Caring for currants after harvesting

Summer is a great time to grow many healthy fruits, vegetables, and berries in your garden. After the plants produce fruit, it’s very important to care for them properly so they will give a good harvest next year.

Proper care of currants after fruiting is key. The main goal during July and August is to get the bush ready for the new growing season.

However, this is not the time to prepare currants for winter. From mid to late summer, the plant starts forming new flower buds for the next year. If you’re planning to plant new currant seedlings, they will require similar care.

The main steps for caring for currants after harvesting involve helping the plant gather nutrients for winter. The first step is renewing the bush through pruning.

After harvest, currant bushes can look tired—branches are thick and the plant is drained. You should start by removing the lowest branches. This prevents leaves from touching the ground, which can help avoid fungal infections. Watch out for aphids on the top shoots. These insects cause swollen leaves with spots.

Many gardeners don’t treat the bushes for pests or diseases during fruiting, or they use only organic remedies, which often aren’t enough. That’s why after harvesting, it’s good to cut young shoots back by about fifteen centimeters. Even healthy bushes can benefit from this.

Damaged or diseased branches should also be removed since they won’t produce berries and can host pests or diseases. Old branches should go too—those are darker and less productive. For black currants, remove branches older than four years.

For red currants, cut branches that are over seven years old. Healthy, strong branches left after pruning can be used to grow new plants—they root easily and can be replanted elsewhere. Don’t throw away healthy leaves either. They can be used in teas, or added to pickles and marinades for extra flavor.

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