redcurrant question

[reetnproper]

Ok, so I was happily rambling around Lidl, this morning, when I spotted some redcurrant plants for 99p.

During the winter months we eat a lot of pheasant and woodpigeon as it's so common around here and cheap .

Now as hroseradish is to beef, mint suace is to lamb, apple sauce is to pork and cranberry sauce is to Turkey, so redcurrant jelly is to Pheasant and as OH tends to put half a jar on his plate in one go, we go through a tonne of the stuff .

So, with little £££ signs going off in my head, I thought that if I were to buy one of these bushes then in a year or so, I could potentially make some redcurrant jelly, thereby saving us a fortune . So I bought one.

Unfortunately, fruit trees aren't my thing and I have absolutely no idea what to do with it in terms of: what sort of soil does it like; does it like full sun, shade or a mix of both; and how big will it get?

So I'm relying on you more experienced grapes to help me out with the answers, please.

Many thanks
Reet
x

[scripted]

Hi.

For that price i'd of bought two
Mine like full sun in well drained good quality compost. If you have a south facing wall to put them against and fan them onto it, thats a good idea too.

[chris]

Mine are on a south-easterly house wall, being trained (later) as a fan I think! They're flowering already, and have doubled in size over the past month. I just dug the soil out, tipped some Westland MP compost in, bunged em in and chucked the soil back on top!

I'm growing one to hide a water butt and drain pipe too !

[WrexTheDragon]

Mine have all finished flowering and I have small fruit.

The "Jonkheer van Tets" are covered and about 4 foot high. The "Rovada" are very poor this year for me, very little fruit.

[Alison]

They're a doddle to grow so long as you net from the birds, have one in the back garden which thrives on neglect as it's rarely pruned properly. The two at the lottie are fairing better and are being trained into open bushes.

[Jax]

Hiya, I got a red and a black bought for me last year and got a load of red currants from aldi in the winter. I just put them in a pot of multipurpose compost in almost full sun (except a few hours in the morning) and they are going quite happily. I dont think they really need much care xx

[reetnproper]

Many thanks for all your replies and advice and apologies for the lateness in responding. I have now planted my little bush against the fence in a lovely sunny position with rich soil to grow in.

Reet
x

[mogs]

From a planting the Autumn before, I got loads of redcurrants last Summer - 'but', big 'but' - I don't like em - got a really dry aftertaste - so this year I planted a Goji Berry and today went to the health store and paid £2.79 (yes, £2.79) for a small bag - figuring I should try them - yup, you've guessed it - yuuuuurgh, tastes like something my Grandma's had in the bottom of her sewing box, and she's been dead for 20 years!! Now I'm praying they taste better fresh from the bush!

[scripted]

From a planting the Autumn before, I got loads of redcurrants last Summer - 'but', big 'but' - I don't like em - got a really dry aftertaste - so this year I planted a Goji Berry and today went to the health store and paid £2.79 (yes, £2.79) for a small bag - figuring I should try them - yup, you've guessed it - yuuuuurgh, tastes like something my Grandma's had in the bottom of her sewing box, and she's been dead for 20 years!! Now I'm praying they taste better fresh from the bush!

lol. That's so funny. make it into jam, it may improve the yuuuuuurghness for you. I am guessing you have a sweet tooth maybe?

[mogs]

Aye, you've guessed right - my middle name is chocolate and I've had to suffer for my art over the years! In fact might buy a chocolate fountain to dip them in - now there's an idea - chocolate coated yuuuuuurgh - yum

[scripted]

Thats also a good idea.