Most Americans may have heard of currants and gooseberries, but few have ever eaten them. That's a far cry from the early 1800s when a gooseberry craze hit America and England. Gooseberry Garden Clubs formed and there were competitions to see who could grow the largest fruit. Some fruits were the size of plums. Alas, like all crazes, it died down and gooseberries and currants returned to obscurity. But there's new interest in bringing these fruits back. Let me tell you why.
Gooseberries and currants are in the Ribes family and are perfect edible landscape plants. You only need one plant to get fruit, the plants are tame growing 3 to 6 feet tall and wide and most varieties available are resistant to the dreaded white pine blister rust which forced the banning of growing these berries for years. However, some states still have restrictions in place. Gooseberries are indigenous to the Americans and some varieties have thorns, making this a nice barrier plant to keep animals out of the garden. Gooseberries form grape-sized oval, red, yellow, white or green fruits depending on the variety. They're great for making pies and desserts. Currant fruits come in white, pink, or red and are great for for fresh eating. I love 'Pink Champagne' in particular because it forms necklaces of blushed pink fruits with a hint of champagne flavor. For juice and jam, grow black currants. Select disease resistant varieties such as 'Ben Sarek, and 'Titania'. Black currant plants are larger and less refined than their cousins, but they make a healthful juice that's high in anti-oxidants and are used to make the French liquor cassis.
Grow your gooseberries and currants in a full to part sun location on well-drained soil. Keep the plants mulched and add compost in spring. They will start producing in a few years.
And now for this week's tip, the forsythia are blooming so it's time to spread corn gluten organic herbicide on lawns to kill germinating crabgrass seed.
Next week on the Vermont Garden Journal, I'll be talking about Florence Fennel. Until then, I'll be seeing you in the garden.
Broadcast on Friday, May 9, 2014 at 5:57 p.m. and Sunday, May 11, 2014 at 9:35 a.m.
The Vermont Garden Journal with Charlie Nardozzi is made possible by Gardener's Supply, offering environmental solutions for gardens and landscapes. In Burlington, Williston and Gardeners.com.
Resources:
Currants and Gooseberies
Gooseberry Craze
Growing Currants and Gooseberries
