Black Currant - Consort (Each)

• Zones: 3-8
• Harvest: June-July
• Fruit: Very prominent, sweet and unique flavor.
• Facts of note: Developed in Ottawa, Ontario and introduced in 1950. Medium clusters of somewhat soft black berries. Good for jams, juice and wine. Excellent when dried, very high source of Vitamin C. Excellent bird forage or windbreak plants. Currants do not thrive in hot summers; you can plant them on the north side of a building if you have sustained summer heat over 90 °F. Self-fertile. Susceptible to leaf spot and mildew. Resistant to white pine blister rust. Plant currants at least 3' apart.

Currants are a relative of gooseberries and are easy to grow and ready to harvest in early to mid-summer. Currants are a traditional European edible and part of the cuisine of France, England, and Germany to name a few. The tart berries are used to make cordial, jelly, jams, added to baked goods, fruit soups and summer puddings. Long-lived, deer resistant, and very winter hardy, they are, however, intolerant of summer heat. Currants are cooperative berries to train as an espalier along a fence.

Currants prefer full sun in cooler, humid areas with plenty of summer rain such as the Pacific Northwest and upper Midwest. In hotter areas they will do better in part shade.

Protect blooms from late spring frost damage. Currants need at least 120-140 frost-free growing days. These tough shrubs tolerate a wide range of soils, but require good drainage and prefer a pH between 5.5 and 7.0.