Growing blackcurrants in Sweden is both easy and rewarding. Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) are a hardy currant bush that thrives excellently in our Swedish climate, all the way up in northern Norrland with the right choice of variety. The bush is robust and relatively easy to grow, and it yields plenty of small black berries filled with a sweet-tart flavour. The berries are also packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, so growing your own blackcurrants is not only tasty but also healthy!
Plant blackcurrants
Planting currant bushes is not difficult, but a few things are good to keep in mind so the bush thrives from the start. Here are some important points:
Position: Choose a sunny or semi-shaded, preferably wind-sheltered spot for your currants. In full sun you get sweeter berries and a better harvest, but the bush also tolerates some shade. Avoid frost pockets (low-lying places where frost collects) because blackcurrants flower early in spring and the blossoms can be damaged by late frost.
Soil: Plant in humus-rich, well-drained and moisture-retentive soil. Blackcurrants are undemanding but thrive best in nutrient-rich soil with a pH around 6–6.5 (slightly acidic). Avoid heavy clay soil that becomes wet, or sandy soil that dries quickly – improve the soil if needed by mixing in plenty of compost, well-rotted manure or planting compost, so it becomes looser and more humus-rich.
Spacing: Give the currant bushes plenty of space. Blackcurrant bushes can become about 1.5 metres wide, so a planting distance of about 1.5–2 metres is suitable. Then the bushes avoid competing for nutrients and light, and it becomes easier to reach the berries at harvest. When planting close to a fence or a house wall, the distance can be reduced to around 1 metre because the bush can then grow more to one side.
Planting time: The best time to plant currants is spring or autumn. Plant preferably early in spring (April) before the buds break, so the plant has a long time to establish before summer. Autumn planting in September/October also works well – the moist ground and cooler weather help the plant to root. Avoid planting in mid-summer during a dry and warm period; then it is harder for the bush to get going.
When you plant, dig a generous hole (at least twice as wide as the root ball) and mix the excavated soil with compost or cow manure. Set the plant at the same depth as it stood in the pot (the roots should just be covered) and fill in with soil. Press gently so no air pockets remain. Then water thoroughly. A layer of organic mulch, for example grass clippings or bark around the base of the plant, helps retain soil moisture and keeps weeds away.
Care of blackcurrants
Blackcurrants are relatively easy to care for, but with a little extra attention you can maximise the harvest and keep the bush healthy for many years.
Watering: Keep the soil lightly moist, especially during the bush’s first year and during dry summer months. A newly planted currant bush needs watering regularly until it has established. Even older bushes appreciate extra water during prolonged drought – even moisture gives larger and juicier berries. At the same time, the roots do not want to stand in water, so make sure the soil is free-draining and excess water can run off.
Fertilising: Fertiliser helps your currant bush manage to produce many berries. A good routine is to add nutrients twice per year: once early in spring (when the buds swell) and once after harvest in late summer/autumn. In spring you can work in some well-rotted manure or compost around the bush for a good start. A berry fertiliser adapted for this purpose also works well. After harvest you can give the bush a dose of autumn fertiliser or more compost to prepare it for the next season. Avoid over-fertilising – too much nitrogen gives lots of leaves but fewer berries and can make the bush more susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew.
Pruning: By pruning the bush annually you keep it vigorous and high-yielding. Suitable time is either late summer/early autumn, right after harvest, or late in winter (late winter/early spring) before the buds break. Cut away some of the oldest, thickest branches down at ground level (older than about 3–4 years) each year. This stimulates the bush to produce new young shoots that give the most berries. Also remove any dead or damaged branches, and branches that lie on the ground or cross each other. The younger shoots (1–2-year-old) you keep, because the main crop comes on them. The goal is a reasonably airy bush with both new and middle-aged branches. Such a bush gives a good harvest and is less attacked by pests. However, keep in mind not to prune too hard at once – if you remove too much the bush can respond with many water shoots (unnecessarily many new shoots without fruit) and become overly dense the next season.
Also keep in mind to avoid common mistakes in care:
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Do not let the soil dry out completely for long periods (it gives a smaller harvest and stresses the bush).
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Do not overdo fertilising, especially not with nitrogen-rich products (too much nutrition gives mostly foliage and can give fewer berries).
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Do not forget pruning entirely. An unpruned bush becomes scruffy and overgrown over the years and gives fewer berries.
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Do not prune too aggressively at one time either. Cutting the whole bush down hard can lead to lots of weak new shoots and few berries next year.
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Do not plant your currant bush in waterlogged ground. If the roots sit constantly wet, the bush risks declining.
Harvest of blackcurrants
The reward for your care comes in summer when it is time to harvest. Blackcurrants usually ripen in mid-summer – in July in southern Sweden and a little later (August) in colder areas or for late varieties. You can tell the berries are ready when they get their characteristic dark, almost black colour and come off the cluster stalk easily. Feel free to taste; ripe blackcurrants should be sweet but with a fresh acidity. Pick the berries preferably on a dry day (wet berries are harder to keep in the fridge). You can pinch off whole clusters and clean the berries later, or pick the berries directly into a bowl by gently rolling them between your fingers. Be careful so you do not crush the fruit – blackcurrants are softer than, for example, redcurrants.
Once you have your harvest, use the berries within a few days for the best quality. Fresh blackcurrants can be stored in the fridge for about 4–5 days. If you have picked more than you can eat, it is perfect to freeze them. Spread the berries out on a tray in the freezer so they freeze separately, and then pour into freezer bags – then you can easily take out exactly as much as you need later. Of course, it is also excellent to turn your harvest straight into treats: cook jam or jelly, make homemade cordial, bake a blackcurrant pie or perhaps a batch of currant mulled drink or liqueur. The options are endless when you grow your own blackcurrants – and few things beat the taste of home-grown berries!
Author: Emma Vogiatzi – trained gardener
Fact-checked by: Erik Hoekstra
Last updated 2026-01-15