How Do You Care For Red Currant Bushes?
The red currant is a fast-growing deciduous shrub. Red currants grow best in USDA zones 3 to 5 and prefer a cool growing site in full sun to partial shade. In other zones, red currant plants can be grown in containers and moved indoors when the weather becomes too hot or too cold. Red currant plants produce fruit in grapelike clusters, with some plants producing more than 10 pounds of fruit. The red currant fruit can be made into juice, jelly and puree. You can increase your red currant’s fruit production by properly caring for your plant. Apply mulch around the base of the red currant bush to prevent weeds, maintain moisture and help keep the soil cool. Use organic mulch materials such as straw, wood chips or grass clippings. Prevent fungal diseases by encouraging airflow around the red currant bush. Trim back or prune nearby plants and bushes that block airflow to the red currant. Fertilize the red currant bush in the spring, when the buds have begun to swell. Use a balanced 10-10-10
