Ribes rubrum Ribest 'Sonette'

The Ribest ‘Sonette’ forms a bush with upright branches about 1.50 m (5ft) tall, with healthy and vigorous growth. Selected for its high yield, with long clusters of large berries with a very sweet taste, this variety perfectly meets the performance, requirement, and quality criteria. The incredibly juicy and tasty fruits begin to ripen in early August. They are equally appreciated fresh after picking, to enhance salads, or cooked to enhance the taste of savoury dishes or desserts.

Plant this currant in a sunny to partially shaded position in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil, as these are the optimal conditions for a good harvest. It easily integrates into a small edible hedge, in a nourishing garden, or grown in a sufficiently large pot on a balcony. To maintain healthy growth and optimal production, pruning is necessary every year by removing 1/3 of the branches at ground level, to facilitate the arrival of new fruit-bearing branches.

The Red Currant, known as Ribes rubrum in Latin, is sometimes called Gadelle or Raisinet. It belongs to the Grossulariaceae family, like the Gooseberry, from which it is distinguished by its fruits grouped in clusters. Its origins in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and the Andes give it a very good resistance to cold. Cultivated for a long time, it was introduced in the Middle Ages. Historically, in the 14th century, it was mainly used as a medicinal plant, with apothecaries and healers attributing powerful properties to it (febrifuge, digestive, laxative, diuretic, and depurative). In the 15th and 16th centuries, the gooseberry appeared in gardens. Then, in the 18th century, the Danish and the Dutch intensified the cultivation of gooseberries and spread them worldwide.

The Ribes rubrum Ribest ‘Sonette’ ® is a recent Swiss variety from the Ribest range. This range consists of varieties selected for their high yields, fleshy fruits with a high sugar content, on vigorous and disease-resistant plants. It forms a bushy, non-thorny bush with a tufted habit of slightly stiff, sparsely branched branches, with soft wood and abundant pith. This very hardy bush will reach a height of 1.50 m (5ft) with a spread of 1.20 m (4ft). The foliage is deciduous, composed of palmate, lobed, and aromatic leaves, medium green and fragrant. Flowering occurs in April in clusters of small insignificant greenish-brown flowers intensely visited by bees. Fruiting mainly occurs on one- and two-year-old branches. Late, the harvest extends from early August to the end of August. It produces many long compact clusters composed of numerous round and translucent berries. When ripe, the currants are bright red, vibrant, and shiny, filled with juicy, fruity, sweet, and slightly acidic flesh containing tiny seeds.

The 'Sonette' is self-fertile, so it does not need a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another variety nearby will increase production. Harvesting is staggered as the fruits ripen and is simplified due to the size of the long clusters. A bush produces about 3 to 5 kg of fruit per plant, depending on the age and growing conditions. All varieties are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals, trace elements, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, making them real assets for health. Moreover, they are among the least energy-consuming small fruits (50 kcal per 100 g). Rich in nutrients, they are delicious to eat fresh, and for added indulgence, they can be sprinkled with a little granulated sugar. Excellent in jellies or jams, they can also be used to garnish pies and make cakes. They are perfect for making sorbets or ice creams, as an accompaniment to red meats, or as a garnish in salads.

In the summer, this currant, with its long pendant clusters resembling a string of pearls, will bring pleasure and enchantment to the garden. You can combine it with Blackcurrants, Raspberry bushes, or other varieties of small fruits to form an edible hedge.cAs in any planting, it is important to alternate species and varieties where possible. This limits the risk of diseases and promotes pollination, even if the variety is self-fertile. It can be grown in a pot, but you must choose a container at least 40 cm (16in) tall and ensure regular watering with non-limestone water.