No recipes but I'm very impressed and hopefully I can look forward to a crop like yours this time next year. All the cuttings you sent me struck so it's looking good.

How old are the bushes?

Pepino, the bushes are now about 5 years old. The first year there weren't that many currants on the bushes, the second year there was a marked increase. And from the third year onwards you should be swimming in red currants. But maybe you'll do that earlier than I did?

Mulch them with pine needles, they like acidic soil. I don't pamper them at all. No watering, even in the hottest summer, no fertiliser. All they get is another layer of pine needles as mulch some time in late winter / spring.

I'm glad to hear all cuttings struck. They are very hardy plants. I hope you get as much enjoyment and red currants from them as I do. :)

BTW, just in front of the red currants, before the strawberry plants start, there are 2 jostaberry plants. You might be able to see one of them. I got cuttings this winter from mercury and I had intended to leave them in the pots till next autumn. But they nearly jumped out of their pots, eager to get into the ground. Their roots were fantastic! 2 are in the ground, and 1 that was pretty small is still in the pot. They are very healthy plants, too.

I love berries! :)

Spatz, how cold is it in your area in winter? We get temps around 10 degrees at night in winter with a handful under that. Do you think they would grow in mild Mediterreanian climate? I just love red currants.

Hi Spatz

Wonderful red currants, I cant wait until my babies are that abundant. Yeap those jostaberries are doing so well, must be your tlc. My jostaberry this year has fruit on all branches, last year it only had fruit on half of them. I read somewhere to cut off the branches with no fruit. Lucky I was slack.

Recipes: do you have the stephanie alexanders' cooks companion...there is a lovely recipe of red currant pie with shortcrust pastry, with red currants layered over it then baked...

and on sunday I had made red currant jelly and with the left over skins etc, I added red wine and balsamic vinegar and used it as a marinade for pork ribs...just delicious

Helen

All mine have struck as well Spatz. They're really healthy, but I haven't put 'em in the ground yet. Can't wait.

Spatz, please can I have some cuttings?? I love berries of all kinds & would love to have some of yours in my garden. I promise I'll find lots of yummy recipes for you!

Helen, thanks for reminding me to look in Stephanie's Cook's Companion.

Your jelly and the use of the leftovers sounds good. Another good recipe is to quick-fry some lovely pork fillets, take out and keep warm. Add some redcurrant jelly, freshly squeezed orange juice and green peppercorns to frying pan. Let thicken a little, toss fillets in and serve immediately. Very nice.

Sarah, you are more than welcome to some cuttings. Remind me again some time in late autumn / winter. That's the best time to take cuttings.

Meggs, we do get occasional light frosts in winter. The night temperatures are probably around 2-9 C in winter. Do you get some frosts? Red Currants need some winter chilling. You are also welcome to some cuttings if they thrive in your area. Again, the best time would be late autumn/winter.

What are the black and white currants like? Worth growing do you think?

I dug a new bed today and planted out three red currant bushes (thanks Spatz). I don't think they'll fruit this year. It's already too late, isn't it? They're pretty healthy so next year should be good. I was delighted at the amount of root growth. Such hardy little beasts.

Ray, the black currants are mainly for making jam/jelly. I never liked them straight from the bush. Not sure whether I was supposed to eat them from the bush anyway. I can't remember the taste of the white ones, so that's why I actually haven't bothered to get any. But mind you, all these tastings where done when I was a child and surrounded by all these black/red/white currants. The red ones were always my favourite as you could eat them out in the garden. (And as a child you could hide inbetween the bushes and nobody saw you stuffing your face.) Your red currants won't fruit this year, I'd say. But you should get some fruit next year.

hi ray the white currants are supposed to taste like red currants. The whites seem to be taking longer to ripen than the red. I'm expecting a ripe berry is white and transluscent. I tasted a white opaque berry but that was definitely not ripe! Helen

Thanks Spatz for your offer of cuttings. Sorry I did not reply but did not read the posts for a while. My mother in law died last week after a stroke so was too busy. As far as frosts go we would get one or two mornings per winter with frost on the grass otherwise it is quite warm. We are 3K from the beach so the ocean keeps the temps up in winter and down in summer comparing to the Hills, which is only about 30K inland. I will have to make enquiries locally whether it is worth trying them :-(. Thanks again and I hope you had a lovely Xmas.