[Livinhope]

I have a red currant bush and would like to try taking cuttings to grow some more.  Can anyone 'talk' me through the process please.

[Ivah]

In the Autumn you should be cutting back the leaders anyway, these make good cuttings. Long cuttings over a foot are good, strip off all the buds except the top 4 or 6 and insert in a slit made with a spade; add a little sharp sand if you are on clay. Let them grow on the first year and plant them out next Autumn with the shoots cut back to 4 or 5 buds. This way you will be forming a bush on a leg which is ideal for Red or White Currants. Black Currants are different as you want a lot of shoots from below ground, for these take the top out of the cuttings and leave all the buds on.

[Livinhope]

That's exactly the info I wanted, thank you very much.  I've got some lovely leaders so here goes in Septemberish.

[Livinhope]

As you obviously know the form with fruit bushes.............my daughter planted three gooseberries straight into the ground, there were no instructions with them.  How should we treat them in this their first, unproductive, year?