The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: hennypenny on July 23, 2010, 11:42:48 am

Title: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: hennypenny on July 23, 2010, 11:42:48 am

Can anyone help?  Ive a friend with a really fruitful blackcurrant and id like to take some cuttings, but dont know best time?

Title: Re: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: doganjo on July 23, 2010, 11:57:22 am

I've taken cuttings from flowering currant bushes at various times of the year and they've grown, but I don't know if the fruiting varieties are different.  So I'd be interested too.  My bushes sometimes throw out rootlings to the side - maybe you can take them instead of cuttings (Irish cuttings I think they are called?)

Title: Re: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: Fleecewife on July 27, 2010, 11:30:11 pm

Those would work. Also you can pin down the tip of longer branches and they will root. Once they have a good root ball, pot them up and cut the branch they were attached to the parent by.  Blackcurrants are really easy to propagate.  The official time is probably over the winter but why not try some ordinary cuttings now if they have finished fruiting - nothing to lose.

Title: Re: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: scattybiker1972 on July 28, 2010, 09:19:36 am

in autumn

dig a narrow trench 6 in deep
if clay sprinkle sand over bottom of trench to improve drainage
choose a ripened stem from this years growth
remove lenghts of at least 12 in cutting flush with main stem
cut off all leaves  and soft growth at tip ,trim to 9 in ,make an angled cut above top bud  and straight cut at base
place cuttings in trench 4-6 in apart burying 2/3 of stem 
firm soil and label
 next year they should grow and after leaf fall  in autumn lift them,and transplant and grow on.
 hope this helps and good luck and have fun
take more cuttings than you think youl need as they might not all grow
prob most will tho.

Title: Re: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: pottsie on July 28, 2010, 10:20:29 am

When i was clearing out the weeds from around the bottom of my blackkcurrent bushes yesterday, i found about 20 self sewn plants. I have potted them in to small plant pots hopeing to get new plants, will this work? or do i need to take cuttings?

Rob.  ;D

Title: Re: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: Fergie on July 28, 2010, 10:29:27 am

Unless they are hybrids, I would have thought that self sown plants would be better than cuttings - after all, they've already taken root?

John

Title: Re: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: doganjo on July 28, 2010, 11:30:23 am

As I said before these are called 'Irish Cuttings' I believe.  Should do well.

Title: Re: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: scattybiker1972 on July 28, 2010, 11:33:33 am

they will work. thats how the plant would reproduce itself naturally..from seed or layerings..its just us taking advantage of the plants natural ability to regenerate by taking cuttings   ;D

Title: Re: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: hennypenny on July 29, 2010, 04:59:41 am

Thanks for all the replies....blackcurrants are a fruit I really want to grow. My daughter also likes gooseberries, and I planted 2 bushes bought from Tragos....something has reduced these to mere sticks! so will have to try again.....ah, the joys of gardening!

Title: Re: how and when do I take blackcurrant cuttings?
Post by: doganjo on July 29, 2010, 11:52:01 am

Leave the goosies - they'll probably come back again next spring - mine did - it's caterpillars - they strip the leaves so no fruit can survive