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

About Blackcurrant Ben Sarek

Bred by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Ben Sarek is an excellent early variety with a neat, compact growth habit making it ideal for growing in smaller gardens. Both vigorous and high yielding, producing heavy crops of very large glossy black currants that have a superb mouth watering flavour and are of excellent quality. The fruit is produced on short strigs for easy picking, but can be harvested equally easily by simply shaking the laden branches. Due to its tendency to produce such large crops, the branches may need supported just prior to picking time. The fruit is ideal for all purposes and freezes well. Due to its compact growth, Sarek can be planted very close together so is perfect for creating a low growing hedge. In-bred frostr esistance and also resistant to powdery mildew. Very highly recommended variety, considered by some to be the best garden variety in cultivation.

• Self fertile
• Planting Distance1.53m apart
• Height & Spread 1.2m x 1.2m
• Crops Mid July

An ideal fruit to grow in a container or small garden, the ben sarek is a Scottish bred upright and compact blackcurrant that crops from mid 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.