are well established and spreading out in my food forest. They are small but they are kinda sweet sour but good enough for eating. I love finding good stuff in other places and bringing it home whether its whole plants or clones i have gotten a lot of stuff this way
Excellent content. You are so right. I have found not to many know what gooseberry are. Thank you for sharing a very good antioxidant. :)
I planted mine last year and they are doing just great!
I also put in jostaberries. A cross between goose and black currants.
How exciting! I want to grow currants! I'm in zone 8 though. Maybe in a pot indoors.
They would probably do very well in a pot for you!
Gooseberries are not the same thing as currants! What is this madness of an idea? I’ve grown up eating gooseberries. Now that I have a house I’ve planted some and hope to get a lot of jams, pies, and cakes! I will fill the entire fence line with berries. I am ordering black currants now, which is what brought me here.
I think he means "Ribes" family, which currants and gooseberries are a part of, you can cross a currant with a gooseberry to get a fruit called a jostaberry etc.
id go 4 feet on the spacing ive had one growning here in minnesota here just popped up wildly, a white currant that sucker got huge like 5-6 feet in diameter any maybe 3.5 -4 feet high its been growing for 10 yrs or so i use it to make mead ive even cloned it and started another 4 plants in other parts of the yard
No wonder I have a forest floor covered in thousands and thousands of gooseberries, my soil pulls very hard neutral, and although I do have some clay, the forest soil is soft and nutritious. First green I see in spring are the gooseberries all over the forest and the red elderberries that are everywhere. Beautiful! Just getting my currants going and happy to see I'm on the right track with a semi shady part of the berry patch. They propagate very easy, take a cutting, shove it in the dirt.
I have been going big into gooseberries and currants. Living in zone 3B, they are some of the best berries for this region. I really love White Pearl currants for fresh eating. For gooseberries, I have Tixia, Invicta and Hinnomaki Red.
I LOVE these, grew up eating those!
A little sweet treat, snap, and a pop of tart juice. Can't get enough of them! :)
Fantastic!! Thank you
I have about 10 of these growing in pots, can't wait till next spring when I plant them outside. Never tasted golden currants
How did that go? did you get to taste any? and what varieties did you get? I just bought a gooseberry hinnonmaki green and red and a whitecurrant plant, so I will have to wait until next year at best to hopefully get to try them.
@@Adrian-cw8yu goats got to them before I could 😥
Should I get more than one or is one ok for it to preform well
I dont really understand why so much effor. Its the most simple friuting plant. It will grow in any conditions like crazy, even in alkoline or acidic soil and without any fertilizers. It will only effect the size of the friut, which will bake in full sun, true. What is the most important in my opinion is that after 4 years and every year after that you have to prune it a lot, and use insecticide agains clearwing moths, if you have it.
Anna Che you know this is an organic gardening channel you've been watching, right?
I'm going to have to grow currants. We have a family recipe for a currant jelly raisin and orange sauce for the Christmas ham. last year I went to 5 markets searching for currant jelly for the recipe. No one was carrying the currant jelly in my area any more! So if they are gaining in popularity it most certainly is not following through in food made from these unique flavored berries and I'm in New England where such traditions are upheld, so I will have to grow one of these and ALSO learn how to make the jelly, though I think i may experiment and see if a preserve is possible and see how that works with the sauce. They have a very tart flavor that is unique. Sad they seem to be passing out of food in such a way in my area. I don't know of anyone who makes that sauce, never even heard of anyone who makes that sauce!
do you have a video on pruning them?
I have heavy soil in uk and my currants blueberries and gooseberries grow like mad. The only real problem is sawfly they are really attracted to the gooseberries and currants. They need netting.
Wild Gooseberries seem to be found in Woodlands, ...not out in open Prairie areas.
guloguloguy
I found a very large golden currant Tree on a plot of woods for sale in Denton County north of Dallas Texas and somebody told me Dallas is at the edge of the Prairie but this is a pretty dense woods with lots of cedar trees
...I've seen VERY Prolific Gooseberry bushes!!! Almost 1 berry for every leaf!.... LOL!!!! Wonderful Fruits!!!
I have currents growing in our shelter belt on the prairie.
My forest floor covered in thousands of them every year. And yet the critters still beat me to them.
I'm new to gardening. Should you not fill the containers all the way? I feel when I don't part of the lid shades the plant and reduces the sun available? IDK how this works, thanks!
wax currants grow wild here in the rockies in colorado. they are super easy to grow almost anywhere.
Luke, Question: Will the suckers/ volunteers be as fruitful as the parent bush? I am planning on planting to a new location from a bush that's 5 years old. I'm prepping soil this weekend and would like to get it done right the first time. Perhaps I should do as you and test the location using large containers?
The other option is to take a stem and add rooting hormone from a willow bark tree solution. Any recommendations?
I am living in Massachusetts. I have a gooseberry black currant and red currant. Prepare yourself when you get it to fight with a very badly disease It is powdery mildew
what do you use to fight powdery mildew? I use potassium bicarbonate
Think it will grow in Central Alabama??? What do they taste well you are describing it now thanks.
Ribes, some varieties more than others, hosts white pine blister rust, which wiped vast areas of native eastern white pine. It also attacks other 5 needle pine and is currently killing and threatening stand of them, including limber and bristlecone pine in the West. Currently there are stands dying in Glacier, North Cascades, and Crater Lake National Parks from blister rust. Please research to inform yourself and use caution and judgement about where and what varities you plant (and don't wear your muddy gardening shoes to go hiking in places like Bristlecone National Park) :)
There are some than have been bred to not host the fungus
i think all these years my mistake was the soul😅 thanks for your time to make this video✌️
I have my gooseberry plants and currant in full sun all day. They are huge plants. I never water. They’ve naturalized I guess. I get huge amounts of fruit every year. The gooseberry are even spreading . Oh I never fertilize either. I’ve been growing them for 10 years.
Interesting. I'm in California and the places I have available to plant are in full sun mostly. I've got one spot worg a tiny bit of shade but not much. Hopefully they do okay because it's hot here right now and thetre on their way in the mail. What state are you in ?
Very interesting, I didn't really know too much about these plants :-)
They are so delicious! You have to try some sometime. They are just so amazing!
How do you winterize them if you keep them in pots
I got pink champagne currants and they are unique and tasty
Wonderful video!
I have 1 wild prickly gooseberry growing very happily up one of my sugar maples. I just so happened to go to a small farm/nursery that had some potted up that they were planning to sell, but they looked pretty much dead so they asked me if I wanted to take them. Now I have 7 thriving gooseberry bushes under my maples.
PS:. Last Question Luke.
I appreciate your great info. You have a new subscriber. I had no idea Gooseberries were the same as currents. I thought currents were small grapes. Anyhow, I have a soil tester, unlimited wood ash (K), as much organic compost and mulch as I need. I have a location near Eastern Hemlock trees that seems to be out of the way and right amount of sun. The soil there is acidic but can adjust to get the 6+/- pH. Should I go for that idea OR plant in the middle of the yard where it's less desirable location but better water and drainage? I have a lot of soil that can be used either way.
Sounds like they're a little more fussy over the pond in the States.
In my northern English home, I've grown black, red and white currants and red and white gooseberries for years.
Basically they have been neglected for 2 years and they STILL pumped out fruit with no help or feed from me, even sat in pots.
They are being cared for now and I'll apply these lessons to my crops.
Just interests me that they love this grey, soggy pond of a town 😂
They're in dire need of a cut back, they are 4ft tall
To be honest, in the UK, the only wild berry plant that we have growing in any common occurrence is the blackberry. Not to say there aren't others, but you're not really going to find them unless you know where to look. Blackberry bramble is everywhere though.
I have a wild blackberry bush that has been growing strong for 20+ years at least, growing just outside my fence/boundary on the other side on a public field, this year I took up 7 random shoots to grow them in big containers, they say all blackberries can get mildew, these have never ever had mildew or any issue ever and they are growing in clay soil, Mildew is also all around here (London,UK), it's a super hardy plant and has nice fruit! it will be good to see how they fair growing in my large containers with good airy rich soil and fertilizer.
To pull in the fall or early spring thank you
Love this video too! We have a gooseberry growing on the property we purchased last year so we really needed this information!!!! I was wondering id the darker colors of the berry mean they will have sweeter fruit? Also do you have a favorite verity that you recommend the moat? Thank you again for all your videos they are truly making a difference in our garden!
blacks are most sweet for sure, reds are more tart, white is more sweet than the red but a little more bitter than the black.
Thank you! We just purchased our lot last fall and have been working hard to get the yard in order it was badly over grown. It had be neglected for years. Our goal is that eventually it will be as close to 100% edibles as possible. The picture below is a work in progress Photo! We have a long way to go but its getting better every day (as long as its not raining that day lol). Thank you again for all you do you are an inspiration to us! Keep Growing Big!
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Thanks for the information. Can you prune currents anytime?
You can, but don't over prune. That can shock the plant.
They do well surrounded by tall grass also
Let's not forget gooseberry pie!
Say, now that you've had your currants and gooseberries a while, have you noticed if their leaves have changed colors? For some reason, the leaves on my one currant bush is turning yellow, and the leaves on my gooseberries are turning red. I'm not sure about the why.
In my experience if you let them grow you may end up with a 7 feet diameter bush that grows more fruits than leaves.
So, fair warning, in good conditions some will spread like they own your garden. Mainly the red ones.
can you propagate these from cuttings?
Yes.
Well Luke, there are restrictions on growing some Ribes species (which includes currants and gooseberries) in US, as they are the main alternate host for white pine blister rust (fungus), where it is an invasive species causing serious damage to the American white pines, which have little genetic resistance, consequently causing huge amount of damages/death to the pine trees. So that's one of the main reasons to why currants aren't so popular in US nowadays.
Are there dwarf varieties of currants and gooseberries that can be grown in containers?
well 3 feet tall is pretty dwarf. Just keep it pruned and they should grow great in a 5 gallon pot.
try feeding them with nettle feed...watch out for cattapillers. they ruined one of my plants this year lol...they will eat the leafs so quickly you'll be shocked....as a result the fruits grow small and fall of the tree...
Great video wish you included putting them in the ground have you ever tried growing indian goose berry amla?
So fertilize with nitrogen in the Spring and Phosphorus in the Fall.
Was just gifted my first plant in a zone 5 climate that is currently ranging from 10-40 degrees but can go down to -15. Curious if I should keep it indoors? I can bring it outside during the day?
Hi, you are mentioned that you are keeping current in the pots until you find a right place to plant them in your garden. For how long you can keep them in the pot? Thank you
Fun Fact: Currants were actually quite popular in America, but in the early 1900's, the government made currant farming illegal since they harbored White Pine Blister Rust which was a huge threat to the logging industry. In fact, growing currants are still illegal in several states (MA, NC, and I think a few others). This is why a lot of Americans have no clue what they even are.
I planted mine about decade ago by the fence, kind of shady spot under the peach three. They have been bearing like ton of fruits every single year. Other then watering during summer I never do anything to them, never fertilized mine.
will the gooseberries grow in the desert or do I have to grow it indoors in the summer?
That depends on the type of desert and what kind of irrigation you are using.
Do currants spread like raspberries? Have been thinking of planting them to act like a hedge.
Question: i live in south east idaho, we just moved here last year. I bought 2 currants and 1 goosberry i think. I covered them over the winter in big bubblewrap and a sweatshirt over and put a black trashbag over. They did well over the winter and unfolded their beauty and little fruits for me.
Now i found some golden currants i have some on their little stem. How do you grow them from their little fruit?
I only prune gooseberries from year 5 onward, unless branches are damaged or hanging too low, I get tons of berries, the bushes are about 5-6ft around, I dont worry about the open vase shape too much either as I grow gooseberries that are resistant to Mildew and fungal infections, Hinnonmäki red and Captivator are the best.
What about starting from seed ??
Pixwell is a green gooseberry. Actually turns a bit blush pink when ripe.
good to know! Thanks!
My mom bought a couple black and red plants back in 1972 and had them forever. I propagated from them all over my house from her original plants. I start a lot of them from seed because I like brand new plants. I have 32 planted and I have so many currents i don't know what to do with them all. I might start making wine.
I don’t really like the red or black currents, but white currents are very tasty. I didn’t know the gooseberry was the same plant, I like the green coloured ones, but planting some red ones this year.
I spaced my currents too close years go, 4 in a 4 foot bed. They have not suffered plant wise, they have fruit wise, but they are big and healthy. We have not given them the food we should have, but they are not far from the septic drain field…. So I guess we have fed them well
Do currants and gooseberries do well with grafting and are they cross compatible?
No need to graft!! Just cut 8-10 inches and stick in the ground. (Or pot).
Any idea on root depth? Wondering how deep to treat my soil aka NW Indiana clay.
About 4-6 feet or 1.5 meter depth.
About 1-2 feet deep, roots wont go deeper
Best tasting cultivars in 2023??
They are NOT tricky to grow, I put 5 plants in, forgot them for 3 years, this year hundreds of fruit on every plant, I’m in a awful growing area, awful soil. Put mine on the east side of a north south fence, that seems to be ideal, I don’t fertilize but give it my homemade compost. That’s all.i will do his pruning idea, I planted mine about 2 feet apart, guess I’ve gotta move them because they are touching already at 18” high, plant at least 5’ apart.
Can they be grown from seeds or cutting will be best?
Cuttings/small plants are best, so you get the exact same plants and not a cross breed seed, I ordered all my gooseberry plants from Amazon
Have you ever thought about selling cuttings in your store?
Where did you buy these?
Why does not my gooseberry bush flower... it is June already?
I've had some interest in growing gooseberries/currents in the past but I would only be able to grow them in large containers. would you recommend trying to grow them in containers? and if so how big?
billthegreet1 He is growing them in the containers!!!
gooseberries and currents can get pretty large and Luke said that they're going to plant then once he's figured out a good location, I'd like to grow them to full size permanently in a container.
Plant gooseberry in big pots
@@billthegreet1 I know it's been literally five years, but I'll comment this for the sake of others who come by. Currants can be pruned and trained using bonsai techniques, but one should definitely be careful if new to bonsai. If putting it in a large container for full-size growth, put the container on wheels to make it easier to move.
Hi Luke , is it possible to grow Currants in Houston , Tx ? Thank you.
Looks like you're zone 9a? I'm in zone 8a and have beautiful currant bushes, loaded with fruit right now! Mine are planted on the east-facing side of my house and chicken coop in soil that has been extensively amended with compost. They get morning sun for approximately 4 hours, no afternoon sun. I prune into a goblet shape with open center in the fall and top dress with composted manure.
we have wild gooseberries on my property in missouri
Lucky!
They frequently grow wild in Missouri! I love eating them before they are fully ripe as they're tart and I love anything sour!! Yummmmm