Growing currants in pots

[Jux]

Hi, new here, and newish to gardening. I would welcome advice re growing black and red currants in pots, also raspberry and gooseberry.

I planted the latter two last year in large pots and not much has happened to them since. They grew a bit but didn't produce anything. There was a little leaf curl in the raspberry. Plenty of leaves on both. I assumed they were getting used to their new situation so haven't worried unduly about lack of fruit.

I have just bought black and redcurrants and would like to keep them in pots too.

I don't know what size pot is optimum, how deep to plant, what sort of compost to use and so on. Do I use tomato feed on them like I have on the veg I grew last year?

Could you advise me what to do to make sure the 4 are happy and healthy plants? One day they may actually go into a bed but it depends on other people digging/weeding the wild patch at the bottom as I can't do it. That could take some years (and I've waited 8 already, so am not holding my breath!).

Sorry to have rambled on. I have no idea what I'm doing really!

[bramble]

Don't know if its much help but I have blackcurrant bushes in half barrels. They are there three years now and seem to be producing well. I planted them up in a mixture of garden soil and potting compost.
Just remember they will need to be kept well watered as they are in containers.
I feed mine with a bit of miracle grow in the spring when the buds start to open.
Use the largest pots you can to give them ample space for the roots.
\Raspberries don't need to be planted so deep. I have some in black plastic buckets. They certainly didn't do as well as the ones in the open ground but if your stuck for space then containers are the only way to go.
Good luck whatever you decide.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow a blackberry bramble in a home made container some 20" x 20" x 20" it was planted in MPC some 4 years ago and produces well.

At this time of year it gets a top dressing of Growmore, later when the leaves start to show it will be fed with high nitrogen Miracle Grow changing to high potash tomorite when the fruit forms.

Potty

[Jux]

Bramble, thank you, that's really helpful. I shall follow your instructions carefully!

Potstubs, our blackberries are doing great - they're about 90% of the wild patch at the bottom of the garden! (also the tiny but yummy strawberries the birds have kindly planted for us over the years....)

[rustylady]

Why do you want to keep your fruit bushes in pots?