Do Currants (Red/Black/etc) or gooseberries and chill?

12 years ago

I was curious,

Do any cultivars of Currants, gooseberries, or lingonberries need chill time to produce fruit? I'm in So Cal and while I can keep plants cooler, the one thing I cannot do is replicate sub zero temps for winter.

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Comments (8)

Kevin Reilly
12 years ago
According to CRFG they should be considered experimental in SoCal.

Here is a link that might be useful: CRFG Currants
wizzard419
Original Author
12 years ago
Neat, I will have to see if they are doing any pilot studies at my local outrearch center.
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The few Hinnomaki Red I've had have been pretty good, but not as sweet as they H-Yellow. I would have had a good sized sample last year, but lost the leaves on most of my bushes to gooseberry sawfly. I've soured somewhat on Red/White currants and am focusing on blacks for preserves. I'll have to try making a batch as Harvestman describes. The recent Nadia thread prompted me to order one from Raintree and of course, while I was there, I had to add a few Black Currants. So, I'm adding the following next year: Strata (Raintree) Ben Lomond (RT) Black Reward (RT) Titania (Indiana Berry) Ben Sarek (RT) Beauty of Altay (ARS/GRIN) Harvestman, what type of Black Currants do you grow? Both my BC batches this year was the best I've ever had by quite a margin. I should update my Black Currant thread... The year before I didn't have enough BC to do just that, and instead mixed it with Reds, Whites, and Gooseberries. it was OK, but the Hero Black Currant jam from the store were better (cheaper than botique-y ones at ~$3).
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flora_uk
12 years ago
I don't know what temperatures you experience in So Cal but Winter chill doesn't need to be as low as sub zero (either C or F). For the UK, I believe that hours below 7.2 c/45f are regarded as 'chill' time.
jolj
12 years ago
I bought one Gooseberry plant from HenryFields.com & it was at least 2 years old.
I planted it in the sun in early March & it fruited that Spring & all three Springs after it.
I also bought a Red Lake currant that looked good, but got PM & by this time I will be surprised it evens puts on leaves.
wizzard419
Original Author
12 years ago
If I recall, this area got between 2-300 chill hours, but they are thinking close to 200. Which is why low chill apples are the making their first appearance here.
carolync1
12 years ago
I have tried some of the currants recommended for Zone 9 (most are not) and the only one which has been successful is the 'Crandall' Ribes aureum, which resembles a black currant, but with a different flavor. Sweet enough to eat from the bush when ripe, fragrant flowers in spring.

There are some native California currants and gooseberries, but I don't think they are very palatable. Why not grow things that people can't grow in other places -- subtropicals, yellow kiwis, etc. Can you grow Natal Plum where you are? The best varieties have fruit that resembles cranberries or lingonberries a little in flavor. Or how about musk strawberries instead of lingonberries? Of course, everybody always wants to grow the things that do well somewhere else.
wizzard419
Original Author
12 years ago
Oh, I've got tons of tropicals and subtropicals in my garden. I just wanted to expand my options even further. The main interest in the black currant is actually from my time in europe, I liked having them and there is no realistic option here (no fresh, frozen, preserved, etc. the most you can get is some juice and a frozen puree that sells for as much as a plant)
carolync1
12 years ago
'Crandall' does not have the distinctive flavor of many black currants, but you still might like it. There are some inter-species crosses being done now which may lead to some lower chill requirements, but 200 - 300 hours is low compared to what we get here. I'll post if I see anything promising.

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Do Currants (Red/Black/etc) or gooseberries and chill?

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Kevin Reilly

wizzard419
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Do Currants (Red/Black/etc) or gooseberries and chill?

Comments (8)

Kevin Reilly

wizzard419Original Author

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jolj

wizzard419Original Author

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