Currants and gooseberries

This is the second in a series for pruning small fruits in the Iowa home garden by Linn County Master Gardener, Lisa Slattery. Today's blog will cover gooseberries and currants. The next two weeks we'll cover blueberries and grapes.

 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 the United 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. However, planting theses bushes 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 resistant, so those are good options. Good currants for Iowa include:  ‘Perfection', ‘Cherry', ‘Red Lake', and ‘Wilder'.

If you choose to plant black currants, the white pine blister rust resistant varieties are ‘Ben Sarek,' ‘Consort,' ‘Coronet,' ‘Crusader' and ‘Titiana.' Some recommended gooseberries for Iowa 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.

 These small fruits will add interest and good-for-you treats to your home garden.