Black currant typically starts flowering in April.
black currant
Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek'
Black currant (Ribesnigrum 'Ben Sarek'), is a small deciduous shrub with a bushy form. It produces a profusion of fragrant pinkish-white blooms in spring, followed by sweet, juicy, dark purple berries in late summer. The berries ripen in early to late summer and are a favourite amongst foragers. Ben Sarek is also renowned for its incredibly high yielding capacity and disease resistance as well as producing larger berries than its traditional counterparts. With its compact shape, it requires minimal maintenance and is perfect for small to medium-sized gardens. The Ben Sarek black currant is a reliable and hardy shrub, that gives a plentiful harvest every year.
Cycle:
Perennial
Watering:
Average
Propagation:
Cutting,Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation,Division,Seed Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
3 - 7
Flowers:
Greenish-yellow Flowers In Spring
Sun:
Full sun,part shade
Fruits:
purple,black Fruits Ready In Fall
Edible:
Yes
Leaf:
Yes
Growth Rate:
Low
Maintenance:
Moderate
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Black currants (Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek') should receive 1-2 inches of water per week, either through precipitation or irrigation. It is important to water them deeply and thoroughly, allowing their soil to dry a bit between waterings. During the warmer months watering should occur 1-2 times per week, and during cooler months watering only needs to occur once every 1-2 weeks. Avoid allowing the soil to become too wet or too dry. Keep an eye on your black currant plants during extreme temperatures and water them accordingly.
sunlight
Black currant (Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek') prefers to receive full sunlight exposure for 6 to 8 hours a day. Plants grown in full sun have larger and sweeter fruits than those grown in shade. This means that it will typically thrive in areas that receive good direct sunlight for most of the day. In areas of northern climates, several hours of direct sunlight is also beneficial. If the area in which the black currant is growing receives less direct sunlight, a grow light may help to ensure that it receives the ideal amount of sunlight for proper growth.
pruning
Prune black currant shrubs (Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek') in late winter or early spring (February to early March) to maintain a vigorous and healthy shrub. Remove up to 1 third of the oldest, lowest shoots, as well as any dead or diseased wood. Cut just above a healthy bud that points outward, and discard the removed shoots. An annual pruning of this type will keep the shrub manageable and productive.
Season
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering
Harvest Fruit
The best time to start harvesting Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek' (black currant) is typically in July and August.
