[meriad]

I have a red and a black currant bush at home that I would like to move to my allotment; but they are both rather neglected and overgrown with no shape whatsoever.   I'm willing to risk no fruit next year; so with that in mind could I do a fairly hard prune say to about 30cm / 12"  from the ground each, which not only will make moving them easier but also give me a new framework to work with going forwards?   

I've done a 'google' and found a few threads in various forums but none really mention a hard prune they all talk about renovating a plant left in situ or moving a plant that's had a regular prune / trim

Thanks in advance

[Goosegirl]

Hi Miriad. It's a good time to move them whilst the ground is still relatively warm. Red and blackcurrant bushes fruit in a different manner. With your blackcurrants, I'd trim it down to about 15" then remove the darker older branches down to the ground, cut off any branches that are crossing inwards to obtain a cup-shape that lets the air get into the centre. Dig around the bush enough so you can remove it without it being too heavy. With the redcurrant, trim it to the same height, cut out any crossing branches, then trim the side shoots by taking off about 2/3rds of its length.

[meriad]

Goosegirl, thank you so very much!    I'll be uprooting this weekend then   thanks again