If you want to propagate currants yourself, you need patience. It takes three years for the new plants to produce their first berries. The propagation of currant bushes is carried out by cuttings. It's so easy that even newbie gardeners can grow new bushes without any problem.
How do I propagate currants?
Currants can be propagated by cuttings. Prepare a growing bed in late autumn, cut annual shoots and stick them in the ground. Transplant after one year, cut in the second year and then transplant to the final location. First harvest after three years.
Propagate currants through cuttings
- Prepare the growing bed
- Cut cuttings
- Stuck in growing bed
- Protect with mulch
- Transplant in the second year
- Cut in the third year
- Plant in final location
Prepare the growing bed and cut cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is most successful in late autumn. Prepare a growing bed by loosening the soil to a depth of about 30 centimeters and adding some sand.
Choose annual shoots of a currant plant that bears a lot of fruit. Take a few cuttings 20 to 30 centimeters long. Make the cut with a sharp knife just below one eye. This is where new roots form fastest.
Always cut cuttings at an angle. When making straight cuts, there is a risk that water will collect on the surface and cannot drain away. This would cause the cutting to rot.
Insert cuttings
Place the cuttings ten centimeters apart into the prepared soil so deeply that only two eyes remain above the surface.
Press the soil carefully. Water the cuttings carefully.
Spread a two-centimeter-high layer of compost, leaves, straw or other mulching materials over the ground.
Relocate young currant plants
The following fall, the cuttings should have formed numerous roots. In order for the root system to strengthen further, transplant the young plants to another location.
The first pruning in the second year
In the second autumn it is time to cut the young currant bushes for the first time. All weak branches are removed.
Six strong shoots are allowed to remain on the plant. The first berries will later grow on them. Shorten the remaining main shoots by half.
Transplant to final location
The young currant plants are then transplanted to their final location.
Choose a sunny, wind-protected location. Before planting, prepare the soil well by loosening it, amending it with compost and pulling weeds.
Do not plant the young plants too deep in the ground at a distance of 1.50 to 2 meters. Press the soil firmly and water the currants.
First harvest after three years
In the third year you can harvest the first fruits from your new currant bushes.
Tips & Tricks
Currant bushes can also be propagated by lowering them. To do this, bend a shoot down so that it lies on the ground. Cover several sections at least 15 centimeters long with soil. By next spring, the first roots should have formed so that you can separate the seedlings from the mother plant.
