Post by Indilwen on Jun 23, 2011 13:50:39 GMT 12
Black Currant - Ribes Nigrum
Blackcurrants are native to the colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Indigenous populations have utilised currants for many thousands of years. In Europe, cultivation has been practised since the 1500s, mainly used for its medicinal properties
Landscape Value
Can be grown as a free-standing bush or hedge. Grow in the shade of other trees or on the south side of buildings and are easily squeezed into a small garden.
Nutritional Value
Blackcurrants are very high in vitamin C four times the Vitamin C in oranges. They provide significant amounts of vitamin E and carotenes and potassium. Blackcurrant seed oil is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a very rare essential fatty acid.
How to Eat
Magnus has a tart, sharp taste. They do sweeten when fully ripe. Can be eaten fresh but most commonly are made into jelly, jam, juice, ice cream, cordial and liqueur. In Russia it is common to infuse slightly sweetened vodka with blackcurrant leaves, making a deep yellowish-green beverage with a sharp flavour and an astringent taste. Blackcurrant berries can also be used to flavour vodka.
Expected Yield
1.5-5kg from a single bush.
Growing
Sun
Plant where protection can be given from afternoon sun, but the plants like the morning sun.
Wind
Shelter from hot drying winds, too much salty air damages their leaves.
Climate
Blackcurrants grow best in cool moist locations so plant on the southern side of your garden. Blackcurrants need 800 chilling hours for flowering and leaf production. There are sufficient hours in Auckland to achieve this.
Soil
Humus enriched, heavier soils that retain moisture without becoming waterlogged are best. Blackcurrants do best in slightly acid soils, similar to Blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons.
Fertiliser
Fertilise with 30g citrus fertiliser in early spring and mulch to retain summer moisture.
Pruning
After planting, prune young bushes back to two buds above the ground and allow to grow, then do not prune for two seasons. Thereafter, prune to maintain size by removing old stems to a new low bud, removing at least 1/3 of the old cane. Aim to have 8-10 shoots per bush. No cane should be in place longer than 3 years. To encourage as much young wood as possible by cutting down old wood to new buds in Winter.
Pests
Black Currants are susceptible to American Gooseberry Mildew
Hardiness
-5°C
Black Currant Magnus
Sprigs of shiny black round, juicy berries and fruit is borne on last season. Black Currants generally fruit on wood formed in the last 12 months however it has been known that on plants that are quite open for sun penetration, then fruiting spurs have grown on older wood and fruit have formed on these spurs.
Habit - Shrub of multi-stemmed canes with large soft green leaves which when crushed have a strong currant fragrance.
Size - 1.5m to 2m high deciduous bush
Pollination - Self-fertile but yield will increase if plant two or more plants.
Harvest - Late December to February. The berries are firm and easily picked. Expect a few berries in the second year after planting, heavy crops by the fourth year. Then will be in production for ten years or more.
Black Currant Sefton
Requires less chilling than the traditional black currant, will grow where raspberries grow. Large sweet fruit ripen in December.
Habit - Shrub of multi-stemmed canes with large soft green leaves which when crushed have a strong currant fragrance.
Size - 1.5 x 2m decidious bush.
Pollination - Self-fertile but yield will increase if plant two or more plants.
Harvest - Late December to February. The berries are firm and easily picked. Expect a few berries in the second year after planting, heavy crops by the fourth year. Then will be in production for ten years or more.
Blackcurrants are native to the colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Indigenous populations have utilised currants for many thousands of years. In Europe, cultivation has been practised since the 1500s, mainly used for its medicinal properties
Landscape Value
Can be grown as a free-standing bush or hedge. Grow in the shade of other trees or on the south side of buildings and are easily squeezed into a small garden.
Nutritional Value
Blackcurrants are very high in vitamin C four times the Vitamin C in oranges. They provide significant amounts of vitamin E and carotenes and potassium. Blackcurrant seed oil is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a very rare essential fatty acid.
How to Eat
Magnus has a tart, sharp taste. They do sweeten when fully ripe. Can be eaten fresh but most commonly are made into jelly, jam, juice, ice cream, cordial and liqueur. In Russia it is common to infuse slightly sweetened vodka with blackcurrant leaves, making a deep yellowish-green beverage with a sharp flavour and an astringent taste. Blackcurrant berries can also be used to flavour vodka.
Expected Yield
1.5-5kg from a single bush.
Growing
Sun
Plant where protection can be given from afternoon sun, but the plants like the morning sun.
Wind
Shelter from hot drying winds, too much salty air damages their leaves.
Climate
Blackcurrants grow best in cool moist locations so plant on the southern side of your garden. Blackcurrants need 800 chilling hours for flowering and leaf production. There are sufficient hours in Auckland to achieve this.
Soil
Humus enriched, heavier soils that retain moisture without becoming waterlogged are best. Blackcurrants do best in slightly acid soils, similar to Blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons.
Fertiliser
Fertilise with 30g citrus fertiliser in early spring and mulch to retain summer moisture.
Pruning
After planting, prune young bushes back to two buds above the ground and allow to grow, then do not prune for two seasons. Thereafter, prune to maintain size by removing old stems to a new low bud, removing at least 1/3 of the old cane. Aim to have 8-10 shoots per bush. No cane should be in place longer than 3 years. To encourage as much young wood as possible by cutting down old wood to new buds in Winter.
Pests
Black Currants are susceptible to American Gooseberry Mildew
Hardiness
-5°C
Black Currant Magnus
Sprigs of shiny black round, juicy berries and fruit is borne on last season. Black Currants generally fruit on wood formed in the last 12 months however it has been known that on plants that are quite open for sun penetration, then fruiting spurs have grown on older wood and fruit have formed on these spurs.
Habit - Shrub of multi-stemmed canes with large soft green leaves which when crushed have a strong currant fragrance.
Size - 1.5m to 2m high deciduous bush
Pollination - Self-fertile but yield will increase if plant two or more plants.
Harvest - Late December to February. The berries are firm and easily picked. Expect a few berries in the second year after planting, heavy crops by the fourth year. Then will be in production for ten years or more.
Black Currant Sefton
Requires less chilling than the traditional black currant, will grow where raspberries grow. Large sweet fruit ripen in December.
Habit - Shrub of multi-stemmed canes with large soft green leaves which when crushed have a strong currant fragrance.
Size - 1.5 x 2m decidious bush.
Pollination - Self-fertile but yield will increase if plant two or more plants.
Harvest - Late December to February. The berries are firm and easily picked. Expect a few berries in the second year after planting, heavy crops by the fourth year. Then will be in production for ten years or more.
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