Blackcurrant 'Summer Pearls Black'

Planting Advice:

• Blackcurrants prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun, or light shade.
• Dig a hole at least 2x the diameter of the root ball and spread the roots out. Plant 6cm (2.25in) deeper than previously to encourage young shoots to develop from the base.
• Mix the soil from the hole with well-rotted manure and backfill. Firm in and water.
• If growing in a pot, choose one that is around 45-50cm (18-20in) in diameter and use a good-quality compost (John Innes No 3 is ideal).
• Repot every 2-3 years into the same pot or slightly larger. Trim back some of the roots and tease away the old soil replacing it with fresh JI No 3 compost.

Aftercare:

• Plants will give a reliable crop year after year even when left to their own devices - although you'll get better results and a bumper crop by following a few simple rules:
• Feed them well with blood, fish and bone in mid-spring, followed by a dose of poultry manure or another high nitrogen plant food, in June.
• Fruits taste better when exposed to plenty of sunshine - always clear the ground of weeds, especially perennial types. Avoid hoeing near the base of the bush where new shoots are developing.
• Keep well-watered

Pruning Advice:

Year one:

• In early spring of the first year after planting, prune the main stems on the head back by half.
  

Year two:

• In November, shorten the main stems that you pruned in the spring back to half of their new growth. Any new side shoots that have grown from the main shoots can also be either shortened by half or removed if they are not needed. At the same time, remove any suckers or side shoots from the trunk.

After year two:

• Bushes just need a simple twice-yearly trim. In July, trim all new side shoots to 5 leaves.
• In winter, cut back main stems by half their new growth and any side shoots back to 2 buds (these are the shoots that you trimmed in July).
• Any stems that are damaged, dead or out of place can also be removed.