Blackcurrant Ben Lomond (Ribes Nigrum) Fruit Bush 3ltr Pot

About Blackcurrant Ben Lomond

Bred by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Ben Lomond is an upright strong grower with a compact habit which makes it ideal for growing in small gardens or containers. A reliable cropper of very large fruit of high quality that have an excellent sweet fl avour and are full of antioxidants, Vitamin C and minerals. The fruit is produced in heavy clusters on short sprigs allowing for easy picking. The currants freeze well and are idea for all purposes. Frost resistant due to late flowering. Highly recommended variety.

• Self fertile
• Planting Distance 1.5m apart
• Height & Spread 1.5m x 1.5m
• Crops July

An ideal fruit to grow in a container or small garden, the ben hope is a Scottish bred upright and compact blackcurrant that crops from late July. This is a hardy and easy to grow plant that is great for new growers and expert cooks alike . Thick woody stems produce light green serrated leaves and dangling clusters of black fruit that hang in heavy clusters that make them easy to harvest. A great and refreshing fruit packed with minerals and antioxidants that goes well with yogurt, ice cream or on its own the sweet juice of the blackcurrant goes amazing well with lemonade or if crushed up with gin and tonic water.

How to look after blackcurrants

Blackcurrants prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun, or light shade. Feed with a liquid fertilizer once in the spring to encourage a good yield. Repot every 2-3 years into the same pot or slightly larger. Trim back some of the roots and tease away the old soil replacing it with fresh compost. Trim twice-yearly and In July, trim all new side shoots to 5 leaves. In winter, cut back main stems by half and any side shoots back to 2 buds. Any stems that are damaged, dead or out of place can also be removed.

How do you harvest blackcurrants?

In early to mid-summer, the plant will produce small white or pink flowers that will soon fall off to reveal the young fruit. Over the next few months, the fruit will grow inside and change from green to black. Once the whole fruit has gone black you can harvest the fruit by pinching it and twisting it off the stem. Avoid pulling the fruit as it may not come off completely.

How do you store blackcurrants?

Once picked a blackcurrant will not last long. If you want to preserve your fruits for longer you can either blend the fruits into a thick juice which you can freeze or freeze whole fruits in an airtight bag.