Blackcurrants Flashcards
1
Q
Name three cultivars of blackcurrant.
A
- Blackdown
- Wellington XXX
- Baldwin.
2
Q
Blackcurrants are a cool climate bush fruit, so explain site and soil selection.
A
- Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
- Fertile loam
- Sunny or lightly shade site
- pH of 6.5 - 7
- Protection from severe frosts as flower in April.
3
Q
Explain planting of blackcurrants.
A
- Choose certified disease-free stock
- Plant in early winter or early spring
- Plant deeper than they were in the nursery to encourage multiple stems at ground level
- After planting, prune back all branches to 3cm above ground level.
4
Q
Explain cultivation of blackcurrants.
A
- Protect from frost as they flower early
- Weed around base of bush (do not cultivate deeply)
- Mulch regularly
- Fertilise annually with top dressing of Growmore at 110g/sqm or blood and bone at 70g/sqm
- Top dressing of potassium sulphate at 35g/sqm in mid spring
- Irrigate w 20l/sqm in dry weather, esp after fruit set
- Protect against birds.
5
Q
Explain harvesting and storage of blackcurrants.
A
- Harvest fruit when they are ripe yet still firm
- Pick the whole bunch rather than single berries
- Eat while fresh or store by bottling, freezing or making jam.
6
Q
Explain the pruning of blackcurrants
A
- Fruit best on strong stems from previous year
- Prune in winter (Nov-Dec) by removing a third of stems that have fruited (darker in colour)
- Do not remove strong stems produced that season (paler) as these will fruit next year
- Prune out low-lying branches and weak growth at ground level.
7
Q
Name a pest and a disease of blackcurrants, including symptoms and control methods.
A
Big bud mite
- Sucker pest causes buds to swell over winter
- Cut out and burn in winter.
Reversion virus
- Leaves change shape from palmate to diamond shape with bigger, wider-spaced veins and fewer serrations. Flower buds are red. Vigour reduced
- Destroy infected plants. Buy certified stock and plant on fresh site.
