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New Brunswick

I am coming to you guys with yet another question...how the heck can I get my "now huge" currant bush to produce fruit instead of having the tiny blossems dry up and fall off? How, when and with what do I spray? I don't seem to have any berries on this plant at all. Do I need another one perhaps???

4/22/2005 9:18:53 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Desert Storm, once again here is some info on currants from a place that we just bought blueberry bushes from. I do not know anything about currants but maybe this info may help. Good luck. http://www.noursefarms.com/planting_guide/ribes.html

4/22/2005 10:11:45 PM

Montoursville, PA

Hey there.........had the same problem with no real knowlege I ordered two more different varieties. Now all three are producing, in the new plants second year. The other too. I used absolutely no fertilizers or sprays.

The production ratio is eighty percent for the birds and one pie for me....maybe a jar of jelly will appear some day when the babies grow up.

4/23/2005 6:34:16 AM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

what I have read about these types of fruit is that having different varieties helps them pollinate better. Why? I do not know just says that in most places that I have been reading up about them. Is it possible to cover the currants like the blueberry bushes so the birds do not get at them?

4/23/2005 7:43:00 AM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Referring back to Noursefarms.com about the currants:
"Pruning
Red currants and gooseberries fruit most heavily on the spurs (short branches) that occur on 2-3 year old branches. Your pruning task will be approximately the same for both groups of plants, so they will be described together. You can grow currants and gooseberries in a bush form or as a 'cordon' (espalier) form for a trellis.

Single Trunk Bush
Save one vertical shoot from the first year's growth. Cut shoot back to 10-12 inches or half of its length (whichever is longest).

The second year, select three or four strong side shoots near the top of the main shoot that are spaced evenly around the main shoot. Cut these side shoots back to half their length to an outward facing bud. In the third year, select two or three leaders from each of the side shoots that are facing out from the center at different angles.

Cut back all other growth to one or two buds. Maintain growth habit by cutting back leaders to half their length and all other laterals to one bud. Remove any lateral growth or suckers below the soil line. Cut out old or diseased wood."

4/23/2005 8:02:41 AM

New Brunswick

Holy cow! My currant bush is huge...as big as a fairly large room. The best I could do is prune the whole thing back. Think I will buy another one, plant it, and see what happens. I did have a gooseberry bush (that was producing)...then hubby struck. While making me a new raspberry bed, he managed to till out my gooseberry bush...killing it completely. Now why won't that work for unwanted black berry bushes?? *grin* Come to think of it....the currant did produce one year (I got a couple bottles of jelly) and I DID have another bush that has since died. You just might have hit the nail on the head! I need another bush! Thanks so much.

4/23/2005 9:09:13 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

I guess be careful pruning. That is a large bush. Like I said, I do not know anything about currants and raspberries. Would love to try to make homemade wine. I do know where there is wild raspberries and blackberries. Hmmm...

4/24/2005 7:47:31 AM

New Brunswick

Rhubarb whine is delicious. A guy we know makes it. Not much wallop either. I was afraid to drink it, not knowing how strong it was. My hubby and son drank it and apparently it is much like a cooler in strength. I did taste it tho'....um..um..good!

4/24/2005 10:16:18 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Last year I made a rhubarb wine. I did not care for it but my wife and our friends just loved it. We were going to enter either that wine or a strawberry rhubarb wine in a local wine contest but both were so delicious, neither one lasted long enough to enter it :o) There are many factors in why the rhubarb wine was not too strong. And following what you have said, it just like watermelon and peach, it does not make a strong wine and that it may need something else to help with the alcohol or body. Such as strawberry rhubarb wine or any other flavor that would compliment the tart taste of the rhubarb.

4/25/2005 8:06:10 AM

New Brunswick

Hmmmm....you wouldn't happen to want to share your wine recipie with me????? I do not care for strong stuff....just mild sweet and tasty.

4/25/2005 11:23:27 PM

Indiana

hey hey i want in on the recipe board also made my first hard cider last fall

4/29/2005 10:53:56 PM