Ribes nigrum ‘Ben Sarek’ [Blackcurrant]

Soil Requirements

Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek' prefers moist but well-draining soil. This plant prefers a neutral pH in soil and may not thrive in acidic or alkaline soil conditions.

Best Position

Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek' prefers a sheltered position and requires full sun to thrive, this consists of more than six hours of direct sunshine per day.

Maintenance

Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek' should be pruned regularly, it is an essential part of maintaining the health and shape of blackcurrant bushes. The best time to prune blackcurrant bushes is in late winter or early spring, before new growth starts. The general guidelines for pruning includes: removing any dead, diseased, or damaged wood; removing branches that are growing out of the base of the plant; thinning out the interior of the bush to promote good air circulation and sunlight penetration; cutting back wood older than 3-4 years, as it does not produce as many fruits as new wood; cut back the tips of the remaining branches to the desired height and shape, which will encourage side shoots. Additionally, it's important to remove some of the fruit clusters in the first 2 years after planting and to sterilize pruning tools before and after use to prevent the spread of disease.

Pest, Diseases and Wildlife

Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek' can have problems with aphids and gall mites, and it tends not to have problems with diseases. It is also known to attract bees. It is not considered to be toxic.