Blackcurrant Bushes

Raised by the Scottish Crop Research Institute and introduced by us. Ben More is by far the best for plant habit, making a good cup-shaped. easy to manage bush. It is the latest flowering, even a few days later than Jet, so normally avoiding spring frosts but with the advantage of fruiting much earlier (same time as Baldwin). The fruits are very large produced on shortish strings and ripen evenly with the excellent true blackcurrant flavour. The bush is upright with very strong branches that support the massive crop well.

We were pleased to be the first to introduce this completely new type of blackcurrant raised by the Scottish Crop Research Institute. Ben Sarek is a new, compact variety and is the first of a new range of highly productive small bush hybrids, specifically raised for planting at a closer spacing and still giving a heavier crop per bush, so perfect for garden culture. Ben Sarek flowers at the same time as Baldwin, the standard mid-season variety, but is much more tolerant of frost and cold, and fruits approximately 7-10 days earlier. It forms a small, compact bush that rarely…

 An old heirloom variety that has become superceded but remains fondly remembered.  The fruits are thin skinned and have a juicy, fine and aromatic flavour. Superb for pies, juicing, freezing, jams etc.  Early season; approximately 7 medium-large fruits per strig. Splitting can be a problem in wet summers.

A mid-late season variety, giving a heavy crop of medium to large fruit of good flavour. A compact bush of good cropping habit, very high in Vitamin C. The standard blackcurrant 11 variety to which all others are compared SUPERIOR HILLTOP STRAIN. A very old variety of unknown origin. Ministry certified.

Bred by Scottish Crop Research this arose from a cross of Ben Alder and a very hardy Russian variety. It is very early flowering and early ripening but despite this advantage has shown little reduction to frost damage. It is a very healthy bush with resistance to most foliar diseases and importantly to virus reversion. The fruit size is large and of uniformly good quality, very juicy and of excellent colour The compact growth enables Ben Gairn to be planted at higher density than most varieties, perhaps only 3ft apart. An excellent new variety.

Bred by Scottish Crop Research A new late season variety ripening 10 days after Ben Lomond, very high yields of medium sized berries, the flavour is excellent with a real blackcurrant aroma, In addition Ben Hope is a very good grower, rather vigorous but upright in habit and easy to manage, it is resistant to mildew, leaf spot and gall midge. It has been suggested that Ben Hope would be a good choice for poorer growing conditions and absent minded gardeners!

A variety from the Netherlands, raised from a seedling of a local Dutch variety. The bush is large and produces a very heavy crop of large berries. Flowers are produced 7-10 days later than Baldwin and, because of this later flowering characteristic, give a more consistent yield. The fruits are borne on short strings and have an excellent flavour. They are suitable for all purposes and are normally ready for picking in late July but can be slightly earlier. Black Reward has done very well in trials in the United Kingdom so far, and produced far better results than the…

Heavy crops in most seasons. Large, sweet fruits. Very resistant to Mildew.

 The latest of all varieties to ripen giving fruits into September. Flavour is good but quality can be poor as is the plant habits. An old heirloom variety we continue to maintain. A sport of the popular ‘Baldwin’.  Late Season. Photo is generic.