For a high-yield harvest, currants need an annual summer pruning. This is often referred to as rocket science, but a few basic rules ensure that even beginners can trim the shrubs.

In a nutshell

  • Different summer pruning for red/white and black currants
  • sharp pruning shears required
  • ideal time: immediately after harvest

Currants (Ribes)

Currants, called Ribiseln in Austria, are a plant genus from the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae). White, red and black currant varieties are planted as berries. Since they live for many years, it is worth regularly rejuvenating the shrubs so that the harvest also works.

Summer pruning of white and red currants

Red and white currants bear most fruit on the side shoots of two to three-year-old main branches. Therefore, with the summer pruning of currants, the main goal is to renew the main shoots.

Redcurrants (Ribes rubrum)

1. Cut older branches

The older main shoots include all branches that are more than three years old. They still bear fruit, but the currants are smaller. In addition, the crop yield is lower. Proceed as follows:

  • Remove two to three of the oldest main shoots annually
  • cut right on the ground
  • leave no butts
  • Tools: Pruning shears or small pruning saw

2. Reduce new ground shoots

New shoots on the ground ensure a good harvest, but too many offspring limit the yield because too little light gets to the berries. Therefore, only two or three of the new rods remain. They serve as replacements for the older main shoots that you cut off. Cut off or uproot all other regrowing shoots.

Notice: After completing this measure, your currant bush should have between eight and a maximum of twelve main shoots, all of which are no older than four years.

3. Cut off lateral and competing shoots close to the ground

Side shoots that grow below a height of 30 to 40 centimeters are considered shoots close to the ground. They play no role in the harvest, as the berries do not get enough light to ripen. Competing shoots are steep branches of the main shoot. They do not bear fruit, so unnecessarily compact the shrub. Therefore both are removed.

The closer you cut to the ground, the lower the risk of fungal pathogens or other parasites entering the plant.

4. Cut back fruit shoots

It is best to cut shoots that bear fruit or have been harvested back to cones that are one centimeter long immediately after harvesting. This is how new fruit shoots grow, which will bear berries in one to two years.

5. Leave new side shoots

To ensure the harvest for the coming year, side shoots that have newly grown are retained if they are not too close together. The rule of thumb here is:

  • Distance less than ten centimeters: cut every second shoot to a short pin
  • Distance more than ten centimetres: side shoot is retained

Notice: If you are unsure about the distance, it is better to cut off one fruit shoot more than too little.

Summer pruning of black currants

In contrast to red and white currants, most of the fruits of black currants grow on the one-year-old side shoots. Therefore, these shrubs require a different pruning.

Black currant (Ribes nigrum)

6. Cut Black Johanna

When pruning black currants in the summer, proceed as follows:

  • Shorten the main shoots annually above the second side shoot
  • remove the oldest main shoot directly on the ground
  • cut off all weak branches
  • leave new shoots

frequently asked Questions

How do I prune a currant high trunk?

With the standard tree, carry out a topiary cut after harvesting. The aim is to keep the high stem compact so that it looks pretty. In addition, you should shorten about a quarter of the oldest branches to two to five centimeters. Furthermore, base shoots and shoots on the stem are removed.

Can I also cut currants earlier?

Currants can also be cut in the spring before the leaves sprout. However, this is not recommended, as the main, side and fruit shoots to be cut are difficult to distinguish at this point.

How do I recognize the oldest shoots?

You can recognize old branches on the currant bush by the following characteristics:
- have the darkest color
- are heavily lignified and the thickest

Category:

Garden plants