[Debz]

I would be grateful for any advice about how and when to prune currant bushes.  I got a couple at the beginning of last year and they put on a lot of growth and I don't know how best to look after them. 

[DD.]

The technique is different depening on whether they are red,white or black, but this covers all:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_growingcurrants1.shtml

[Joolz]

I've read in a some of the texts that you should prune them back hard after planting. To a couple of inches above the soil. Would that be advisable if planting now - when they have formed a few buds?

Thanks in advance

Joolz

[DD.]

That's what's advised.

It encourages shooting from below ground level.

[viettaclark]

According to Ken Muir, blackcurrants should be pruned back to within 2 buds or 1" of ground level. This is to stimulate shoots to carry the fruit in the NEXT season. They crop on old wood.....the best fruit is produced on the wood produced the previous summer.
So don't expect anything this year!
Red and white currants (bush and half-standard) should not be pruned until planting/bud burst (whichever is later) and you need to form a vase shape. Completely cut out any branches that don't fit the vase shape and the remaining branches should be cut back to a third of their original length to left and right facing buds.
Any suckers on the stem/roots should be pulled off in June/July while still soft.
Carry on doing this each year until you have a full bush. From then there's a spring and summer pruning regime to follow.
So don't expect any fruit from them this year either!
I've had my redcurrants for 3 years this year and only got a handful of fruit last summer. Maybe this year will be the one!!!

[Joolz]

Thanks everybody!

joolz

[diggerjoe]

would it be ok moving some in the next couple of weeks. A new near neighbour has taken over a plot and does not want his well established redcurants and said I can have them ( I helped him start to clear his plot at the end of last year) They are quite a size and I'm bound to chop some roots digging them up - do you think they will survive?

[gillie]

It is worth a try.  Prune them back hard and leave them out of the ground for the absolute minimum time.

Once they are established red currant bushes can give huge crops, but birds love them and they must be netted.

Gillie

[viettaclark]

Good time to replant but make sure the soil isn't wet and squidgy.
As they're mature redcurrant bushes just follow the pruning advice for planting out. You don't want to cut them right back and start again if it's not necessary. You might get some fruit this year if they're happy!!!