Blackcurrants
Hargreaves Plants is pleased to be able to offer a wide range of cultivars. The company's aim is to always offer the highest quality plant material coupled with the best technical advice developed from a comprehensive trials programme.
Generally, all blackcurrants will tolerate most soil types, and flourish in rich, slightly acidic (pH 6.0-6.5), well-drained soils that stay moist but do not waterlog. Preferring full sun, but tolerant to partial shade, they must be protected from frost pockets so not to damage the plants and early developing fruits.
On this page you will find details of a number of cultivars, with the benefits of each and suggested culinary uses.
Big Ben
This early season variety is bred in Scotland by SCRI and is exclusive to Hargreaves Plants for the amateur market. This has been described as the largest blackcurrant we have ever seen, bearing more than double the fruit size of standard varieties. An excellent variety for amateur gardens, average berry weight is over double that of other cultivars, with mature bushes producing exceptionally high yields of fruit (up to 4.5kg). The fruit itself has a shiny, strong skin with a sweet flavour which makes it ideal for fresh consumption. This variety also has resistance to Mildew and Leaf Spot, making it one of the most exciting new products in the marketplace.
Supply of plant material is limited due to the high demand and novelty of this variety. As such, plants are only available to order on contract, so to book or request further information please contact a member of the sales team. All plants are supplied 'royalty paid' and propagation is strictly prohibited. Any illegal propagation is liable to lead to legal action.
Ben Connan
This variety was bred in the UK as a cross between Ben Sarek and Ben Lomond, therefore it has good Mildew resistance, is frost tolerant and also makes it a compact deciduous shrub. An early season variety, cropping from mid July onwards, it is possible to yield 3.5kg of fruit per mature bush. The berries themselves are exceptionally large with a glossy skin and rich flavour, ideal for culinary or dessert use.
Ben Sarek
This plant is ideal for the home garden, having won the RHS Award of Garden Merit. A neat, compact bush rarely growing over 1m high, it flowers in early May producing good clusters of fruit that ripen in July and are ready for harvest from mid July through to mid August. The bush produces a very high yield, with berries that are easily picked from short strigs. They are described as having a mouthwatering flavour, ideal for both fresh consumption and freezing.
Baldwin
This long established mid-season ripening fruit was the most popular in the UK until the arrival of Ben Lomond into the marketplace. The plant produces a mid-sized fruit, sweet in flavour and rich in Vitamin C that is ideal for use in jam, pies and puddings. Resistant to Mildew and Leaf Curling Midge, the fruit is ready from mid July onwards.
Ben Lomond
One of the most popular commercial varieties grow in the UK, this is a vigorous, compact bush that requires minimum pruning between seasons. It is well suited to colder climates and frost pockets, and also has Mildew resistance making it a very hardy plant. Flowering in early May, the crop is ripe by the last week of July making it a mid-season variety. The plants produce heavy clusters of large berries along the stems, rich in Vitamin C with a sweet aftertaste. The harvested berry is ideal for freezing, making it a fantastic choice for use in the dessert market.
Ben Nevis
This variety offers the same benefits and fruit characteristics as the Ben Lomond variety, giving Ben Nevis good Mildew and frost resistance, producing large clusters of berries from the last week of July onwards. The main difference is that Ben Nevis grows much taller and more vigorously than Ben Lomond.