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Why doesn't my ribes flower?

Jane HeaneyJane Heaney Posts: 5
in Problem solving

I have had a ribes King Edward VII for about four years and it has not yet flowered. I haven't pruned it as I understood it doesn't like it and it sits in full sun. There is plenty of new growth each year but no flowers. What am I doing wrong?

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I don't know if plants like being pruned but I think most people cut back ribes hard after flowering, or after it would have flowered in your case.

    But I wouldn't have thought the lack of pruning would stop it flowering. Pruning is what we do to suit us. Plants get on very well left to themselves.

    Occasionally you get a plant that just doesn't flower. Years ago I had 2 weigelas, one never did flower though the 2 were the same size and looked just the same except for flowers.

    I'd prune it, feed it, threaten it, and if it doesn't perform next year, dig it up.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Jane HeaneyJane Heaney Posts: 5

    Thanks nutcutlet, I may well have to resort to threats!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I threaten them Jane. Much talk of saws and shredders and what happens if they don't behaveimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • OldtykeOldtyke Posts: 155

    I haven't had a peep out of OH since I threatened him with the pruning saw image

  • landgirl100landgirl100 Posts: 655

    That cultivar doesn't look any different to the ordinary Ribes sanguineum, which grows in my garden. I cut it to the ground every year in the hope of killing it ( I even treated the stumps with stump killer last year) and it still comes back bigger and better. I would say that it doesn't mind pruning at all!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I have two R. sanguineum cultivars, one pruned, one not, both flower. White Icicle will get its first pruning this year, getting very big and encroaching on a thuja. It looks great, but the saw will have to come outimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • landgirl100landgirl100 Posts: 655

    White Icicle is much nicer than the pink/red one, mine is still in a pot at the moment but flowering its socks off.

  • Jane HeaneyJane Heaney Posts: 5

    thanks everyone for your advice. Pruning it is then.

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