'Big Ben' Blackcurrant Bush
Huuuuuuuuge blackcurrants
Grown by Mike
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Choose your size
Pre-order
Currently out of stock
Currently out of stock
Pre-order for delivery by Early December
Plant diary
- Flower
- Harvest
'Big Ben' Blackcurrant Bush
- Produces fruits that are almost 3 times the size of other blackcurrants
- An outstanding early season variety
- Developed especially for the fresh market, it has soft shiny skin and is extremely sweet - especially when eaten freshly picked
- Develops with a slightly arching habit making the fruit easier to pick and able to be wire-trained if desired
- Resistant to powdery mildew and leaf spot
- High yielding and winner of RHS Award of Garden MeritÂ
What to expect
Supplied as
Height on arrival
Eventual height
Eventual spread
Tasting notes
Time to first crop
Hardiness
Self fertile
Will this grow in my garden?
Can I grow this in a pot?
Yes, 'Big Ben' Blackcurrant is well-suited for container growing; use a pot of at least 30 to 40 cm in diameter with a soil-based compost.
How big does it get?
The 'Big Ben' Blackcurrant Bush generally reaches a mature height and spread of approximately 1.5 metres.
How much sunlight does this need?
The 'Big Ben' Blackcurrant Bush grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade, though yields are highest with more sunlight.
What kind of soil does this plant prefer?
The 'Big Ben' Blackcurrant Bush prefers fertile, moisture-retentive, well-draining soil, and benefits from being planted 5 cm deeper than it was in its pot.
How much watering does this plant need?
The 'Big Ben' Blackcurrant Bush needs about 2.5 to 5 centimetres of water per week, keeping the soil consistently moist particularly when the fruit is swelling.
Will this plant need pruning?
Yes, the 'Big Ben' Blackcurrant Bush should be pruned in winter to remove older wood and encourage new growth for better yields.
How hardy is this plant?
The 'Big Ben' blackcurrant is exceptionally hardy (RHS H6), enduring severe winter temperatures down to -20°C. It is a highly resilient variety that performs excellently in all UK regions, including colder northern gardens.
The wider garden
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Meet Mike
Fruit plants grown with love (and serious knowhow!)
Mike’s our guy when it comes to growing soft fruits. He’s our grape guru. Our gooseberry genius. Our blueberry boffin. What Mike doesn’t know about soft fruits? Well, it simply isn’t worth knowing. Having traversed the world from Australia to Northern Ireland – and even undertaking a horticultural stint in Sweden – Mike combines his enthusiasm, technical expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and favourable climatic conditions of the Cotswolds to grow only the very juiciest, sweetest soft fruits.
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