Red Lake Currant
Ribes. Beautiful clusters of fruit as red as rubies. Red currants are best known for wonderful jellies, but with their bright red colour they also make a shinning addition to summer salads and drinks. Red Lake is very productive and one of the best tasting red currants. Self-pollinating. Hardy to zone 2. Produces fruit in 2–3 years. No. 1 sized plants.
Spring Planting: this product will be shipped late April through May according to hardiness zone.
Scroll down for more details and growing information.
Sold as: Pkg of 1
Details
Growing Information
Important! Upon Arrival:
Keep moist and cool. Fruits and berries are shipped in dormant form so they can be transplanted out once the soil can be worked in the spring. Light frosts will not damage the plants as they are in the resting stage. If you are unable to plant immediately, the plants can be stored for a short period of time. This should be a dark, cool (but not freezing) location such as an unheated garage, fridge or a cold cellar. Ideally they would be stored as close to 2°C or 35°F as possible. They should also be kept moist, but not wet, until they are planted. We DO NOT Recommend planting them in pots until the weather is warmer. A tree that breaks dormancy and begins growing in a pot will suffer from terrible transplant shock when replanted in the permanent site.
Planting:
Choose a sunny location that has good air movement to reduce disease problems. Currants can be long lived so be sure to prepare the soil well before planting. Add compost or well-rotted manure to the hole before planting. Plant the canes slightly deeper than they were growing previously (look for soil mark on stem). Plants should be spaced 3 feet apart in rows 6 feet apart.
Growing:
Prune back to 2 buds to encourage vigorous growth. It is important to have 2-4 inches of mulch around the plants as they like cool, moist soil. Straw, bark, or grass clippings all work well. Plants should be pruned in late winter or early spring when the plant is dormant. Black currants will bear fruit on 1 year old wood, so each year, older canes should be removed. About 12 canes per plant is an ideal number to maintain.