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Blackcurrant 'Big Ben'

Hardy Shrub

What is Hardy Shrub?

New

Awarded an RHS Award of Garden Merit

Enormous Blackberries!

Produces up to 4.5kg fruit per year

Excellent Mildew resistance

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Description How to Grow Delivery Reviews

The largest blackcurrant we have ever seen - and with a lovely sweet flavour too. The large, glossy, strong-skinned fruits weigh on average 2.9g each, compared to a weight of 1.1g in standard varieties! Producing up to 4.5kg of fruit per plant at maturity, Blackcurrant 'Big Ben' is a high yielding cultivar and deservedly won an RHS Award of Garden Merit at recent trials. The fruits are borne on naturally arching stems for easy picking and are sweet enough to be eaten fresh or used in cakes, jams and crumbles. Also has excellent mildew resistance. Height and spread: 120cm (47").

We supply established, healthy 1-year old bareroot pre-pruned plants which will quickly establish once planted.

Estimated time to cropping once planted: 16-20 months (4-8 months for cordon plant)
Estimated time to best yields: 16-20 months.

Height Up to 120cm (47in)
Spread Up to 120cm (47in)

Hardy Shrub

kitchen gardenwildlife gardens

full sun

Flowering Months Harvest Months
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1 Bare Root Plant (46910)
3 Bare Root Plants (KB6892)

After planting, reduce the stems to 2 buds above ground level to promote sturdy new growth. Keep blackcurrant plants well watered during dry periods, particularly as the fruits are developing. Netting the bushes will help to protect the currants from birds. Blackcurrants can be harvested from July.

After the first season, prune out any thin or weak shoots. In the following years prune out any damaged or weak shoots before removing 20% of the remaining stems to create an open bush, and encourage fresh new shoots to develop. Culinary note: Blackcurrants are delicious when eaten fresh in a fruit salad or added to a colourful and tasty summer pudding. Suitable for freezing.

These plants are lifted from the nursery field when dormant, and sent to you in late autumn or spring for planting. They often look dead on arrival, but they are just resting in the dormant period and will establish quickly for a strong start in the garden come spring. Set out in prepared soil in holes wide enough and deep enough to lay out the roots. Tread down the planting soil to knock out air pockets. Water well to settle. Apply a mulch to protect roots from cold temperatures. If conditions prevent immediate planting, set roughly into loose soil or a pot of compost (‘heeling in’) to protect the roots. Set these at the same level as they were in the nursery field – you should see a soil line at the base of the stem. Stake trees, taller shrubs and roses to prevent root disturbance.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.

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