Another blackcurrant question

[muddled]

On my plot I inherited 3 blackcurrant bushes.
Two give me fruit the size of a small marble, one gives fruit less than a quarter of that size.

I only like blackcurrants in jam so couldn't say if one tastes better....they all taste pretty grim straight from the bush

I took cuttings last year from the big fruit bushes, used them as pea sticks for overwintering peas, they have all taken root.

My question then;
Do the fruit get bigger over the years or should I oik out the bush with small currants in favour of one of my new plants from the big fruit bush?

[Scarlet]

I don't think the fruit gets bigger, but my older bushes are huge and fruit really well. They get pruned every year. Have you pruned your old bushes? They may just need some of the older wood taken out. But if you only want them for a few pots of jam your new bushes will probably give you a much better crop next year - do you need them all?

[Nicos]

I was looking into buying some bushes until a kind grape said she'll give me some rooted cuttings! Yey!

What I noticed is that some varieties are very small- they are particularly popular in French cooking.
Maybe yours are different varieties muddled?

[muddled]

well, yes.
I am wondering if they are different varieties too.
And no, I don't need them all. Space is an issue.

All the bushes are the same size and all seem healthy but one just gives teeny tiny fruit, annoying and harder to pick. if the currants are likely to get bigger each year I'll keep it, if not I'll replace it with the rooted cuttings.

[TrialAndError]

As far as I know the blackcurrants don't get bigger year by year. They produce small or large amounts of fruits roughly the same size each year. As the bushes go from 2 to 3 year old, the yield gets larger but the fruit size stays the same. OIK out the ones producing tiny berries if they are not to your liking.

[sparrow100]

I have some rooted cuttings if you want some muddled. They are small cuttings I stuck in a glass of water to see what would happen. The original bush is about 35 years old and bears masses of big berries on a long string so they are easy to pick.

[muddled]

Ooh yes please sparrow!
That would be wonderful!

Thank you, I'll pm you.

And thanks all for your replies....better than any book this forum! xxx

[fishpond]

Love the blog.