Blackcurrant

Blackcurrants are rich in vitamin C and have more than three times the Vitamin C of oranges they also contain antioxidants like anthocyanins. American research shows Blackcurrants help slow down the effects of Alzheimer's .

Blackcurrants grow best in well drained soil and fed with rotted manure or leaf mould.

Space bushes 5-6 feet / 1.5 metres apart.

Cooking

Ideal for fruit pies, summer puddings and jam making.

Homemade Blackcurrant Jam Recipe

Ingredients

4 lb. blackcurrants

3 pints water

6 lb. sugar

Method

Put the cleaned fruit in the pan with the water.

Bring to the boil and simmer until soft.(approx 30 mins)

Stir in the sugar and boil rapidly until setting point is reached.

Remove from the heat, skim, pot, and label.

This should make approx 10lbs of jam

Propagation

Blackcurrants can be easily propagated from cuttings 8-12 inch / 20-30 cm long and inserted up to 6 inch / 15 cm in a trench containing a layer of sand in the base.

Pests

Big bug mite, greenfly, spider mite, leaf spot, American mildew, grey mould.