How to grow Blackcurrant in Australia
Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) is a small, hardy, deciduous shrub that gives strings of tart, aromatic black berries in early summer. It is a true cool-climate fruit: it needs a long, cold winter to crop, so it suits Tasmania, Canberra, Melbourne, the ranges and other cool southern gardens. One bush is self-pollinating and will fruit on its own.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Blackcurrant in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | Not suited | Not viable in SEQ. Currants need hundreds of chill hours and mild summers. |
| Northern Rivers NSW | Not suited | Not viable. Currants need hard winters and mild summers. Too warm and humid here. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | Not suited | Not reliable on the coast. Too little winter chill and too much humidity. The upper Blue Mountains suits currants. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | June to August | |
| Adelaide & SA | June to August | |
| Perth & WA | Not suited | Not reliable in Perth. Needs cold winters and mild summers; only the cooler south west suits currants. |
| Tasmania | June to August | |
| Canberra & ACT | June to August | |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Currants need hundreds of chill hours. Impossible in the tropics. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Currants need winter chill and dormancy. No chill in Darwin. |
Not to be confused with: Red currant, a relative that fruits on spurs on older wood and is pruned differently, and the dried currants sold in shops, which are small dried grapes.
Where to plant
Plant blackcurrants in full sun or with a little late afternoon shade, sheltered from strong, hot, drying winds. The more sun they get, the more fruit, but in warm areas afternoon shade helps. They like rich, moist soil and cope with heavier soil better than most fruit, though not waterlogging. Avoid frost pockets, where late frost can damage the flowers.
They need a long, cold winter. Gardening Australia puts the need at about a thousand hours below 7°C before they will bear well. In Australia blackcurrants are grown commercially only in Tasmania.
- Hobart and Canberra: ideal. Melbourne and the Adelaide Hills: good.
- Sydney: not reliable on the coast; the upper Blue Mountains suits them.
- Perth: not reliable; only the cooler south west has enough chill.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers, North Queensland and Darwin: not viable, for lack of winter chill.
Choosing a variety
- Many Australian nurseries sell blackcurrant simply by name, without a variety.
- Varieties grown in Tasmania include Whitebud, which is compact and frost resistant, Goliath and Hattons Black.
How to plant
- Plant bare root bushes in late autumn or winter, so they settle in before spring flowering.
- Dig in plenty of compost, and space bushes about 1.5 m apart.
- Plant about 5 cm deeper than the bush grew in the nursery, which encourages strong new shoots from the base.
- After planting, cut all stems back to one or two buds above the soil. You lose the first small crop but get a much stronger bush.
- Water in and mulch well.
Watering and feeding
Water young bushes well during dry spells for their first two years. Established, mulched bushes in the ground need watering only in long dry periods and while the fruit is swelling. Keep mulch topped up to hold moisture in.
Bushes in well-mulched soil need little extra feeding; a little compost or a balanced fertiliser in spring is enough. Feed potted bushes every couple of weeks in the growing season with a liquid feed high in potassium.
Pruning and care through the year
- Prune in winter while the bush is dormant. Blackcurrants fruit best on young stems, so the aim is a steady supply of new wood.
- First remove dead, damaged and diseased wood. Then, on bushes about four years and older, cut up to a third of the oldest, thickest, darkest stems right at the base, keeping an open, rounded shape.
- Cut out any stems with borer damage, which wilt and have a hollow, darkened core.
- Net the bushes before the fruit colours; birds can strip a bush in a day.
Harvesting
Berries ripen in early to mid summer, around December and January in the south. On modern varieties the whole string (strig) ripens together, so cut whole strings. On older types the berries ripen unevenly, so pick them one by one as they turn black and glossy.
Berries keep a few days in the fridge. Freeze surplus on trays or make jam and cordial.
Growing in pots
Blackcurrant suits a pot at least 45 cm wide and deep with a soil-based potting mix. Keep the mix evenly moist, feed through the growing season and stand the pot in a cool spot in summer heat. A potted bush still needs a cold winter to crop.
Using it
- The berries are tart and strongly flavoured. They are best cooked into jam, jelly, cordial, sauces and desserts, though ripe berries can be eaten fresh.
- Blackcurrants are a rich source of vitamin C.
Propagating
Blackcurrants grow easily from hardwood cuttings taken in winter. Cut 15 to 20 cm lengths of one-year-old stem with at least four buds, and push them into soil or a pot of mix with about half the buds below the surface. They root over spring and can be planted out the following winter.
Pests and diseases
Birds take the most fruit. Currant borer is the main insect pest in south-eastern Australia.
Pests to watch for
- Birds Ripening berries stripped from the bush. Net before the fruit colours.
- Currant borer Stems wilt and die in summer, with a hollow, dark centre where the caterpillar tunnelled. Cut affected stems out to the base in winter.
- Aphids Curled, puckered leaves at the shoot tips with small insects underneath.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White, powdery coating on young leaves and shoots. Keep the bush open so air moves through it.
Common questions
Can I grow blackcurrants in Sydney or Brisbane?
Not reliably. Blackcurrants need a long, cold winter, roughly a thousand hours below 7°C, and humid coastal Sydney and Queensland do not provide it. The upper Blue Mountains is the best bet near Sydney.
When should I prune blackcurrants?
In winter while the bush is dormant. Remove dead and damaged wood, then cut up to a third of the oldest, darkest stems at the base on established bushes. Young stems carry the best fruit.
Do I need two blackcurrant bushes?
No. Blackcurrants are self-pollinating, so one bush will fruit on its own.
How long does a blackcurrant take to fruit?
Usually within two to three years of planting, especially if you cut it hard back after planting to build a strong bush.
Can I grow a blackcurrant in a pot?
Yes. Use a pot at least 45 cm wide and deep with a soil-based mix, keep it evenly moist and feed it in the growing season. It still needs a cold winter to crop.
How do you propagate blackcurrants?
From hardwood cuttings in winter. Take 15 to 20 cm lengths of one-year-old stem with at least four buds and plant them with about half the buds below the soil.
Why is my blackcurrant not fruiting?
The most common causes are too little winter chill, birds taking the fruit, or a bush full of old wood. Prune out old stems each winter, net the fruit, and grow blackcurrants only in a cool climate.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Pruning Blackcurrants; Gardening Australia: Pete's Patch; RHS: Blackcurrants; Canberra CityNews: Jackie Warburton on currants; University of Alaska Fairbanks: Propagating currants and gooseberries; Montana State University Extension: Growing currants and gooseberries.