Happy Urban Dirt

Currants are one of the products that we often find in supermarkets. But, Have you ever seen a white currant? Do you know what bush they come from? If you want to experience a different type of food, rarer but still exquisite, pay attention to what we have prepared for you.

In the article we will talk about what a white currant is and what care it requires if you manage to get this type of plant. Shall we start?

How’s the white currant?

White currant, with the scientific name Ribes Rubrum, is a thornless shrub. It is a variety of currant species characterized by its name: white. The point is that the currants he throws are not red, but white, almost crystal clear and much larger than those commonly known.

This shrub is deciduous, which means it loses its leaves in winter and sprouts again in spring. Moreover, they do not need two bushes for fertilization, they are actually self-pollinating, i.e. they pollinate themselves in such a way that you can have fruit even if you only have one plant.

The roots of white currant are not very deep, so they do not require much space. Besides, it doesn’t grow much. The average height of this shrub is about two meters.

As for the leaves, they are green, vast and have a jagged edge. Although what is most striking is the specific scent they leave behind (in fact, if you rub the leaf lightly with your fingers, it will leave this aroma on you).

After flowering, which usually takes place in the spring months, fruit, white currants, Edible, although it has a sweet and sour taste that does not suit everyone. Despite this, many people consume them because of the properties they have, as they are a source of vitamins, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, pectin…

White currant care

Now that you know the white currant a little better, How about we talk to you about the care this plant needs? That you know that having it is not too complicated, especially if you have a guide with bases that you have to follow, but you have to adapt it to the climate, the environment, the temperature… that you have where you live (or where you have a plant).

With this in mind, the main care is as follows:

location and temperature

Let’s start by placing the white currant. The best place for this will be full sun or partial shade. What it depends on? Where you live or have a plant. We explain:

If you live in a very heated place where temperatures are high and the sun burns, it will be better if you place it in partial shade.

However, if the climate is more temperate or frosty, preferably in full sun so that it has the right amount of airy.

Their natural habitat is a frosty, wet area, but they can adapt when there is some warmth.

In terms of temperature, they tolerate frost well, but also heat, although when it is quite intense it can cause them to freeze.

Subsoil

White currant is not a plant that requires much from the soil. It will be enough if you provide soil that is slightly acidic, has plenty of organic matter and retains moisture.

Of course, don’t forget to add some drainage as well so that the roots can breathe well.

Irrigation

Irrigation is one of the most critical care that must be remembered if we want to enjoy good fruit. You should know this first it must be bountiful in spring and summer, while in autumn and winter it is enough to only keep the soil wet.

If it’s very heated where you have it, you may need to water it every day, but in winter once or twice a week is enough.

Indeed, We recommend checking whether it really needs watering before watering itbecause throwing it away when it’s already moist can make you ill.

pruning

Cutting takes place in the autumn and winter months. To do this, you need to eliminate those branches that are droughty, which make it challenging for air to enter the bush and its ventilation, as well as those that may be diseased.

This will lend a hand it grow novel shoots in spring, which will also give you the most currants.

If the climate where you grow it is rather frigid, you can wait until the beginning of spring, always before the first buds start to appear. Additionally, we recommend trying to cover it with some netting or something similar. And that’s it birds are among the animals that love white currants the most and if you want to try them, you will have to make it challenging for them to eat something that is not pecked.

Plagues and diseases

In this case, the most common disease of white currants is anthracnose, caused by a fungus that causes spots to appear on the leaves, become larger and eventually fall off.

Multiplication

Finally, we will tell you that you can propagate white currant in three different ways:

• Through seedlings. You will take them from the mother plant itself and then you will have to root them so that you can become a unique plant yourself.
• With kids. When a plant is well cared for, it is possible that over time you will find that novel, diminutive plants will begin to emerge from the base of the plant attached to the main plant. If you let them grow long enough and then prune them, you can easily propagate them.
• By division. This can be done when replanting the plant. The goal is to try to divide it if it is very vast, so that instead of putting it in one pot, you do it in two or more. Of course, when separating, you need to make sure that each one has roots.

As you can see, now you can say that you know white currant much better and that you could even devote part of your garden or balcony to it. Can you see yourself caring for this plant?