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Blackcurrant plant - transferring from pot to soil, and pruning

william.gibbonswilliam.gibbons Posts: 4
in Fruit & veg

I bought a ‘Big ben’ blackcurrant plant in June 2016, so just over 2 years ago, and I’ve kept it in quite a large pot, in well rotted horse manure till now.  It produced a reasonable crop both this year and in 2017, though of course I’d like a bigger crop.

I’m now wondering whether I should transfer the plant to the garden itself, and if so when.  The pot it’s in is quite big as you can see, but I’d like the plant to grow bigger.

The garden soil is clay, and the local area pH seems to be around 5 (I’m assuming my garden is similar) and I’m wondering if this might be a problem.

I’m also wondering if I need to buy more well rotted horse manure to keep the plant well fed; I’ve run out now.

Finally, should I be pruning the plant do you think?

All suggestions gratefully received !

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I think it would be happier in the ground, or at least in a much bigger pot.  That one isn't big for permanent planting, and it looks like it's only about half full of compost so there's not a lot of root space in there. 
    The RHS advice on blackcurrants is here https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/blackcurrants.  It says if you're growing one in a container, the container needs to be 18-20 inches diameter (45-50 cm in new money).

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • william.gibbonswilliam.gibbons Posts: 4
    Thanks JennyJ.   The pot is about 35cm in diameter, so agree it's a bit on the small side.  Probably worth getting some horse manure and planting in the ground then !
  • tessagardenbarmytessagardenbarmy Posts: 346
    Definitely  plant it and while pruning  stick some cuttings in a pot to make new plants. They do well in the heavy clay of my allotment with a nice collar of manure or compost  every autumn and some fish ,blood and bone in the spring. 
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Cruelty to a blackcurrant plant. Stick it in the ground. If you had done that two years ago, you would be taking around 3kg of blackcurrants off of it this year.
    As Tessa says, cuttings stuck in make extra plants quite easily.
  • tessagardenbarmytessagardenbarmy Posts: 346
    Yup Fidgetbones I have 3 bushes on allotment  total harvest record 8.3 kg. Lost some to blackbirds as didn't  net soon enough and forgot to record weight a couple of times.
  • william.gibbonswilliam.gibbons Posts: 4
    Thanks all. I planted it now as you can see, surrounded by horse manure compost as suggested.  Hopefully this will be an improvement.

    question on pruning please - RHS advice is to remove older wood when pruning, of which I don’t have much yet.  Which bit should I cut, to put in the pot and grow a new plant?

    sorry if that’s a stupid question !
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It looks happier already :).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    all plants will do better in the ground rather than in pots (unless you're on chalk and you're growing rhodies/azalias - there's always an exclusion to the rule)
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