Growing blackcurrants: a garden full of flavour
Home-grown blackcurrants have an intense flavour; the green, ripe Ojeblanc shows that a blackcurrant plant can also produce a lighter-coloured harvest.
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
- Position
- Moisture-retentive and well drained, in sun or light shade.
- Pollination
- Check the variety; blackcurrant selections vary in self-fertility.
- Harvest
- Modern cultivars often ripen more evenly within each cluster. Ojeblanc stays green.
Explore flavours and varieties
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Ben Connan
Compact; large cooking berries.
Flavour: Strong blackcurrant aroma with refreshing acidity; according to the grower, Ojeblanc is milder.
Flavour of the species; a separate flavour profile for this variety has not yet been confirmed.View growing and harvesting →Place in my garden
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Big Ben
Compact; large fruit.
Flavour: Strong blackcurrant aroma with refreshing acidity; according to the grower, Ojeblanc is milder.
Flavour of the species; a separate flavour profile for this variety has not yet been confirmed.View growing and harvesting →Place in my garden
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Ojeblanc
Green when ripe; milder blackcurrant flavour.
View growing and harvesting →Place in my gardenChoose your way to grow
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.
Shrub with young wood
- Plant in suitable soil.
- Retain strong shoots from the base.
- Remove old, weak wood gradually.
- Pick according to the variety's colour.
Choose a cultivar and space that suit this approach.
Compact cultivar in a pot
- Choose a large pot with drainage.
- Plant a compact variety.
- Water during dry periods.
- Renew wood and check container roots.
Choose a cultivar and space that suit this approach.
What do you want from your garden?
Home-grown blackcurrants have an intense flavour; the green, ripe Ojeblanc shows that a blackcurrant plant can also produce a lighter-coloured harvest.
Flavour and use
Strong blackcurrant aroma with refreshing acidity; according to the grower, Ojeblanc is milder.
Choose a suitable spot
Moisture-retentive and well drained, in sun or light shade.
From flower to fruit
Check the variety; blackcurrant selections vary in self-fertility.
How to give the plant a place
Bush with young wood: Plant in suitable soil. Retain strong shoots from the base. Remove old, weak wood gradually. Pick according to variety colour.
Compact variety in a pot: Choose a spacious pot with drainage. Plant a compact variety. Water during dry periods. Renew wood and check pot-bound roots.
Care throughout the season
Renew old wood from the base so young productive shoots have room.
Recognise the right time to pick
Modern cultivars often ripen more evenly within each cluster. Ojeblanc stays green.
Follow your own harvest
Do not copy redcurrant or whitecurrant cordon pruning for blackcurrants.
Turn your space into a garden for experimenting
A berry corner can range from sharp red currants to mild white ones and pronounced blackcurrant flavour. Label cultivars when planting and make the bushes accessible for picking and maintenance. A row of bushes makes it easier to see which cultivar ripens early or later than a tangled mixed hedge. With limited space, choose the intended use first: eating straight from the bush, juice, jam or a combination.
Keep the base of the plant accessible for watering and weed control. A mulch layer can cover the soil, but leave the base of the bush clear. Prune with an understanding of the fruiting wood: blackcurrants are renewed differently from redcurrants and whitecurrants. Gooseberries also have their own bush structure. Do not cut all berry bushes into the same shape simply because they grow together.
Colour is a cultivar characteristic, not a universal ripeness test. A white or green selection will not eventually turn red or black. Compare a ripe berry for juiciness, firmness and aroma. A different balance may suit jam than fresh eating. When tasting, therefore, also note how you used the berry; a sour berry may provide exactly the fresh contrast you want in the kitchen.
Which flavour would you like to discover?
Ben Connan: Compact; large cooking berries.
Big Ben: Compact; large fruit.
Ojeblanc: Green when ripe; milder blackcurrant flavour.
When and how should you prune?
Period for assessing pruning: Jan · Feb. This is a seasonal window for a temperate garden in the northern hemisphere; check actual dormancy, growth and weather conditions.
Check the open bush shape during winter dormancy. On blackcurrant and jostaberry, renew old wood in stages; on currants and gooseberry, retain suitable short fruiting wood. The exact approach depends on a free-standing bush or trained form.
A young plant needs shaping; an established one needs maintenance and gradual renewal. First consider which branches you want to keep. Use clean, sharp tools and avoid unnecessary large wounds. A pruning check does not mean cutting every time.
My vegetable garden shows a suitable check for confirmed pruning periods. A variety-specific period takes precedence over the general species period. Planned and finished crops receive no pruning task; no European calendar is applied without a confirmed location.
Read the evidence behind the pruning approach →What you need
Tick what you already have. The extras depend on how you grow.
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Make it your garden
Save your favourite variety or add it to My garden. Your own observations determine the growth stage; care tasks are based on the species.
Add Blackcurrant to my gardenExplore more fruit & soft fruitSources and image information
SeedSteps editorial team · checked on 12 October 2026. Flavour descriptions come from the listed sources; ripeness and growing conditions affect flavour. AI images illustrate described characteristics and do not prove cultivar identity.
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- Royal Horticultural Society · grow your ownRoyal Horticultural Society · 2026-10-12
- University of Minnesota · growing currants and gooseberries in the home gardenUniversity of Minnesota · 2026-10-12