When to harvest Blackcurrant in the UK
Blackcurrant is planted rather than sown from seed, so the dates below are harvest dates.
Harvest dates by region
Blackcurrant shows the same dates across the whole UK, so every region below reads the same. Where a plant’s timings do follow the frost, Plot shifts them from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Harvest |
|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | mid July to mid August |
| South Coast and Channel | mid July to mid August |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | mid July to mid August |
| South East and Home Counties | mid July to mid August |
| East Anglia | mid July to mid August |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | mid July to mid August |
| Wales and West Coast | mid July to mid August |
| Northern England | mid July to mid August |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | mid July to mid August |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | mid July to mid August |
| Northern Ireland | mid July to mid August |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | mid July to mid August |
Growing notes
Plant during the dormant season from late October to March; an established bush yields about 4.5kg but only from its third or fourth year. Too vigorous for long-term pot culture unless you choose a compact variety such as 'Ben Sarek' or 'Ben Connan'.
At a glance
- Spacing
- 165 cm between plants
- Row spacing
- 180 cm
- Plants per m²
- 0.4
- Yield per plant
- 4.5 kg
- Eventual height
- 150 cm
- Eventual spread
- 150 cm
- Sun
- Full
- Frost tender
- No
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 60 litres or more
- Minimum soil depth
- 45 cm
- Balcony rating
- 2 out of 5
Pruning: what to avoid
Blackcurrants fruit best on strong young growth, so each winter cut up to a third of the oldest, darkest, thickest stems right down to the base. Do not prune them as a spur system like a redcurrant or gooseberry, and cut a newly planted bush down to one or two buds above ground even though it costs you the first year's fruit.
Pruning group
blackcurrant (fruits on young wood)
Bare-root season
Bare-root stock is lifted and sold while dormant, from late October to late March. Container-grown plants can go in at other times of year, but bare-root is cheaper and establishes well.
How long until it crops
Expect the first worthwhile pick about 2 years after planting, and a productive life of roughly 12 years.
What usually goes wrong
- blackcurrant big bud mite
- blackcurrant gall midge
- currant and gooseberry leaf spot
- birds
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for blackcurrant.