currant

For currant (Ribes gordonianum) plants, water once or twice a week, providing 1 to 2 inches of water. Water at the base of the plant rather than from the top. Currants like their soils to be consistently moist, not soggy. During dry periods, check the soil every 2-3 days, and if it appears dry, add water until the next scheduled watering. Additionally, mulching with organic materials, such as wood chips, can help retain soil moisture.

Currant plants prefer full sunlight for 6 to 8 hours per day. They will still grow in partial shade, but they will produce more plentiful and larger fruits when given direct sun. If grown in full sun, the plants should be given afternoon shade to help fend off excessive heat. Currants can also tolerate temperatures down to -25°F (-32°C) in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3–7.

Pruning for a currant (Ribes gordonianum) should take place in late winter or very early spring. Start by removing any shoots that are dead, diseased or damaged. Prune all stems that are crossing over each other or growing into the centre of the plant. Prune out weak, spindly or excessively twiggy stems and reduce the length of the branches by about 1-third. Be sure to leave some branches that are at least 1 inch in diameter. Remove any suckers that are growing from the rootstock and shape the plant as desired.