When to plant Redcurrants in Cambridge

Ribes rubrum

Redcurrant
Redcurrant · Ribes rubrum

A hardy fruit bush for a sunny or lightly shaded spot in the UK. Plant bare-root bushes while dormant. Keep the soil evenly moist. Mulch each year. The first crop comes after they settle.

150 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water

Add to garden

Calibrated to Cambridge · last frost ≈ 7 May

Plant out November to February, harvest July to August. Frost risk October to May.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Plant outYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

  1. 01

    Plant Bare-root Bushes

    9 Nov to 1 Feb 2027

    Plant bare-root bushes around 9th November - 1st February 2027 in well-prepared soil. Only plant if the ground is open, not frozen or wet. Set the bush at the same depth it was growing before. After planting, start the goblet. Shorten the stems to about . Firm in. Water in well.

    • Hardwood cuttings are a separate route.
    • Cover flowers overnight if frost is due.

  2. 02

    Water

    22 May to 25 Aug 2027 Optional · repeat every 365 days

    From 22nd May 2027 to 25th August 2027, water well for the first two years, then in dry spells while the fruit swells. Do this each year. Do not leave the ground sodden.

  3. 03

    Mulch and Feed

    8 Mar to 7 Apr 2027 Optional · repeat every 365 days

    Around 8th March - 7th April 2027, mulch with well-rotted manure or compost. Leave a gap around the stems. Do this once a year. Feed only if growth is weak.

  4. 04

    Protect from Birds

    16 Jun to 25 Aug 2027

    Put netting over from 16th June 2027, when the fruit starts to colour. Keep it on through last pick, to 25th August 2027. Keep it taut and clear of the branches.

  5. 05

    Harvest Berries

    1 Jul to 25 Aug 2027

    Pick whole strigs from 1st July 2027 to 25th August 2027 once the berries are fully coloured, firm, and juicy. Use a shallow container.

  6. 06

    Winter Prune

    6 Feb to 8 Mar 2027

    Prune around 6th February - 8th March 2027, while the bush is dormant. Keep an open goblet of up to ten branches. Shorten laterals to one or two buds. Take out a couple of the oldest stems at the base.

    • Summer prune on cordons is a separate job.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Redcurrant to consider

Rovada

A widely grown late redcurrant with long trusses and good flavour. It is a dependable choice for home gardens and crops well in a sunny, sheltered spot.

Jonkheer van Tets

An early redcurrant with long, bright red trusses. It is a good garden variety where you want an earlier harvest.

Red Lake

A strong-growing redcurrant with reliable crops and good-sized berries. It suits the UK climate well and is often grown in gardens as a general-purpose variety.

Redcurrant guides by town

See how Redcurrant timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.