Redcurrant

Hi all,

Not posted in ages but am having a problem with my redcurrant and after googling produced no luck, thought I'd see if anyone here can help...

I am in Year 3 of my redcurrant. It is planted in the bed, against the fence, where it gets sunshine from about 9am until about 2/3pm.... The first year, I didnt water it enough so it didn't do very well.... I learned from it and did a bit of research. Last year and this year, it's been growing really well, I water it regularly if its not rained and it responds to this, with new growth and healthy leaves etc.... I feed it about once a month from spring (so its due feed no 2 next week)

My prob is, although it seems super healthy, it produces very little fruit - I can currently see about 4 fruit clusters and last year, I had only 3! :-( I don't use chemicals on my fruits, but do thorough checks for aphids and caterpillers etc, none there! I do have a bird feeder by the bush but the birds don't ever land on the grass (that I have seen) or the bush because i also have a cat who is very partial to fresh bird!

Does anyone have any suggestions about what I might be doing wrong? :-(

 

i think they are slow at producing, but could be wrong, plus they also like the morning sun and shade through the afternoon. and think they like clay soil. but not 100% sure.
do you prune it, as that can help with fruit production. but dont quote me about this.

 

1. Promote fruit production by cutting off the tips of "strigs" while in flower. A strig is a mass of flowers growing off a main stem.
2. 
   
   Water the red currant bush often from the flowering period until the fruit harvest. The soil should stay moist but not soggy. After harvesting, the red currant bush will only need watering if the soil becomes very dry.

 

hum, not sure what you mean by cutting the tips off the strigs? Could you explain for me please?

watering and sun is all fine according to checks...I thought there were slow at first but am just hoping or better this year.... Have not pruned at all yet as my fruit expert book and alan titchmarsh aid not to for the first 3 years...?

 

A strig is a mass of flowers growing off a main stem,

 

quote,,,do you prune it, as that can help with fruit production. but dont quote me about this.

i wasnt to sure about the pruning bit and asked my neighbpor as she as redcurrants. and thats what she told me. she didnt mention about the 3 yr wait though. ill have to find out from her tomoz.
mind you i do question her methods some times. thats why i joined here lol.

 

thanks! :-)