Currant plants
Currant plants are highly productive fruit bushes, producing bumper crops of delicious fruits, perfect for making jellies, jams, puddings and pies. They are reliable, easy to grow and self-fertile, so you don't need to worry about planting varieties of the same pollination group together. We believe currants are under-utilised; not as widely grown as strawberry plants and raspberry bushes, but immensely rewarding. They are unfussy and adaptable, growing in semi-shade or damp conditions, making them ideal for unproductive corners of the garden where other plants struggle. As long as the soil is reasonably good quality and not alkaline, they will usually do well. Currants are also hardier than most other soft fruit, suitable for northern regions of the UK and colder spots (although frost pockets should be avoided). Once planted, currants remain productive for almost 20 years. Even if you don’t want to eat the fruits, they are highly ornamental and a great way to attract birds to your garden. If you had to weigh up the amount of harvest against the effort, space and expense of many edible plants, currants would come near the top of the list.