blackcurrant 'Ben Sarek'

blackcurrant

• Position: full sun
• Soil: any well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Other features: large, heavy crop of berries (mid-July)
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Dwarf shrub which grows to about 1.2m (4ft) tall, and has in-bred frost resistance and some mildew resistance. In mid-July a heavy crop of large blackcurrants are produced which are perfect for serving fresh or made into jams, jellies or pies. The fruit should be picked quickly before it falls.
  
  
• Garden care: Prepare the ground well before planting. Remove all weeds and dig in plenty of well-rotted manure in to the area. Once planted, apply a mulch of well-rotted manure every spring, as well as a nitrogen and potassium fertiliser. Make sure the plant is watered in dry weather and net the bushes to protect the fruit from birds. In the first year, prune back to one bud above soil level in winter. After that prune out weak branches only.