Growing currants and gooseberries as produce options
Snappy Guide to Planting Soft Fruits in Late Autumn
Embrace the crisp fall air and get ready to indulge in home-grown goodies! Planting soft fruits like gooseberries, redcurrants, whitecurrants, and blackcurrants during late autumn to early winter sets you up for a bountiful harvest come spring. Here's how to do it:
Choose Your Spot Wisely
Find a sunny spot for your plants, either on the veggie patch, in a border, or against a south- or west-facing wall. Ensure there's room for growth, as these shrubs can grow into quite impressive size over time!
Dig and Nourish
Prepare the soil by digging a generous hole and adding plenty of compost to the base. Give your new plant a comfortable home by standing it in the hole, back-filling the soil around the rootball, and firming it down. Water well after planting to help the roots settle in.
Tips for Specific Fruits
Gooseberries
- 'Invicta': A heavy-cropping variety that's highly resistant to mildew, perfect for making jam and freezing.
- 'Martlet': Delicious bright red dessert berries that ripen in midsummer.
- 'Rokula': Early-ripening, sweet red fruits that can be eaten straight from the bush.
Blackcurrants
- 'Ben Connan': A compact plant that produces large, tasty berries.
- 'Ben Hope': Resistant to mildew, this variety offers a heavy crop of delicious fruits.
- 'Ben Sarek': Produces an abundant harvest of large juicy berries from mid-July, all while maintaining a neat, compact bush.
Redcurrants
- 'Redstart': Bears bright red fruits in late August.
- 'Laxton’s Number One': A heavy cropper that produces big, glossy berries with an exceptional flavor.
- 'Jonkheer van Tets': One of the earliest varieties to ripen, producing large, juicy berries from early July.
Whitecurrants
- 'Blanka': Offers a heavy crop of large sweet white berries in August.
- 'White Grape': Produces sweet, almost white fruits.
- 'White Versailles': A popular mid-season variety with pearly white fruits and a delightful, sweet flavor.
Happy planting, and let the countdown to delicious home-grown fruit begin!
For maximum productivity in temperate climates, consider planting during dormancy (November to March), as this allows plants to root well before spring growth. Choose varieties that are resistant to common diseases and pests to ensure a bountiful crop.
Enhance your home-and-garden lifestyle with some home-grown soft fruits by planting shrubs like gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, and whitecurrants in appropriate home spots. Consider planting during late autumn to early winter for a productive lifestyle in temperate climates, as this provides optimal conditions for rooting before spring growth.
