yet another question.. this time blackcurrents!

[kerryp]

Hi (again)

Is it ok to have a lot of ants on my blackcurrent bush (well its a bush but in a pot)? My OH says yes coz he can only see them where he thinks he can see greenfly larva or something...

when are blackcurrents "ready" as such? i picked some the other day coz they were black & came off early but they were HORRID

Thanks (yet again)

[Shadylane]

Yes that's exactly how they should taste. Vile things only fit for the birds Seriously though ours aren't ripe yet, you have to wait until they're really REALLY black. As for the ants, they're on everything at the mo, making a bid for world domination. They'll be milking and protecting the aphids, not a good thing really but they're ants and they think they own the place. I leave ours to it because a) they're to big to deal with and b) I hate the damn things (blackcurrants).

Never had any crop damage from them though other people on here say they have. The main prob is the aphid farming. If you only have one bush you could either squish the aphids or spray with dilute washing up liquid. Or you could leave it and hope nature sorts it out

[rustylady]

The aphids won't do your plant any good, and can introduce virus disease, so they should be removed. The ants will be milking the aphids and while the ants won't eat your plant they can undermine the roots, specially if they decide to make a nest under the roots.

[Two_Sheds]

As above really.

Remove the aphids and the ants will go. Water the area thoroughly and the ants will go (they like really dry conditions)

Blackcurrants are sharp, they are best used for cooking & winemaking

[Jardiniere]

dont eat blackcurrants raw ...always cook them ...i make mine (as there is no point in making wine here ....in wine country) into coulis and serve them with
ice cream
custard
pannacotta
fromage frais
yoghourt
cream
or make them into a sauce to eat with
duck
pork
beef
lamb

[Rabidbun]

I've been freezing mine as I pick them - I plan to cook them all into a huge batch of coulis. I've only got three bushes in pots, so never enough to cook otherwise!

(and mine are sharp as anything, and these are meant to be the eaters! )

[kerryp]

ok here goes... im as good at cooking as i am at growing stuff!! i have no idea how to make a coulis... or a sauce for meat dishes, anyone wanna help me out there as well? x

[Two_Sheds]

I just Goggled "blackcurrant sauce" and there's lots of ideas out there. Here's but one

blackcurrant sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
½ shallot, diced
100g/3½oz blackcurrants
50ml/1¾fl oz white wine
2 tbsp red wine