The grafting of currants is one of the oldest methods of asexual propagation. Particularly in very small gardens, grafting is a good way to grow several currant varieties on just one bush.
How do you refine currants?
Refining currants can be done in just a few steps: cut off the scions, bevel them on both sides, connect them together, wrap them with raffia and apply wound paste. The best time is after the harvest in August or September; suitable rootstocks are golden currants or gooseberry plants.
Why refine currants?
By grafting, the gardener is able to grow pure currants. With this method, the positive properties of a plant are completely preserved.
For example, if you have a particularly high-yielding currant in the garden or if a plant is resistant to diseases and pest infestation, it is worth grafting to grow young plants.
By grafting you can also harvest several varieties from just one bush. There are hobby gardeners whose bushes grow up to ten different varieties of currants.
This is how currants are refined
- Cut scions
- Bevels
- Bevel the base
- Place the ricers on top of each other
- Wrap with raffia
- Apply with wound paste
The best time is after the harvest in August or September. Golden currants or gooseberry plants are suitable as a base.
Cut scions about ten centimeters long from the currant bush that you want to refine. Only choose young shoots that are full of sap.
Remove all leaves. Directly below one eye, cut off a piece of the shoot approximately three centimeters long with a sharp knife, slanting downwards. Select a shoot from the rootstock and cut it diagonally upwards.
Connecting the two rails
Place the cut surfaces of the two scions exactly on top of each other. Then the juices can combine with each other.
Secure the finishing point by wrapping it with raffia or hemp. Apply wound paste to the wounds.
Next year, new shoots will sprout at the grafting site, which you can either leave on the bush or cut off and plant as offshoots in another location.
Cleanliness is the top priority
Be careful not to touch the cut surfaces with your fingers as this will introduce germs into the wound.
Only use well-cleaned knives to avoid infecting the grafting site with diseases from other plants.
Tips & Tricks
Currants can be refined in various ways. However, honeysuckle grafting, chipping or copulation are less suitable for beginners. Have an experienced gardener show you these methods before you attempt them as a newbie gardener.
