Homegrown: Gooseberries and Currants

 Iowa State University Extension Master Gardener Lisa Slattery provided the following about gooseberries and currants:

 Last week I mentioned that gardeners should consider adding small fruits to their gardens, and focused on blueberries.  This week we'll take a look at two other small fruits that aren't as common as blueberries but which are just as fun to grow - gooseberries and currants. 

 Currants and gooseberries can be grown as small or medium hedges or used in a mixed shrub border.  The fruit can be eaten fresh or made into jam, jelly, pie or sauce. Gooseberries and currants are both self-fruitful which means they do not require another cultivar to produce fruit.

 A bit of interesting history first.  In an attempt to prevent the spread of white pine blister rust, which was a serious disease in the early 20

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century in theUnited States, the federal government banned the planting and cultivation of currants and gooseberries.  This disease requires a currant or gooseberry and a white pine to complete its life cycle.  It didn't harm the berries as much as it destroyed the pines.  The ban was lifted in 1966. Even though the disease is not so common today, planting gooseberries and currants in a wooded area with large numbers of white pines isn't a good location, but there shouldn't be a problem planting currants and gooseberries in the home garden.

 Red and white currants are somewhat more overall disease resistant, so those are good options.  Good currants for Iowa include:  ‘Perfection', ‘Cherry', ‘RedLake', and ‘Wilder'.  If you choose to plant black currants, the white pine blister rust resistant varieties are ‘Ben Sarek,' ‘Consort,' ‘Coronet,' ‘Crusader' and ‘Titiana.'  Iowa State Extension recommends the following varieties of gooseberries forIowawhich include:  ‘Poorman', ‘Welcome', and ‘Hinnonmaki Red.'

 Both currants and gooseberries grow most of their fruit on two and three -year-old shoots. Very little fruit if any is produced on shoots four-years and older.  After the first growing season, prune out all but six to eight healthy and vigorous shoots.  After the second growing season, leave four or five 1-year-old shoots and three or four 2-year-old canes. After the third growing season, keep three or four shoots each of 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old growth.  An established plant should have nine to 12 shoots.  Pruning of mature plants consists of pruning out all 4-year-old shoots and thinning out some of the new growth.

 Adding small fruits to your garden adds interest and edibles for both people and wildlife.  A lot of the small fruit varieties can be grown without the requirement of huge garden space.  It's particularly rewarding to grow small fruits in any household with children...they love to see their own food growing in the backyard!