I am in S.C. & have a red lake that is not doing well.
It is to wet here & leaf fungus is slowly killing it.
But in your dry climate, you could plant in the shade.
I use Henry Fields, they have good size, healthy plants.

Thanks for the input. I figure the dry climate would help with diseases but 8b-9a may be too warm for fruiting. Any others out there doing it?

I'm in northern Sunnyvale, and I put in 3 varieties this spring recommended by Lucille of Whitman Farms. So far they're growing very well, but they take 2 years to fruit, so I won't know until 2013.

Rime,

Do you know the 3? Did she recommend them on an educated guess or knew for a fact people had them fruit around here?

Thanks

No, I didn't know the varieties : I got Minaj Smeriou(black), Rovada(red) and Pink Champagne(I wanted white, but she thought that Pink Champagne would taste much better than amy of the whites). I think it was an educated guess.

Just bumping this thread to see if anyone else has something to chime in about. Looking at taking the gamble and just trying to grow some. I emailed the local master gardeners who said they didn't know of anyone growing them (bad sign) but gave me this list...

Red Currants

Red lake
Cherry
Wilder

Black Currants

Consort
Crandall

White Currants

White Imperial
White Grape

Crandall is a Clove Currant (Ribes odoratum). They seem to have a lower chill requirement than most currants. I grow them on the north side of our house. East of a structure might be better in hot-summer climates at higher latitudes. We had a cool spell in spring this year followed by hot summer weather and the currants seemed especially sweet.

You know of any sources of Crandall besides Raintree? I see Rolling River is out of stock for them. Thanks for the tip.

Whitman Farms also has them, but they may not do fall shipments.

I planted Crandall this past spring and it has grown well. It is more spreading than tall.

My brother grew Consort and didn't like the strong aftertaste.

I planted both White Imperial and Primus white currants last year (spring). Of the two, I like White Imperial better, though both are a bit bland. They did survive the birds better than the reds though, as I still haven't gotten a chance to try any of the reds. Of course YMMV as my climate is quite different- 6b/7a SW CT.

Incidentally, Crandall currants get sweeter for several days after they turn black, and all currants in the bunch may not ripen at the same time. I go for the biggest ones in a bunch first.

They are sweeter than many other currants, though not as sweet as, say, the typical European grape. They do not have a strong "black currant" flavor (which I like for jam, especially mixed with other fruits). I like Crandall straight from the bush. In favorable conditions, they will dry into "raisins" on the bush.

i ran across this old thread and figured i would revive it
so others can chime in about growing currants, gooseberries, raspberries, serviceberry in zone 9

i am in New Orleans, and want a small berry.
i know , i already have blackberry, blueberry, mulberry
but i want to broaden my selection

also
anyone growing Goumi or Autumn olive
in zone 9 or warmer ?
do they need chill hours ?

I made this original thread and never found out any more info.

I did grow goumi and autumn olive for a couple of years and they fruit fine here. If I had a larger space I would have kept them but since I have a small suburban lot I took them out to put bigger, tastier fruiting plants in.

Would still be interested in Crandall cutting if anyone has it. Can pay shipping or do a trade...

melikeeatplants
im in 9b su8burbs also
good to know that they fruit OK
i do want heavy fruiting plants, but, i want a lot of diversity
and plants fruiting at different times.
i may have to keep them pruned a bit
and my back yard will be crowded, but, im planting in my front yard as well
more the merrier...
i will make room LOL

i dont have a crandal, but, i have loquat
and lychee seedlings

I have a Primus white currant this will be it 3rd year in the ground. I have only gotten maybe 20 fruit and haven't been impressed. I am giving it one more year but if it doesn't do anything this year; I may just ripe it out. It is in partial shade, so this maybe not helping the fruiting issue. I was looking for fruit bushes that would work in partial shade. I am in 8b.

Hardiness zone number only roughly proportional to typical annual chill hours. Currants fruit fine here in Portland, 8b, but we average well over 2,000 hours a year.

Its been about a decade since the original postat, any updates? anyone ablw to grow currants successfully in zone 9?

• I am in S.C. & have a red lake that is not doing well.
  It is to wet here & leaf fungus is slowly killing it.
  But in your dry climate, you could plant in the shade.
  I use Henry Fields, they have good size, healthy plants.
  
  
• My plant died & I have not tried another currants & gooseberry plants.
• I am in 8a.

Zone numbers only tell you about the average winter minimum temperatures and there is nothing about 8a to worry currants. The problems will come from the summer climate: heat, humidity, drought are all enemies of currants. Currants and gooseberries hail from forest edges in cool, moist northern climes and those are the kind of conditions they like.

They grow and fruit perfectly well here in my mild and cool summer 9a climate. Local nurseries sell a variety of both currants and gooseberries and a national mail order fruit nursery here offers a very large selection. Generally, they are best recommended for a maritime climate

They can be prohibited in some states due to being a host for white pine blister rust.

The crandall currant fruited for me in san jose. im in georgia 7b now and ribes hate the heat/humidity combo i pulled them all out here

Maybe zones work that way in your state, but Clemson U, has a whole book on the zones of South Carolina. The first & last frost date, as well as many other things.

ALL of the west coast is dry in summer. But most coastal locations never get very hot. While not right on the coast, San Jose is close enough to be included in that category. It is considered a Mediterranean climate.

They are recommended for growing in Sunset zones 15-17, which includes San Jose and coastal areas as far south as Santa Barbara.

Sorry, but that is exactly how the USDA hardiness zones work.... in all states. “The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.” https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov It does not include frost dates, summer temps or anything else. When people refer to their zone on these forums they usually mean their USDA zone.

Whatever you are referring to from Clemson is not the same thing.

Hi, here looking for suggestions and answers. Thinking of growing black currant berries so im thinking of trying MINAJ SMYRIOU BLACK CURRANT. Sounds like a nice self pollinating, tolerant and resistant berry, though only to zone 9. Im in Los Angeles County but I think I can get away with it. Any one try it or have a better suggestion?!

I grow 15 different ribes in zone 7-8  plenty of chilling hours (below 45°F). Likely they need a few hundred hours or possibly as much as 1000. Cool partly shaded from west, heat. Maritime climes are cool and likely preferred.  We have 20 native ribes species Western Cascades, Washington. Its 65°F. Average high in July and August. Sufficient chilling and geat tolerance is the question. I know many ribes that are fine with dry heat of 90 to 105°F. But they get plenty of chilling hours.

   Because I ship out to many states I am still questioning thd yield of fruiting plants in zone 9-10. Please help! Any NAFEX members out there doing the science of trialing?

   Gil Schieber of Skipley Farm