How do you prune blackcurrants in NZ?

Prune blackcurrants by cutting out old, darker wood, leaving the pale stems to produce next January’s fruit. With red and white currants, the approach can be a bit gentler: take back branches by about a third and cut out any untidy, downward-facing twigs.

When can I prune my currant bushes?

Prune in winter to leave between eight and ten healthy, strong main branches each year. On one-year-old bushes, prune back new shoots by half. Prune to an outward facing bud to influence the direction that the shoot grows, aiming for an open-centred goblet shape.

When should blackcurrants be pruned?

Pruning young blackcurrants bushes For the first three years after planting, prune lightly in autumn or winter if growth is strong, just removing any weak or low-lying shoots. But if growth is weak, prune hard, cutting at least half the shoots back to near ground level.

How do you look after blackcurrant bushes?

Blackcurrant bushes need plenty of watering and feeding – particularly if container grown. In spring, feed with pelleted chicken manure or other high potash fertiliser, and add a thick mulch. Keep weed-free during the growing season and when the fruits start to mature, net your plants to protect from the birds.

Do blackcurrants grow new wood?

Prune blackcurrants when dormant – from late autumn to late winter. Bushes fruit on the young wood, mainly from one- or two-year-old stems, and it is important to bear this in mind when pruning. Blackcurrants are prone to attack by birds, so cover the plants with taut netting as the fruits ripen.

Do blackcurrant bushes need pruning?

Pruning established blackcurrant bushes Prune sprawling branches laden with fruit for easy picking, cutting back to strong upright growth, but delay the main pruning until winter. Cut out a quarter to a third of the branches each year, aiming to remove old unproductive wood, weak growth and low-lying branches.

Is it too late to prune blackcurrants?

ANSWER: As a general rule prune blackcurrants from the end of December to mid February when they are dormant. I would not advise pruning “straight after growth stops in late summer/autumn” because the bush will still have leaves on at that time of year.

Can I cut back blackcurrants?

How many years do blackcurrant bushes last?

about 15 years
How many years do blackcurrant bushes last? A single blackcurrant bush will last for about 15 years. But whether it will continue to produce fruit for this long this will depend on whether the old stems have been removed to make way for new growth. As blackcurrants will grow on stems which are 2-3 years old.

How long does a blackcurrant bush last?

15 years
A well established blackcurrant bush can yield 10 ibs or more fruit and will remain productive for up to 15 years.