Blackcurrant affairs

Saturday 1 September 2012

The humble blackcurrant might not be as fashionable as so-called superfoods such as blueberries and goji berries but it's easier to grow and every bit as nutritious.

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Dave Allan

Scientists and plant breeders are increasingly recognising the dietary value of blackcurrants. In an article published in March by The Royal Society of Chemistry, the authors note: "Blackcurrants have demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in a myriad of disease states. In addition, blackcurrant possesses a high content of vitamin C, contributing to the high antioxidant activity of berries. Some of the properties of blackcurrants include anthocyanins."

The pigments that give berries their rich colouring, anthocyanins have antioxidant effects and offer anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer benefits.Over the past decade, researchers have been amassing data which plant breeders will be able to use. As Dr Rex Brennan, fruit breeding director at the world-leading James Hutton Institute, says: "Future varieties will extend this attribute even further, since high anthocyanin content is one of the core characteristics sought by the blackcurrant industry, for both natural colour and health reasons."So, although I recognise the virtues of traditional blackcurrant varieties, such as the mid-season Baldwin which has been grown for the past 150 years, I'm always delighted to make space for new ones. They could, after all, be tastier and more nutritious. Breeders are coming up with new varieties such as Big Ben, which produces sweet berries three times the size of a normal blackcurrant.Few folk have time and space to make endless pots of blackcurrant jam – most only want small amounts of the fruit at a time, meaning it's important to choose the right variety. Among those which do well in 45-litre containers are early cropping Ben Gairn, a small, compact bush, and Ben Connan, which starts fruiting early, yielding berries into August. If you have space and want to extend the season then Ben Lomond and Ben Tirnan are worth considering.Whichever varieties you grow, you'll want a good crop next year, so it's time to wield the loppers. Although gardeners are often advised to prune blackcurrants in late autumn and winter, it does no harm to tidy up a bush now, keeping it healthy by allowing good air circulation. Some gardeners find it easier to harvest their berries by cutting out and stripping mature branches.Besides encouraging good ventilation, pruning is designed to maximise next year's crop. Blackcurrants fruit on one-year-old wood as well as one-year-old stems growing from the previous year's branches. Red, white and pink currants only fruit on stems that are at least two years old, so you need to prune blackcurrants differently and can only grow them as bushes.The first step is identifying the age of different branches. Fresh and green, this year's growth is easy to see. Some sprout from the crown of the bushes, while other shoots grow along the stems of older branches. Last year's stems are pale grey/brown and older ones are much darker, with a slightly peeling bark. You should remove all these old branches, but only some of the rest.The bush will be a bit of a tangle even if you pruned it assiduously last year, so you need a clear idea of the final shape you want. Aim to get a compact bush with an open centre – rather like an inverted umbrella. The branches should grow at 45 degrees, well off the ground, but not climbing to the heavens. Branches should grow freely, so remove any which are crossing or rubbing others. Spindly shoots should be culled too. By the time you've finished, you'll probably have removed about a third of the older wood, which is the target.Start by removing the ground huggers. Some branches will have collapsed to the ground under the weight of berries and they must get the chop. Use loppers or a pruning saw to cut right back to base, most likely doing this in stages. Work from the outside, snipping off and removing sections of a branch. This prevents any damage to the branches you want to keep. If you tried to remove a branch in one go, you'd almost certainly break other stems.Two-year-old branches are also for the heave-ho, leaving room for this year's and last year's growth. You will then need to clear the centre of the bush by removing small, spindly growth and cutting out any stems that are growing into the centre. This job involves tracing the offending stem to its join with a larger one and snipping it there.Finally, remove those stems which are crossing and rubbing, along with whose pointing down or vertically. You should end up with between six and 10 main branches, a mix of new and old wood. The one-year-old growth carries fresh shoots that will bear fruit next year and a hard-pruned bush will fill out all too quickly. nVisit www.askorganic.co.uk. Email your gardening queries to da@askorganic.co.uk

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