Last Updated on February 24, 2026 by Thompson & Morgan Horticultural Team
Image: Blackcurrant ‘Ebony’ from T&M
Referred to as a ‘mini marvel’, British blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) are possibly one of the healthiest fruits you can eat. Containing four times more vitamin C than oranges, they’re packed full of vitamins and minerals and have many health benefits. An established blackcurrant bush grows to about 1.5m high, and remains productive for up to 15 years. Here’s why everyone should plant blackcurrants this year.
See our full range of currant fruit plants for more inspiration.
What’s special about blackcurrants?
‘Ben Connan’ is a heavy cropping blackcurrant with an RHS Award of Garden Merit
Image: Blackcurrant ‘Ben Connan’ from T&M
If you’re looking for reasons to make space for blackcurrant bushes in your garden, here are some of the benefits:
- Blackcurrants contain more vitamin C than any other natural food source.
- They also contain high levels of potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamins A and B and more…
- They’re high in anthocyanins, the antioxidants that fight disease. These are thought to protect the body against ageing, cardiovascular disease, eyestrain, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, joint inflammation and MRSA.
- Epigallocatechin, an antioxidant present in blackcurrants, has been shown to reduce inflammation in lung tissue, helping to control allergy-induced asthma.
- They can reduce muscle damage during exercise, help to reduce inflammation and even boost natural immunity.
- They have been used by herbalists since the middle ages to treat many ailments, including bladder stones, liver disorders and coughs.
- They’ve been grown in the British Isles for over 500 years.
- Research published in the Journal of Science Food and Agriculture suggests that the compounds found in blackcurrants could block the damage to brain cells that leads to Alzheimer’s disease. (Source: The BBC)
How to choose the best blackcurrant variety
‘Ben Alder’ is an extremely high yielding variety
Image: Blackcurrant ‘Ben Alder’ from T&M
You can choose bare root blackcurrant varieties to plant between November and March, or pot grown varieties that can be planted all year round. They normally grow to about 1.5m high although, if you want to grow them in containers, you can now get compact varieties like Blackcurrant ‘Ben Sarek’ or ‘Summer Pearls Patio Black’ that only grow to about 1m tall.
Before deciding which blackcurrants to grow, consider how you like to use the fruits. For a steady supply over a longer season, choose a mixture of early, mid and late varieties. But if you usually freeze or preserve your entire crop, it might be better to choose a single variety that can be harvested all in one go.
Ease of harvest is another consideration. Modern varieties like ‘Ben Connan’ and ‘Big Ben’ produce large clusters of glossy fruits that all ripen at the same time. You simply pick the whole bunch. With traditional varieties, the fruits don’t usually ripen together, making them more time-consuming to harvest.
Are blackcurrants easy to grow?
Blackcurrants are easy to grow, and very forgiving. They prefer a sunny spot, but will tolerate some shade. Just keep them sheltered from very cold winds and protect them from frost. A quick annual prune each winter is all that’s needed to keep them productive and encourage new growth. Read our full article on how to grow blackcurrants for more planting and care tips.
The best ways to use blackcurrants
Blackcurrant smoothie made from homegrown blackcurrants
Image: Shutterstock
Jams and cordials are probably the best-known ways to use blackcurrants, but these health-boosting fruits can also be used in compotes, pies, sauces, wine, smoothies, ice cream and more. The sweetest varieties, like Blackcurrant ‘Ebony’ are delicious eaten straight from the plant and, if you have a bumper crop, they freeze beautifully.
Did you know that the leaves of blackcurrant bushes can be used to infuse sauces, syrups and homemade alcohol? Wonderfully aromatic, they’re an added bonus if you’re looking for more reasons to grow your own!
If you want specific information on growing these nutrient-rich superfoods, visit our comprehensive hub page to learn more about growing currants. Want to add a wider variety of fruit to your garden? Learn more about growing other types of fruit here.
Rebecca works in the Marketing department as part of the busy web team, focusing on updating the UK news and blog pages and Thompson & Morgan’s international website. Rebecca enjoys gardening and learning about flowers and growing vegetables with her young daughter.