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How to Grow Blackcurrants UK | Regional Planting Calendar

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How to Grow Blackcurrants UK | Regional Planting Calendar guide thumbnail

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)

A blackcurrant shrub growing in a botanical garden — “Ribes nigrum - Copenhagen Botanical Garden - DSC08055” by Daderot is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

6 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Plant
Early October to late May
Site
soil pH 6.5–7.5
Biggest risk
Powdery mildew

In the UK, blackcurrants go in the ground early October to late May.

Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) — perennial.

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early October in Southern England to early October in Scotland.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

Regional Planting Calendar

Detail of a blackcurrant branch with leaves and fruit — “Ribes nigrum kz1” by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Ribes nigrum kz1” by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Region Sow
Southern England early October to late May
Midlands early October to late May
Northern England early October to late May
Scotland early October to late May
Southern England - detail & sources

RHS: best planted September/October or April/May; a single autumn-to-spring window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since RHS gives no UK-region-specific gradient.

Midlands - detail & sources

RHS: best planted September/October or April/May; a single autumn-to-spring window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since RHS gives no UK-region-specific gradient.

Northern England - detail & sources

RHS: best planted September/October or April/May; a single autumn-to-spring window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since RHS gives no UK-region-specific gradient.

Scotland - detail & sources

RHS: best planted September/October or April/May; a single autumn-to-spring window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since RHS gives no UK-region-specific gradient.

Quick Facts

A blackcurrant shrub growing in a botanical garden — “Ribes nigrum - Copenhagen Botanical Garden - DSC08055” by Daderot is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Ribes nigrum - Copenhagen Botanical Garden - DSC08055” by Daderot is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6.5 - 7.5
Optimal growing temp 17-25C
Minimum survivable temp -28C
Drainage Moist but well-drained
Lifecycle perennial
Edible parts fruit

At a Glance

Ripe dark purple blackcurrant berries on the branch — “Blackcurrant in Rind village” by Ավետիսյան91 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Blackcurrant in Rind village” by Ավետիսյան91 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Ribes nigrum Blackcurrant Powdery mildew Honey fungus Coral spot Currant leaf spot Aphids Pigeons Blackcurrant gall midge Blackcurrant big bud mi… DISEASES PESTS

Soil & Growing Conditions

Immature green blackcurrant clusters — “Grappes de cassis immatures (1)” by Jean-Pierre Bazard Jpbazard is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Grappes de cassis immatures (1)” by Jean-Pierre Bazard Jpbazard is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Soil pH range

6.5 7.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

A close-up of unripe blackcurrant clusters — “Grappes de cassis immatures (2)” by Jean-Pierre Bazard Jpbazard is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Grappes de cassis immatures (2)” by Jean-Pierre Bazard Jpbazard is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Planting 0 Best planted September/October or April/May, propagated by hardwood cuttings (RHS).
Establishment 3 Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or compost; apply general purpose fertiliser in spring (RHS).
Fruiting 6 Produces dark purple berries in mid-summer, fruiting best on younger wood (RHS).
Winter pruning 9 Remove up to one-quarter of the oldest stems at ground level each winter to encourage new basal growth (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

Ripe dark purple blackcurrant berries on the branch — “Blackcurrant in Rind village” by Ավետիսյան91 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Blackcurrant in Rind village” by Ավետիսյան91 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: RHS: produces "bunches of dark purple edible berries in mid-summer"; blackcurrants "fruit best on younger wood" so up to a quarter of the oldest stems are removed at ground level annually to encourage new growth from the base; an established plant can yield up to 10lb of fruit and remains productive "for up to fifteen years".

Storage

Best used fresh or for jam/juice; freezes well

Diseases

A close-up of unripe blackcurrant clusters — “Grappes de cassis immatures (2)” by Jean-Pierre Bazard Jpbazard is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Grappes de cassis immatures (2)” by Jean-Pierre Bazard Jpbazard is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Honey fungus

Armillaria spp.

Coral spot
low

RHS names this directly.

Currant leaf spot
low

RHS names this directly.

Pests

Detail of a blackcurrant branch with leaves and fruit — “Ribes nigrum kz1” by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Ribes nigrum kz1” by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Aphididae (various spp.)

Pigeons
moderate

Columbidae (family)

RHS names this directly.

Blackcurrant gall midge
moderate

Dasineura tetensi

RHS names this directly.

Blackcurrant big bud mite
moderate

Cecidophyopsis ribis

RHS names this directly.

References

  1. country=INTL

  2. country=INTL

  3. country=UK

  4. country=UK

  5. country=UK

  6. Directly fetched and verified. RHS explicitly does not recommend pesticide use against aphids; recommends tolerance, manual squashing, and encouraging/purchasing natural predators (ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings, parasitoid wasps, earwigs) as biological control, especially under glass.

6 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow blackcurrants in the UK?

In Southern England, from early October. In Scotland, wait until early October. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow blackcurrants?

Sow early October to late May.

What soil pH do blackcurrants need?

A pH of about 6.5–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect blackcurrants?

Our data links 4 diseases and 4 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

UK vegetable growing guides · Checked against RHS & Met Office guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Last verified 2026-08-29

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