Is it worth moving a 3 year old currant bush?

[Edith]

That's it really.

Am redesigning the allotment and the bushes are in quite a stupid place, mainly because they are right at the front where I need deliveries of manure to go.

I know they are at least 3 years old.

They are ok bushes, not amazingly prolific or anything.

They are a mixture of red/white currants and blackcurrants.

WWYD?

[jackie j]

You could take cuttings, someone gave me some a few years ago and they are amazing now. Not sure when the best time to do this is tho.

Just read in my Fruit book, Blackcurrants
In October take 10inch cutting from this seasons wood , the cuttings should be pencil thick. Make a sloping cut at the top, a straight cut at the bottom.
Make a v shaped trench, place a layer of sand at the botttom,
Insert cuttings 6inch apart, 2 buds should show above the surface, replace the sol.
Dig up and plant the following October, cut back canes to 1 - 2inches.

I just stuck mine in the ground and they were fine.

[jackie j]

Also just read that bare - rooted bushes can be planted in February - March.

[Two_Sheds]

I moved my blackcurrant bushes (over 3 yo) in October '08 to my new site. They have done really well

[Mell]

I would say it should be fine if done when dormant ie nowish !

[FB.]

Currants are easy to propagate from cuttings and are also not too badly affected by being moved.
The dormant season is quite a good time; most things are best moved when dormant. Sometimes they can be moved during the growing season, as long as you takre care not to damage the roots avd as long as they are not out of the ground for more than a few minutes.
I moved some whitecurrants this morning, although, interestingly, some of them had just sent out a burst of soft white roots - despite it being mid-winter and despite being *apparently* dormant above ground.
No doubt the sudden change of weather makes them think that it's spring!

[Dottie]

I'd feel confident to move them if they were mine, just prepare your ground and they'll be happy. The way I see it, is if something is in the wrong place and I want to redesign etc, then it gets moved. I see it as an opportunity to create a new healthy environment, rather than worrying about disturbing them. Just remember to water them well for the whole season the first year of re-planting, so that they have an opportunity to establish.

[grenhouse]

I moved mine this time last year, they had been in for 4 years. Moved them and they were much more prolific last year. Anytime in winter is good I believe while the plant is dormant. Hopefully, if the literature I have read is also correct this harsh winter should also give us bumper crops next year fingers x!

[solway cropper]

this harsh winter should also give us bumper crops next year fingers x!

oops, pressed the wrong key!

If last winter is anything to go on I'd agree. I managed 11lbs of blackcurrants from one small bush and the other two, although only one year old, gave a decent yield.

[joshie]

Go for it we moved 10 year old bushes just do it in the winter, After that im not sure whether you should cut the branches down or prune it normaly. I pruned it normaly and it didn't fruit aswell so Move it but read up what to do with it afterwards hope this helps

[FB.]

If the bush is quite large, you may leave behind a lot of the roots. This would result in slow establishment, since the roots and top are out of balance.
A moderate prune would reduce the strain on the damage roots.
A young bush would be smaller and therefore won't lose as many roots, so will recover without the need to prune.

[Storm]

I moved bushes last winter and they all did fine though they needed a lot of water due to the dry weather we had.

The biggest bush I moved was growing on the allotment when I took it on (4 years ago) and had been looking after itself after the plots were abandoned years ago and it gave more fruit than I have known it to before. I pruned it quite hard before moving.