Transporting blackcurrant bushes in January...

[Nicos]

We're thinking of bringing back some mature blackcurrant bushes from the uk.
At the moment they are in someone's garden.
Won't be able to do so until January.
So, I was wondering.....will January be the wrong time of the year to try cuttings?
also, if we do bring them back whole with a large rootball-can the roots and stems be cut back dramatically to make room for them in the car?

I don't want to kill them, but really want to bring some back.
Any advice is appreciated!

Ps...no idea of what variety , but they produce very large sweet fruit so it's an opportunity not to be missed.

[veggiechicken]

Its always the right time to do anything -when that's the only time you have!
They'll be dormant in January. The young branches you cut off will be the those that fruit next year.
Do both, -dig them up and shove the roots ball in a bin bag. Put the cut off bits in another bag and bung them in the car.

Bung 'em and shove 'em - that's my style

[Greenleaves]

Jan is a perfect time to do it, as VC says that when they are having a nap

[Nicos]

OK!... so-how dramatically can I cut them back?
They are about 4ft high and wide....and about 6of them!

[veggiechicken]

Give them a good prune before you do anything - and see what is left. You don't want to move dead wood https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-y.../blackcurrants

[Nicos]

They were all in full leaf back in September , so I imagine they will still be all healthy.
I was just concerned about cutting them back too much so that they can't recover....also the roots!

I read in that link VC that you need to plant then an inch or so deeper than previously to encourage new growth from the base....so clearly they don't behave like Rosemay bushes!

I'm pretty rubbish with most fruit bushes/trees for some reason
Can you tell?

[veggiechicken]

Unless they are young bushes or have been kept well pruned, you will find tired old branches near the base. Better to thin them out before you move them so the bushes will be smaller and lighter. Old branches are brittle anyway so may snap.
I've found blackcurrants to be as tough as old boots and take all sorts of heavy handed chopping.
If you want fruit next year, try to leave some of the new growth on the bush, even if its just one bush.
When you're cutting back, leave some new growth in place to grow next year - don't go right back to old wood.

Someone who knows what they're talking about will be along shortly

[4Shoes]

Agree, give them a good going over.

I was going to try and move 2 bushes from Glasgow to Wigtown but noticed rot at the base of the bushes just above the surface, so took cutting last month to start new stock. Didn't want to transfer anything to my new patch.

One bush I cut right out... The other, looks like a Goblet. Must say it never looked this good when I wanted it to grow for me. Must be the thought of a friendly new owner, or even look good and they might let me stay

I suspect once you dig the plants out, you could get right in and cut anything suspect right out at the roots and cover with a treatment before wrapping roots with wet paper and cling film to keep the moisture in until such time you can plant in new spot.

You can clean the cuttings with mild VWP Cleaner & Steriliser, sanitiser (or similar) if concerned about surface diseases.

[Jimny14]

How desperate are you for fruit next year? You could just take loads of cuttings ram em in compost in pots and transport them back. When your back home stick em all in the ground in long lines about 1ft apart and when they almost inevitably all take you'll have a whole Grove of blackcurrants.

[veggiechicken]

You're talking my language, Jimny
Last year I took a load of cuttings from my blackcurrants and plonked them in a buckt of water. They all rooted and fruited in the bucket
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ngs_94374.html

PS I like the thought of a grove of blackcurrants - may have to create one to go with the jostaberry jungle, the kale forest and the rhubarbery

[Nicos]

Cor....looks like they are hardier than I had expected!

I'm not really bothered if they fruit this year...I already have a few bushes of other varieties....

So...thanks, I'll do a combination of your ideas and hopefully something will survive!

[It never rains..it pours]

In my experience they are very hardy, moved a muture one last year, cut top right down few weeks before digging up so it had adjustemnt time and has romped away this year but wont start fruiting again to next year I guess

[BUFFS]

When you trim the stems, keep the top 12ins, 30cms I think and lay a strip of hessian on the bench/ table, spread some MPC along the bottom half for three quarters of the length and lay the cuttings, base into the soil with the tips exposed and roll the hessians' up to a Swiss roll shape, dip the bottom had in some water, let it drain and it's set up to be left until you are ready to transport to where ever you want..

[Mark_Riga]

If it was me, as you have other bushes, I would just take cutting to reduce the risk of transferring any disease in the soil. Also you are likely to get better plants from cutting than the old bushes. I take cutting every about 5 to 7 years and get rid of the old when they are big enough.
They root very easily - I've pruned a bush in the past and some bits left on the ground have rooted. Generally take about 8 to 12 inch long well growing shoots and stick them in the ground up to the middle.

[Nicos]

More good ideas!
I'd not considered the soil disease aspect...thanks for that