Blackcurrant failure

[mrsbusy]

Hi. I have not done well with trying to grow blackcurrants.
I bought Big Ben variety from a good nursery. They are in good soil with good drainage and plenty of well rotted compost each year. It is a sheltered sunny plot.
They have either died off, or this year the best bush has great foliage and is a good size but hardly any fruit set. The branches are very brittle and snap off quite easily.
I thought blackcurrants were straightforward but so far not worth the space they take up.
This is year 4 and they are on their last chance!
Any tips please?

[burnie]

Mine seem to grow rather well, I don't know the variety as they were a gift, I pretty much follow the standard advice and remove the oldest wood each Autumn, have a read of this............How to grow blackcurrants / RHS Gardening.......

[Plot70]

Have you seen any of these on your black currants?
https://www.ispotnature.org/communit...n-tipuliformis

[nickdub]

Could it be you are getting waterlogging of the soil over winter ?

[Plot70]

The brittle branches do indicate that there are insects in the twigs.
I had a poor crop in the year that I took the photos of the fly.

[mrsbusy]

Have you seen any of these on your black currants?
https://www.ispotnature.org/communit...n-tipuliformis

No not seen these.

[mrsbusy]

Could it be you are getting waterlogging of the soil over winter ?

Think the soil is well drained generally.

[mrsbusy]

Mine seem to grow rather well, I don't know the variety as they were a gift, I pretty much follow the standard advice and remove the oldest wood each Autumn, have a read of this............How to grow blackcurrants / RHS Gardening.......

Thank you.

[ameno]

Could you post a picture of the problem bushes?

[mrsbusy]

Could you post a picture of the problem bushes?

Yes will do.