Currant bush sizes.

[kentishgal]

How big do currant bushes actually get? Ive planted some (plus a gooseberry) in my border and will have to prune them to fit! (so kinda informal espalier!), they can go up and along just not too far out.
Does anyone have any pictures of a fully grown currant bush??

[Two_Sheds]

Blackcurrants?

Mine are nearly 4ft wide and they're young

[Two_Sheds]

Does anyone have any pictures of a fully grown currant bush?

[rustylady]

How big do currant bushes actually get? Ive planted some (plus a gooseberry) in my border and will have to prune them to fit! (so kinda informal espalier!), they can go up and along just not too far out.
Does anyone have any pictures of a fully grown currant bush??

You really should think about spacing before you plant. It's OK pruning to fit but you may be losing fruit by doing that.

[FB.]

How big do currant bushes actually get? Ive planted some (plus a gooseberry) in my border and will have to prune them to fit! (so kinda informal espalier!), they can go up and along just not too far out.
Does anyone have any pictures of a fully grown currant bush??

My currants (red, white and black) grow at least as fast as my apple or pear trees on very vigorous MM111 or M25 rootstocks. This year my currants have already put on 1-2ft of new growth, although we don't normally get such heavy rain and therefore growth is usually less. They do tend to have a bit of a growth spurt in spring - grow fast in the spring and much slower in summer.
As with all plants, there is some variation in growth rate between different varieties. Some currant varieties are more vigorous and some less vigorous.

The size will also depend on soil quality/growing conditions and pruning. In good soil I reckon that I could create a currant "tree" with about 1.5m clear trunk and 4m height and spread - comparable with an apple or pear tree.
Or with regular pruning and less generous use of nitrogen, I reckon that I could keep one smaller than 1m height/spread - comparable to an apple or pear cordon.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I planted my fruit bushes 5ft apart and to be honest, they could have done with more.

[chris]

I planted mine probably about 5' apart too, they're 6-7' wide, and similar in height. I'll be moving them when they're dormant!

[kentishgal]

You really should think about spacing before you plant. It's OK pruning to fit but you may be losing fruit by doing that.

I did think about spacing......mainly about how much I could fit in a 10ft x 20ft garden that was already half patio!
NM, they will have to be pruned to fit., its only a 10ft long bed with a blackcurrant, redcurrant and gooseberry in it!

[veggiechicken]

I don't move fruit bushes once planted - but prune them to fit the space and use the cutting to grow new bushes somewhere else!

[sugar]

You can perfectly grow red, white and pinkcurrants, as well as gooseberries as cordon. I use triple cordon, when pruned correctly the plant takes up way less space compared to a bush and you get a decent yield

A pitcure of a single (still rather small) branch on one of my redcurrants




Black currants will be a lot more difficult to control sizewise (you will end up with a lower yield)

[Alison]

Mine are all about 6' apart and slightly too close to a row of raspberries. Wouldn't want them to be any closer really as you need to get round them to harvest. Used to have some in my backgarden about half that distance apart and it was a disaster. You couldn't keep them small enough to prevent congestion as they can grow pretty quickly when you look away.

[Normans Mum]

We have 4 blackcurrant bushes on our plot and they are at least 5' by 5'. Masses of fruit off them last year. Hoping to make some blackcurrant wine, all being well this year.....