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How to Grow Redcurrants USA | Care, Pests & Disease Control

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Redcurrant (Ribes rubrum)

Hanging clusters of ripe red currants — “Punaherukka - 'Punainen Hollantilainen' - Ribes rubrum” by Ukonkappyra is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

6 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Site
6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6.5–7.5
Biggest risk
Powdery mildew

Redcurrants (Ribes rubrum) — perennial.

This crop carries an unusually heavy problem load: 4 diseases, 6 pests and 0 nutrient issues are documented for it, so most of the effort in growing it well goes into prevention.

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

Diseases

A whitecurrant cultivar, a pale variant of Ribes rubrum — “Overlege Wingesvei 4A hage 20210725 132543” by Ranværing is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Overlege Wingesvei 4A hage 20210725 132543” by Ranværing is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Honey fungus
low

Armillaria spp.

RHS names this directly.

Coral spot
low

RHS names this directly.

Currant leaf spot
low

RHS names this directly.

Pests

A row of cultivated redcurrant bushes heavy with fruit — “Johannisbeeren - panoramio (1)” by pictures Jettcom is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Johannisbeeren - panoramio (1)” by pictures Jettcom is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Aphididae (various spp.)

Currant blister aphid
low

Cryptomyzus ribis

RHS names this directly.

Gall mites
low

Eriophyidae

RHS names this directly.

Capsid bugs
low

Miridae

RHS names this directly.

Scale insects
low

Diaspididae / Coccidae

RHS names this directly.

Gooseberry sawfly
low

Nematus ribesii

RHS names this directly.

Quick Facts

Hanging clusters of ripe red currants — “Punaherukka - 'Punainen Hollantilainen' - Ribes rubrum” by Ukonkappyra is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Punaherukka - 'Punainen Hollantilainen' - Ribes rubrum” by Ukonkappyra is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6.5 - 7.5
Sunlight 6-6 hours direct sun
Optimal growing temp 10-22C
Minimum survivable temp -10C
Drainage Well-drained
Lifecycle perennial
Edible parts fruit

At a Glance

A whitecurrant cultivar, a pale variant of Ribes rubrum — “Overlege Wingesvei 4A hage 20210725 132543” by Ranværing is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Overlege Wingesvei 4A hage 20210725 132543” by Ranværing is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Ribes rubrum Redcurrant Powdery mildew Honey fungus Coral spot Currant leaf spot Aphids Currant blister aphid Gall mites Capsid bugs Scale insects Gooseberry sawfly DISEASES PESTS

Soil & Growing Conditions

A row of cultivated redcurrant bushes heavy with fruit — “Johannisbeeren - panoramio (1)” by pictures Jettcom is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Johannisbeeren - panoramio (1)” by pictures Jettcom is licensed under CC BY 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

Young developing clusters of redcurrants — “Jeunes grappes de groseilles à Grez-Doiceau 004” by VerboseDreamer is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Jeunes grappes de groseilles à Grez-Doiceau 004” by VerboseDreamer 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 taken in autumn (RHS).
Establishment 3 Mulch with well-rotted compost, manure or bark, especially on dry soils; water regularly if container-grown (RHS).
Flowering and fruiting 6 Produces hanging clusters of shining red berries, attractive to pollinators when flowering (RHS).
Mature shrub 9 Reaches full maturity over a notably long 5-10 years, 1.5-2.5m in height, 1-1.5m spread (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

Hanging clusters of ripe red currants — “Punaherukka - 'Punainen Hollantilainen' - Ribes rubrum” by Ukonkappyra is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Punaherukka - 'Punainen Hollantilainen' - Ribes rubrum” by Ukonkappyra is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: USU: "Currants ripen over a two-week period in mid-June to mid-July...and change color to a bright red when fully ripe"; fruit "do not need to be harvested as soon as they turn red, as they hold well on the plant"; leaving fruit 2-3 weeks after coloring "will enhance flavor and sweetness"; harvest "the whole cluster at once" since the tender skins tear easily; yield "about 3 to 10 pounds per bush". RHS: protect ripening fruit from birds with netting or a fruit cage.

Storage

Best used fresh or for jams/juice; tender skins tear easily so handle by the cluster

References

  1. country=INTL

  2. country=INTL

  3. country=UK

  4. country=UK

  5. 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. country=USA

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

What soil pH do redcurrants 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 redcurrants?

Our data links 4 diseases and 6 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Almost everything on this page resolves to your own frost dates rather than the calendar — the last spring frost moves by roughly two months between zone 3 and zone 10. The USA Garden Planner works from your zone so the timing is already decided before the season starts.

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Instant PDF download · Written for US growing conditions

SoilCommander Editorial Team

US vegetable growing guides · Checked against USDA & Cooperative Extension guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real US growing conditions, and checked against USDA hardiness and frost-date data and Cooperative Extension growing advice before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides USA

Last verified 2026-08-29

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