Blackcurrant 'Ben Connan' (Ribes nigrum)

A compact, heavy-cropping blackcurrant perfect for smaller gardens

Overview

Blackcurrant 'Ben Connan' is an outstanding Scottish-bred variety that combines exceptional fruit quality with a naturally compact growth habit, making it ideal for modern gardens where space is at a premium. This award-winning cultivar produces heavy crops of large, sweet blackcurrants with excellent flavour, whilst requiring significantly less space than traditional varieties. Developed specifically for home gardeners, 'Ben Connan' offers reliable cropping, good disease resistance, and the satisfaction of growing your own vitamin C-rich superfruit. Whether grown in borders, containers, or dedicated fruit gardens, this variety delivers professional-quality results with minimal fuss.

Key Features

• Harvest Period: Mid to late July

• Mature Size: 1.2 metres tall

• Spread: 1.2m

• Growth Rate: Moderate, reaching full size in 3-4 years

• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit

• Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -20 to -15 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H6)

• Soil Requirements: Moist, fertile, well-draining soil

• Aspect: Full sun to partial shade

Berry Quality

'Ben Connan' produces exceptionally large blackcurrants, often 50% bigger than older varieties, with individual berries reaching up to 1cm in diameter. The fruits have a glossy, deep purple-black skin and sweet, well-balanced flavour that's less acidic than many traditional blackcurrants. The improved taste makes them excellent for eating fresh as well as cooking, whilst retaining the characteristic intense blackcurrant flavour that's perfect for jams, cordials, and desserts.

Cropping Performance

This variety is renowned for its heavy, reliable cropping, typically producing 2-4kg of fruit per mature bush. The berries are borne in long, well-filled trusses that hang attractively from the branches, making harvesting straightforward. The fruit ripens evenly in mid to late July, providing a concentrated harvest period that's ideal for preserving.

Storage and Uses

Fresh berries store well in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and freeze excellently for year-round use. 'Ben Connan' blackcurrants are perfect for jams, jellies, cordials, smoothies, baking, and eating fresh. Their high vitamin C content (four times that of oranges) makes them a valuable addition to a healthy diet.

Growth Habit

The compact nature of 'Ben Connan' is one of its greatest assets, making it suitable for smaller gardens where traditional blackcurrant bushes would be too large. The plant develops a neat, rounded shape with sturdy branches that support heavy crops without requiring extensive staking. The controlled size also makes pruning and harvesting much more manageable.

Foliage and Flowers

The leaves are typical blackcurrant - deeply lobed, mid-green, and aromatic when crushed, releasing the characteristic blackcurrant scent. Small, inconspicuous greenish flowers appear in drooping clusters in spring, followed by the developing fruit. The flowers are self-fertile, so a single plant will produce fruit without needing a pollination partner.

Disease Resistance

'Ben Connan' shows good resistance to many common blackcurrant problems, including big bud mite (a major pest of older varieties) and leaf spot diseases. This natural resistance reduces the need for chemical treatments and makes the variety suitable for organic growing approaches.

Soil Requirements

Blackcurrants thrive in fertile, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage. 'Ben Connan' performs best in slightly acidic to neutral conditions (pH 6.0-7.0) but tolerates a range of soil types. Heavy clay soils benefit from organic matter incorporation, whilst sandy soils need regular feeding and mulching to maintain fertility and moisture retention.

Light Requirements

Whilst 'Ben Connan' tolerates partial shade better than many fruit crops, full sun produces the heaviest crops and sweetest fruit. In shadier positions, expect reduced yields but still worthwhile harvests. Morning sun is particularly important for flower development and fruit set.

Watering Needs

Consistent moisture is crucial for good fruit development, particularly during fruit swelling in early summer. Mulching around the base helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. During dry spells, deep weekly watering is more beneficial than frequent light watering.

Planting

Plant bare-root bushes between November and March, or container-grown plants any time when soil conditions allow. Choose a sheltered position protected from strong winds. Dig a hole larger than the root system and incorporate plenty of well-rotted compost or manure. Plant at the same depth as previously grown, spacing bushes 1.5 metres apart if planting multiple specimens.

Annual Care Routine

Spring: Apply a balanced fertiliser around the base and mulch with compost or well-rotted manure. Check for and remove any big bud affected shoots.

Summer: Ensure consistent watering during fruit development. Harvest fruit when fully ripe and sweet.

Autumn/Winter: Prune after leaf fall, removing older wood and maintaining the bush's shape and vigour.

Pruning

'Ben Connan' requires less intensive pruning than traditional varieties due to its compact nature. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches annually. After the third year, begin removing the oldest stems each winter to encourage new growth, as blackcurrants fruit best on young wood. Aim to maintain a balance of one, two, and three-year-old wood.

Feeding

Blackcurrants are hungry plants that benefit from generous feeding. Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring (such as fish, blood, and bone) followed by a thick mulch of compost or well-rotted manure. Additional potash feeding in late summer helps fruit bud development for the following year.

Container Growing

'Ben Connan's' compact size makes it excellent for container cultivation. Use a large container (minimum 50cm diameter and depth) with good drainage holes. Fill with quality multipurpose compost mixed with some John Innes No. 3 for stability. Container plants require more frequent watering and feeding than those in open ground.

Dedicated Fruit Gardens

Ideal for allotments and kitchen gardens where space efficiency is important. The compact size allows more varieties to be grown in limited space.

Mixed Borders

The attractive foliage and interesting seasonal changes make 'Ben Connan' suitable for inclusion in mixed ornamental borders where it provides both beauty and harvest.

Wildlife Gardens

The flowers provide early nectar for bees and other pollinators, whilst the fruit (if not harvested) feeds birds. The dense branching provides nesting sites for small birds.

Educational Gardens

Perfect for school gardens and children's plots where the reliable cropping and manageable size make fruit growing accessible and rewarding.

Companion Planting

Blackcurrants benefit from companion plants that improve soil conditions or provide pest control. Good companions include:

• Comfrey (dynamic accumulator that improves soil)
• Chives (may help deter pests)
• Gooseberries and other soft fruits with similar requirements
• Herbs like rosemary and thyme that thrive in similar conditions

When to Harvest

Fruit is ready when berries are fully black, glossy, and come away easily from the stalk. Taste-test for sweetness - fully ripe berries will be noticeably sweeter than underripe ones.

Harvesting Technique

Pick entire trusses rather than individual berries for efficiency. Early morning harvesting when fruits are cool gives the best storage life.

Storage Options

Fresh fruit keeps for 10-14 days in the refrigerator. For longer storage, blackcurrants freeze excellently - simply remove stalks and freeze in bags or containers. Frozen fruit retains most of its nutritional value and is perfect for cooking.

Potential Issues

Big Bud Mite

While 'Ben Connan' shows good resistance, occasionally swollen buds may appear in winter. Remove and destroy affected buds to prevent spread.

Aphids

Green aphids may colonise shoot tips in spring. These can be controlled with soft soap sprays or by encouraging natural predators.

Bird Damage

Birds love ripe blackcurrants. Protect crops with netting or grow plants in fruit cages for reliable harvests.

Nutrient Deficiency

Yellowing leaves may indicate potassium deficiency. Regular feeding and mulching usually prevent nutritional problems.

Health Benefits

Blackcurrants are nutritional powerhouses, containing:

• Very high levels of vitamin C (four times that of oranges)
• Antioxidants including anthocyanins
• Potassium, iron, and other essential minerals
• Natural compounds that may support immune system health

Why Choose 'Ben Connan'?

'Ben Connan' represents the perfect blackcurrant for modern gardeners who want quality fruit production without dedicating large amounts of space. The combination of compact size, heavy cropping, excellent fruit quality, and disease resistance makes it an outstanding choice for both novice and experienced fruit growers.

The variety's reliability means gardeners can expect good harvests year after year, whilst the improved flavour makes the fruit more versatile in the kitchen. For anyone wanting to grow their own superfruit but concerned about space limitations, 'Ben Connan' provides the perfect solution.

Whether you're starting your first fruit garden, adding to an existing collection, or looking for productive plants for containers, Blackcurrant 'Ben Connan' delivers exceptional results with manageable care requirements. Its Scottish breeding ensures complete hardiness in British conditions, whilst the compact nature means it fits into gardens where traditional varieties simply won't work.