Currant

Fruit · cool season · also called blackcurrant, redcurrant

Black currants hanging among the leaves
Photo: Unknown photographer, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

When to plant

  • Set out plants about 4 weeks before your average last spring frost.

Very cold hardy; tolerates part shade. Struggles in hot-summer zones 8+.

Frost dates depend on where you live. Enter your ZIP code to get exact dates.

Growing basics

Sun
Part sun (4–6 hours)
Spacing
4–5 ft
Soil temperature
At least 45°F
Containers
At least 15 gallons
Plant family
Other
Harvest per plant
About 5 lb

Companions

Keep apart: Horseradish. Horseradish spreads aggressively. Give it its own spot.

Keep apart: Mint. Mint spreads aggressively into neighbors. Keep it in a pot.

Keep apart: Fennel (bulb). Fennel slows the growth of most garden plants. Grow it on its own.

Keep apart: Sunchoke (Jerusalem artichoke). Sunchokes spread aggressively and shade neighbors.

Grow it well

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