Blackcurrant Ben Nevis - Ribes nigrum

The 'Ben Nevis' Blackcurrant Bush is a highly productive variety, producing large clusters of black, slightly acidic fruits. This variety is self-fertile and has good disease resistance. Enjoy blackcurrants in juice, jams, and pies or as an accompaniment to savoury dishes. Plant them preferably in autumn or spring with regular watering. Harvesting begins in mid-July.

Like gooseberries, the blackcurrant bush (Ribes nigrum) belongs to the Grossulariaceae family. It is a deciduous shrub native to regions ranging from the Pyrenees to central Asia. Cultivated since the 16th century, the Blackcurrant Bush grows naturally in the cool woods of northeastern Europe.

The fruits appear on 2-year-old branches and become less abundant on branches that are four years old and older. Harvest when the fruits are fully black and begin to fall to the ground. Wait for the fruits to ripen entirely before harvesting. The 'Ben Nevis' variety offers large clusters of fruits with a slightly acidic flavour. Blackcurrants are rich in tannins, aromas, vitamin C, and vitamin C2. They can be consumed fresh in a mixed berry salad, as juice, syrup, jams or jellies, in pastries (pies, charlottes, and sorbets), or as an accompaniment to savoury dishes. They are used in the production of liqueurs and nectars. Blackcurrants can be dried or frozen and stored, supplying fruits for the winter.

The Blackcurrant Bush is a vigorous bush with an upright, sparsely branched habit, reaching a height of 1.50 m (5ft) and spreading to 1 m (3ft). The plant reaches its adult size in three years. It is a very hardy shrub, able to withstand temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F) but susceptible to drought in summer. The deciduous leaves are large and flat, with three to five lobes and toothed edges, bright green, and pleasantly fragrant when crushed. Leaves, fruits, and buds are intensely fragrant due to the presence of glands containing essential oils used in perfumery. The bark is smooth and reddish on young branches and darkens with age.

Flowering occurs in spring, with small bell-shaped flowers that are often inconspicuous. This is followed by the formation of large berries with black, shiny skin gathered in long clusters. Some varieties of Blackcurrant Bush are self-fertile, while others require the proximity of another variety for proper pollination. The Ben Nevis variety is self-fertile. When growing blackcurrants, as with growing any fruit, it is essential to alternate varieties and species when space allows: this will promote pollination, even if the variety is self-fertile, and reduce the risk of diseases. In the garden, create a small edible hedge by mixing Blackcurrant, Gooseberry, and Raspberry bushes, or place the Blackcurrant Bush within a flower bed of flowering shrubs.