[Growster...]

When we took over the patch a couple of years ago, we discovered all sorts of treasures under an 8 ft high bramble patch, about 20 ft by 30 ft. The brambles really were terrifying, so we just axed the lot, dug out the roots and started again... (The pic shows the problem at the far end).

But Mrs Growster discovered several gems, during the napalm raid...

1) Dozens of daffodils, still trying to grow.
2) Two lots of rhubarb, which weren't being given a chance...

and...

3) Two really old, staggering, unsupported blackcurrant bushes, with hardly any leaves, no fruit, and a few branches seeking help in all directions!

Mrs G, did a 'Duchess of Duke Street', and gave them both a good talking to, a small nip and tuck here and there, and a lot of compost and feed, as well as twelve months to show themselves what they could do! I reckon they'd been there for at least ten years, so there wasn't much expectation, until a few weeks ago!

Both bushes are now thriving with masses of flowers and fresh greenery! We haven't a clue what type they are, other than perhaps 'Survivor', or maybe 'Ben Gunn', or Phil Collins (Against all odds), to name but three...;0)

She's good at bringing old crocks back to life is Mrs G...

[Beetroot queen]

My blackcurrants look like little chandeliers they are dripping in flowers. Ours main two were unloved and abdoned on an old plot when someone left and he told us to help ourselves so we did. I think they will reward you well, another question why do blackcurrant bushes need support, mine are bushes no support needed. 

[DD.]

I've got similar to Growster's.

When I took my current plot on on in, I think it was 2002, it had been untended for 5 years. The council flailed the top growth, (I didn't want them rotavating in the weeds for me). For some reason stopped short of the bottom end.

Underneath this I found 5 blackcurrant bushes with 6' branches going in all directions. I chopped them all down to about 1'. They duly re-sprouted and I've got a nice row of bushes with masses of flower.

Mrs Digger also has a row that were propagated from prunings of these bushes about 5 years ago. They are now about the same size and it looks like masses of currants this year.

Jam anyone?

[sunshineband]

How good to inherit blackcurrant bushes et al 

I have a redcurrant bush I dug up out of Dad's garden after he passed away -- knarled, lop sided and distinctly unpromising.

This year, after severe pruning and TLC, it is also dripping with flowers.

All we need now is enough bees etc to pollinate them all

[GrannieAnnie]

The tiny blackcurrant plant I found growing in our old patio when we first moved in was 10 years old and getting quick big and straggly.  So I chopped it down to around a foot high.  It also has a baby next to it that I tried to re-home, but didn't get any takers.

I don't think it has any fruit on it yes, but it is lovely and green again!

[gavinjconway]

I got given 2 full grown redcurrants via freecycle and 2 white from a friend about 18 months ago so I plonked them in pots to over winter them and in the spring quickly planted them. They had quite a few fruit last year and then my plotty neighbour gave me 2 tiny black currants and also planted out in the spring. This year they are about 3' high and loaded with flowers as are all my cutrrants.. I love making jam...

[surbie100]

I rely on Mum's garden for currants. I gave her a few twigs as a mother's day present when I was about 10, and they are all (red and black) absolute monsters 30 years later.

If she ever has to leave the house, I'm digging them up and taking them off!

My Norwegian cousins have 40 year-old redcurrant bushes lining their drive and under the veranda (Norway being somewhat vertical!) and they have so many they make syrup for squash out them, for the family and as many neighbours who want it...

They are very generous plants - and thankfully survive the -20 winters Oslo throws at them.

[pdblake]

I inherited an ancient blackcurrant too. I was told it had been there donkey's years. It was in an awful state. So I took cuttings from it, which have all taken, and cut it right back down to the ground. It's showing new growth now, but I won't get any fruit this year. Still, I've got plenty of cuttings so the future is looking very curranty

[devonbarmygardener]

I inherited 2 blackcurrant bushes too.

First couple of years the berries were stolen (and not by birds).
Then I picked them for a couple of years and din't have enough to do anything with so they sat in the freezer for a few years!
Now I ignore them and they still fruit!
I'm sure it's the spirits of my grandfathers and granny keeping an eye on them - they were all currant mad and had loads of bushes in their gardens when I was small! :happy:

I've had the plot for 9 years now and these 2 bushes are still going! Don't know how long they were already there - I suspect just a couple of years as the label was still readable - Ben-something-or-other.
I think they need to go though as in the way of the new shed.

Wonder if they'd cope with a shady corner of my garden...

..any ideas??

[rachelsco]

i bought a little tiny twig of blackcurrant bush from aldi 2 years ago to go on my new plot. it grew slowly, no fruit tho  last year.  then my hubby thought it was a weed and walked all over it til i told him otherwise, by which time it was flattened down onto the ground .  im amazed to say that i lifted the flattened stem up to see if it was doing anything currantty this morning and lo and behold its covered in currants, even tho its stem is broken in two.

[Growster...]

Marvellous replies - thank you all!

It seems that there is a general optimistic thread here, in that any plant or bush or shrub or tree, will at least have half a chance, if someone who wants it to succeed - like all of us - just applies a bit of TLC, (and maybe a handfull of bonemeal), and has a story to tell the following season!

I thought blackcurrants needed re-propagating every few years, but now I'm not so sure! These two have big thick stems and are very hard wood indeed!

Some other cuttings Mrs G made a few years ago, and which were languishing in a 'wild' bed we have at 'The Turrets', are now also zooming ahead in new beds down on 'The Patch', rather like a retired donkey seen on the BBc, leaping around his/her new home away from the beaches at Southend, or Eastbourne!