Growing Currants Is Easy
Currants are a fantastic addition to any garden, offering delicious berries while being relatively low-maintenance. If you live in USDA zones 3-8, these hardy plants are a must-have. In our video, Growing Currants, Tricia shares tips on planting and caring for these fruiting shrubs.
Enjoy Fresh or Preserved Currants
Currants are known for their unique balance of sweetness and tartness, making them perfect for fresh eating or preserving. Use them in jellies, jams, syrups, and even baked goods.
Shade Gardeners Can Grow Currants
If your garden receives partial or afternoon shade, currants can still thrive. They are an excellent choice for areas with hot summer sun where other fruits might struggle.
Shop Currant Bushes
Deer-Resistant Edibles
While deer often feast on garden plants, currants are generally not their first choice. However, to further protect your garden, consider using deer deterrents. Explore our Deer Repellents & Deterrents collection for organic solutions.
Train Currants as an Espalier
Want to grow currants in a decorative way? Espaliering currants along a fence creates a stunning visual effect while saving space. Check out this guide from The Oregonian on how to train currants for an elegant garden display.
Grow Currants in Containers
If you’re short on space, currants are a great option for container gardening. Use a large pot with good drainage, and add organic potting soil for the best results.
Harvesting Currants
Cornell University recommends removing flowers from young currant bushes in the first year to encourage strong root development. Your second year will bring a small harvest, and by the third year, you can expect a full crop.
Currants ripen over a two-week period in June and do not immediately drop, allowing for a convenient harvest window. Pick them in clusters when fully colored.
Pruning Currant Bushes
Cornell University provides detailed pruning guidelines: Prune currants when dormant in late winter or early spring. Remove weak, damaged, or diseased branches, ensuring a well-structured plant with about eight strong fruit-bearing canes.
Healthy, Disease-Resistant Currants
Black currants are more susceptible to white pine blister rust, while red currants tend to be more resistant. We offer disease-resistant currant varieties to help ensure a healthy and productive harvest.
Learn More About Growing Currants
For additional growing tips, check out our Currants Growing Guide and information from Iowa State University Extension.
9 comments
Jean, currants will grow well in zone 5. If you experience extremely hot summers, you may want to plant in a location that gets some afternoon shade, or you could also put up some shade cloth. The variety you grow is purely a personal preference. I would take a look at the descriptions of the 3 varieties we sell and pick the one that sounds good!
I am in zone 5, on the eastern slopes/ Prarie of CO. I grow raspberrir, blackberries beautifully….will currents grow well here also? And what variety?
Anita, Currants are rated to grow down to zone 3, so you should be ok. Raspberries are rated to zone 4, so not sure. We ship our plants out in winter (must be dormant), so when you receive them, you will need to heal them into a a pot or some soil and keep in a location that they do not freeze. Once you are ready to plant, they should be fine. Just make sure to keep the roots moist. After you plant them and before your next winter, just make sure that you mulch around the base of the plant.
I live in Custer, SD and would like plant red currant berries and raspberries, as well blueberries
Any suggestions, we are in zone 3-4
Cathy, you can only grow currants in full sun in areas that are cooler in the summer. They might be best in an area that gets afternoon shade. I would fence them if you have deer. Even though the deer may not be a problem, if enough deer browse them then you have a problem. Better to be safe than to have the deer nibble your plants to death.