[everdecreasing]

Hubby and I have just taken possession of our first ever plot and we are ridiculously excited. Popped down this weekend to start plotting and planning. The site is in pretty good condition but it does have some blackcurrant bushes situated rather awkwardly in the middle. Apparently the former plotholders had a huge section of fruit bushes, most of which were killed off when the council came in to clear the site (it was untouched for 2 years).

So my question is, can I move the plants at this time of year without killing them? There is an empty space at the top of the plot I've earmarked for soft fruit so ideally I'd like to stick them in there, leaving the main plot free for beds, but I don't want to go to the trouble of frantically clearing that space first if I'm just going to kill them!

[horsepooisgood]

Hi Everdecreasing,

As long as the soil is not waterlogged or frozen they will be fine, move them before March though.
They loke rich soil so any manure will please them.

Oh yes and welcome to the forums.

Mark

[everdecreasing]

Thanks for that, will get digging.

And thanks for the welcome

[Johndeb]

Cut them back hard when it is not freezing (to within 6" of the ground).  Lift with as much soil round the roots as you can. Replant them deep.  Blackcurrants produce new growths from their crown, rather like suckers.  If the bushes are old the crown will be woody and planting them about 1-2" deeper than they were before you moved them will encourage more new wood, which will carry more fruit.

[azubah]

My blackcurrants fruit on last year's growth, so if you cut them down they will produce no fruit this year.
I suggest you cut off as much of the two year old growth as possible and then transplant them as soon as possible. The older growth is darker.
I also find that if you push the twigs in the soil most of them will root easily.