Blackcurrant 'Summer Pearls Black'

• If you're short on space, blackcurrants can be grown in a large pot.
• Blackcurrants are ready for picking in July and August and are at their best about seven days after they have turned black.
• They can be gathered individually or, if you want them to stay fresh for a little longer, you can harvest the whole trusses. Pick the blackcurrants in dry conditions and they can be eaten immediately or stored in a fridge for one to two weeks.
• Alternatively, they can be frozen for eating later - they should last at least six months this way.

Planting Advice:

• Blackcurrants prefer moist, well-drained soil in full sun, or light shade.
• Dig a hole at least 2x the diameter of the root ball and spread the roots out. Plant 6cm (2.25in) deeper than previously to encourage young shoots to develop from the base.
• Mix the soil from the hole with well-rotted manure and backfill. Firm in and water.
• If growing in a pot, choose one that is around 45-50cm (18-20in) in diameter and use a good-quality compost (John Innes No 3 is ideal).
• Repot every 2-3 years into the same pot or slightly larger. Trim back some of the roots and tease away the old soil replacing it with fresh JI No 3 compost.

Aftercare:

• Plants will give a reliable crop year after year even when left to their own devices - although you'll get better results and a bumper crop by following a few simple rules:
• Feed them well with blood, fish and bone in mid-spring, followed by a dose of poultry manure or another high nitrogen plant food, in June.
• Fruits taste better when exposed to plenty of sunshine - always clear the ground of weeds, especially perennial types. Avoid hoeing near the base of the bush where new shoots are developing.
• Keep well-watered

Pruning Advice:

Year one:

• In early spring of the first year after planting, prune the main stems on the head back by half.
  

Year two:

• In November, shorten the main stems that you pruned in the spring back to half of their new growth. Any new side shoots that have grown from the main shoots can also be either shortened by half or removed if they are not needed. At the same time, remove any suckers or side shoots from the trunk.

After year two:

• Bushes just need a simple twice-yearly trim. In July, trim all new side shoots to 5 leaves.
• In winter, cut back main stems by half their new growth and any side shoots back to 2 buds (these are the shoots that you trimmed in July).
• Any stems that are damaged, dead or out of place can also be removed.

Please allow us 7-10 working days to dispatch your order. Pre-ordered items will be sent as soon as possible after the date quoted and we'll generally ship your entire order with your pre-ordered items. When your order is dispatched, we'll send you another email with details of how to track it.

Most orders are sent on a fully-tracked courier service with Yodel. To avoid perishable items being stuck at depots and deteriorating, no signature is required, and our courier is asked to leave your order in a safe place on your property.

We'll send a tracking link when we dispatch your order, so you know when its due to arrive. Please note, once delivered we cannot be held responsible for loss or theft from your property. If you have any specific delivery instructions, please let us know - there's an option to enter a short message for the courier at the checkout.

Smaller, lighter, single-item orders may be sent through the post with Royal Mail - in which case no tracking is available.

Our experienced nursery team will always send your plants nursery fresh in the perfect condition to thrive when you plant them, so although most plants are very tough and will not be affected by all but the most extreme frosts or heatwaves, we avoid dispatching the most perishable plants if extreme weather is forecast, or over Bank Holiday weekends.

Please note, we cannot guarantee delivery on a certain day or time. Delivery to outlying postcode areas may take 1-2 days longer, dependent on your location.