Moving a blackcurrant bush

[hellybore]

Today I moved a blackcurrant bush from my garden to the allotment. I tried to keep as many roots as possible but it was in a very awkward space to dig and I ended up having to cut though two quite thick roots to get it out. Do you think it will survive this brutal treatment?! I put some well rotted manure in its new hole and watered it in well, now just keeping my fingers crossed...

[FB.]

Do you think it will survive this brutal treatment?!

Yes, it should survive - currants are tough and they root very easily.

Just make sure that it doesn't go short of water while it spends this summer re-growing the roots it lost.

As a precaution against losing the bush, you can still take cuttings at this time of year although they will not grow as fast or as large as cuttings taken when the leaves are yellow in autumn.
Removing some of the above-ground part (for use as cuttings) will also reduce the burden on the damaged roots.

[WendyC]

I've moved a mature blackcurrant about this time of year. The big roots are the ones which anchor it to the ground. Just make sure it's firmed in well. It's the small fibrous roots which take up water and nutrients. Should be fine. Too late for you, but I used mychorrizal fungi, when I needed to move all my fruit and they certainly did well on it.

[hellybore]

Thanks FB and WendyC, I feel reassured! I did cut a couple of older branches out to make it more manageable to carry, so maybe I could take cuttings from those - there were some newer shoots gowing from them. It's raining out there so they should be ok still in the morning.

[Veggielot]

I have just moved a small blackcurrant bush yesterday, it was my OH bought last year from a pound shop. Wasn't expecting it to do much so didn't really give it much thought regarding where I planted it and now realised that it would end up being to big for the place I put it. It was going to have to go from where it was so thought I had nothing to loose but it at least looks like I chanced on the right time to do it.

[Jardiniere]

I purchased one blackcurrant bush 20 years ago and then about 4 more 6 years ago. I now have about 15 of them and have given loads away. Should have a minimum of 5 more by the end of the year...the bush that keeps on giving......