Currant Trees

About Currant Trees

• Currants are multi-stemmed shrubs that typically grow as wide as they are tall. Both red and black currants can be grown as single-trunked trees or standards, often with a trellis or other support system, to greatly increase yields and improve air circulation around plants to help prevent powdery mildew. Trellising can also minimize spring wind damage. However, this pruning process is specialized and demanding, according to the University of Virginia Cooperative Extension. They recommend it primarily for people who are experienced in dwarf tree fruit systems or interested in mastering unique fruit production and ornamental pruning methods.

Growing Currant Trees

• Whether grown as trees or shrubs, both gooseberries and currants need 1,000 to 1,200 chill hours, or exposure to winter temperatures of 35 to 45 degrees. Plants are generally self-fruitful, meaning that you can grow just one cultivar to produce fruit. Growing at least two cultivars for cross-pollination is advisable, though, because you'll get better fruit and larger crops. Currants aren't picky about soil, thriving in slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0 but also doing fine in alkaline soils. They do best in full sun but can still produce well -- especially where summers are hot -- with morning sun and afternoon shade.

General Currant Care

• Roots are shallow, so soil should be evenly moist during berry growth and development but never soggy; add generous amounts of organic matter to heavy clay soils. Feed plants with composted manure in fall or commercial 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring. Red, pink and white currants are often pruned into shrubs that have 10 to 12 stems, with equal numbers of one-, two- and three-year-old branches and fruiting spurs; the oldest wood is cut back to the ground each year to keep new stems coming. Black currants, however, don't have fruiting spurs and produce their heaviest crops on one- and two-year-old wood. They can be cut grown effectively in an alternate year production system in which shrubs are cut back to the ground after fruiting.

Currant Tree Caution: White Pine Blister Rust

• European black currants were banned in the U.S. for generations because they were secondary hosts for white pine blister rust, a serious disease of five-needled pines. In some states and counties they are still illegal to grow. Disease resistance is generally greater in red, pink or white currants and gooseberries, but some newer hybrid black currant cultivars can be safe to plant. Before planting any currants or gooseberries -- including native species -- check with your county extension office.