How to prune black currant bushes: complete guide

TL;DR: Black Currant Bush Pruning

Black currant bushes fruit on young wood from this season. In March remove roughly a third of the oldest wood. This promotes new, vigorous growth. Thin young wood so you have 8-10 strong basal shoots. This gives abundant black currants.

Why prune black currant bushes?

Black currant bushes grow vigorously and produce many basal shoots (new stems from the base). Without good pruning:

• Your bush becomes extremely dense and overgrown
• Much wood grows in the centre where it sees no light
• Fungi and diseases develop from poor air circulation
• Fruit set declines as energy goes into vegetation

With annual pruning you maintain an open, healthy bush. Black currants differ from red currants: they fruit on YOUNG wood, so you prune more aggressively.

The young-wood system

This is the critical difference from red currants:

• Red currants: Fruit on 2-3 year old wood. You keep old wood.
• Black currants: Fruit ONLY on young wood (this season's growth). You remove old wood.

This means you prune black currant bushes heavily each year. You remove much old wood and let young wood grow that will fruit next season.

March pruning: The annual schedule

In March (before growth), conduct the following steps:

1. Remove very old wood: Find canes 4+ years old (dark, rough, much bark). Cut them completely to ground level. These canes bear almost no fruit.

2. Thin young wood: After removing old wood, you see much young wood (1-3 years old). This is light-coloured, smooth stem. Select 8-10 of the healthiest, most vigorously growing basal shoots. These become your new base.

3. Remove weak basal shoots: All thin, floppy shoots from the base get cut away. You want only thick, vigorous shoots.

4. Cut side shoots back: On the young-wood canes you keep, cut side shoots back to roughly 5-8 cm short stubs. This encourages many short fruit clusters instead of long bare canes.

5. Remove diseased canes: Grey, mouldy or damaged canes - completely out.

After this pruning your bush looks much more open and less dense.

April to May: Growing period

April to May your bush grows. From the basal shoots you have retained, many new side shoots appear. This is good - this will be fruit-bearing wood.

In March add organic fertilizer or compost around the stem. This helps the bush grow and set much fruit.

June: Bloom and fruit set

June your bush blooms and sets abundant fruit. You see tiny green berries appear on all side shoots. No more pruning - just ensure sufficient water.

July to August: Fruit ripening

July and August the berries ripen from light green to black. This is harvest month. You pick your black currants. While you pick, observe which canes bear abundant fruit and which bear nothing.

September: Finish harvest and evaluation

September is end of season. You have picked your last berries. Now comes leaf fall. Your bush goes dormant.

October to February: Rest and preparation

October to February is the quiet period. Your bush sleeps. In December you can remove diseased canes (emergency cut). The major pruning waits until March.

Cultivars and their behavior

Ben Sarek: Compact, very productive, large berries. Standard annual pruning suffices.

Ben More: Vigorous grower, many berries. More aggressive pruning needed - this cultivar becomes dense quickly.

Ebony: Moderate grower, very sweet fruit. Standard pruning.

Frequently asked questions

How many basal shoots should I keep?

For a mature black currant bush: 8-10 basal shoots, each roughly 50-80 cm long. This gives an open, healthy bush with abundant fruit and good air circulation.

Why do my black currants bear little fruit?

Check if you pruned well last year. If you left much old wood, you get lots of foliage and little fruit. Black currants fruit on young wood, so you must prune aggressively.

Also check nutrition. Add compost or organic fertilizer in March. An underfed bush grows poorly and bears little fruit.

Can I prune black currants in summer?

No. Summer pruning stresses the bush while it grows. Keep summer pruning to emergency only (diseased canes). Wait until March for major pruning.

What if my bush has much fungal disease?

Mildew (grey powder, white coating) comes from poor air circulation. Prune much more aggressively in March. Good air is your best medicine. Also remove all diseased canes immediately.

Can I cut black currant bushes completely back?

Yes, that is called "rejuvenation pruning." You cut everything back to 20-30 cm. The bush regrows, but you lose two seasons of fruit. Better is steady-state pruning: remove one third of old wood each year.

Step-by-step

Step 1: Recognize old and young wood

In March examine your bush. Old wood (4+ years) is dark and rough. Young wood is light-coloured and smooth. Old must go.

Step 2: Cut all very old wood

Cut all very dark, rough, thick canes to ground level. Use a pruning saw if needed.

Step 3: Select your basal shoots

Choose 8-10 of the healthiest, most vigorously growing young-wood shoots from the base. These become your framework.

Step 4: Thin young and cut side shoots

Remove all thin, weak young-wood shoots. On your chosen base, cut side shoots back to 5-8 cm stubs.

Frequently asked questions

What if my bush is completely full of dead wood?

Then you did not prune last year. This season: prune much more aggressively. Remove certainly 40-50% of all wood. You lose this season's fruit, but next year will be better. Future years: steady pruning.

How long before young wood I plant now bears fruit?

The shoots you retain in March will grow this season (April-May) and form side shoots. Those side shoots will bloom in June and bear berries in July-August. So: full fruiting in the very same season!

My black currant bush grows wild - can I prune heavily in summer?

Not much. You can cut side shoots that grow too wild back to 30-40 cm. But no major pruning in summer. That weakens the bush while it grows and wastes fruit.

How often can I apply compost?

Once per year in March is sufficient. Organic fertilizer or compost, 5-10 cm layer around the base. Too much fertilizer gives lots of foliage and less fruit.

Discover your own garden design

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