Ribes nigrum

Ribes nigrum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.8 m .
It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from March to November, in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light , medium and heavy soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic soils. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality. Best grown on a deep sandy loam. Dislikes very heavy clay, chalky soils and thin dry soils, but it can succeed on most soil types if plenty of organic matter is incorporated. Plants require plenty of nitrogen if they are to do well. Prefers a pH in the range 6.7 to 7 and is intolerant of acid soils. Plants are quite tolerant of shade though do not fruit so well in such a position. Plants fruit less freely when grown in windy sites. The plant is hardy to about -20°c, though flowers are damaged at -1°c. Blackcurrants are widely cultivated in temperate areas for their edible fruit, there are many named varieties. Most fruit is produced on one year old wood. Pruning usually consists of removing about a third of all the stems from just above ground level in the autumn. The oldest stems with least new growth are removed since these will be the poorest fruiters. The plant is able to make new growth from the base of the removed stems and, if the plants are well fed, this growth is very vigorous and will fruit heavily the following year. The flowers can self-fertilize but many cultivars fruit better with insect pollination. Plants can harbour a stage of 'white pine blister rust', so they should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown .