How much water for gooseberries and blackcurrents ?

[Jay-ell]

When I took on the Jungle I wanted to plant out the goosberry and redcurrant bushes along the edge and grow as a hedge (they're pruned as triple cordons, tied to canes which are tied to the wire of the 8' fence). I underplanted these with strawberries and pineberries and planted a Kiwi fruit to climb along the top of the fence

The first year they were watered regularly to get them established. 3 of the red currants grew poorly but everything else went OK. After that I only water once or twice a week if we're in a dry spell. The third year I took out one of the poor red currants (which had died) an replaced it with a grape.

Now going into the fourth year and the bushes are strong and healthy (although the new growth was almost touching the ground with the weight of the crop ) and they are laden. I haven't watered them yet.

I've posted this elsewhere but I'll show it again as it's relevant but here's part of the hedge

[It never rains..it pours]

Having lived in Essex once, I know how dry it can get in that part of the world. Soil type makes a difference, clays soils (providing they are not winter waterlogged) hold moisture a lot better than light soils. Here I work on a very general 2" 50mm month is enough for everything, which we normally get easily. However been dry for over a month here (yipee) so work on 50mm being 50 litres metre square so now its got dry were giving 10 litres once a week per decent sized bush but have stopped now rain forecast

[Losos]

Having lived in Essex once, I know how dry it can get in that part of the world. ....................................................so now its got dry were giving 10 litres once a week per decent sized bush but have stopped now rain forecast

Yes, according to what I've been told Essex is the driest county, we are second driest here in Suffolk

10 litres once a week so my plan to do 2 litres three times a week roughly the same plus I could do a bit more at the weekend if I had the need (and the energy haha)

[It never rains..it pours]

Yes, according to what I've been told Essex is the driest county, we are second driest here in Suffolk

10 litres once a week so my plan to do 2 litres three times a week roughly the same plus I could do a bit more at the weekend if I had the need (and the energy haha)

I didnt add these are large bushes 4ft square and filling fruit, smaller were getting less, and would water a lot less post fruiting. Hope you get a good crop

[muck lover]

Here’s my penny worth. I would water your black currant bush really generously and slowly/deeply once and follow with a nice deep mulch of something tasty like manure and top with grass clippings or leafmould. And then forget about it for the rest of the year.