Blackcurrants

Posts

• fidgetbones Posts: 17,618

  June 2023

  If they are dropping off early they need water.
  

  1
• scroggin Posts: 437

  June 2023

  I don't think it's the weather, I had my best ever crop of currants and berries last year and it's a heavy crop this year too. I live in West Kent, I have made sure that they're well watered , all are planted direct apart from blueberries in large pots.
  How old are the bushes, are they getting to the end of their productive life?

  1
• JennyJ Posts: 10,576

  June 2023

  I'm wondering if poor pollination could be the problem. Were there plenty of bees around when they were flowering?
  

  Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  

  1
• Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

  June 2023 edited June 2023

  Interesting.
  Last year I harvested 2968g from my 2 Ben Conan bushes
  This year the same 2 bushes have yielded 735g
  So I was wondering what's going on too..
  
  I also have 1 Ben Sarek and that seems to have many more, but need another day or two to finish ripening
  
  My bushes were planted in 2018 and I cut out all the branches that have borne berries every summer

  
  Billericay - Essex
  
  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

  1
• rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612

  June 2023 edited June 2023

  Firstly, I have been watering these bushes very well. Admittedly, some has had to be straight from the tap, but the majority has been rainwater or repurposed bathwater - left to stand for a couple of days.
  
  Half of my bushes were planted in 2004 but have been well pruned each year - about a third out each time. The remainder were planted about eight years ago, and pruned in the same manner.
  
  My redcurrant bushes have only failed in one year out of the past 19. Plenty on those bushes this year - would be more if the pigeons weren't so greedy.
  
  My gooseberries have been replaced this year (same age), so no fruit this year.
  
  The raspberries were replaced about eight years ago, after previous ones were failing. They are still producing plenty this year, albeit smaller fruit, and shorter canes.
  
  Pollination hasn't been an issue. Everything else seems to be okay.
  
  We are hoping to move house this year, so I don't want to be replacing bushes for a new owner, who might pull them out. I'd rather move in the autumn, and plants new bushes then, to hopefully produce in a couple of years. 
  
  Thank you all for your suggestions. Perhaps the blackcurrants have just had enough.

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