After warm springs, currants ripen from the end of June. New, ready-to-harvest berries continue to appear until August. A few tips on how to know that the fruit is ready to be picked and how to harvest it correctly.
When and how do you harvest currants correctly?
You harvest currants when they have taken on a rich color and the berries on a panicle are evenly colored. Pick the bushes two to three times a week in dry weather on a sunny morning and cut or pick off the entire panicle.
Not all berries ripen at the same time
When the currant harvest begins also depends on which varieties you have planted in the garden:
- White currants
- Redcurrants
- Blackcurrants
The first red and white currants ripen a little earlier than the black fruits from the end of June. Your harvest season doesn't start until mid-July.
This is how you recognize ripe currants
When the fruits have taken on a rich color and all berries on a panicle are evenly colored red, yellow or black, the currants can be harvested.
The berries are full and not wrinkled. They give off a pleasant scent. When you touch the panicles, the currants almost fall into your hand.
If in doubt, do a taste test. If the red and white berries taste sweet with a slightly sour undertone, they are ripe. Blackcurrants have a rather bitter taste.
The best time to pick
Pick the bushes two to three times a week. If the berries hang on the bush for too long, they lose a lot of their aroma.
A sunny morning is best for picking when the bushes are dry. Damp or wet berries rot more quickly.
Currants are sensitive
Avoid squeezing the delicate berries when harvesting. It is better if you cut or pick off the entire panicle.
Carefully place the harvested panicles in a basket and do not layer too many on top of each other.
Pressure marks on the fruit lead to water loss and cause the berries to spoil more quickly. Currants last longer on the panicles and can be stored in the refrigerator for a day.
Tips & Tricks
Not only people, but also birds love the red currant varieties. So that you can harvest enough berries, you should stretch a net (€59.00 on Amazon) over the bushes from the beginning of June at the latest to keep the birds away. Special protection is not absolutely necessary for white and black currants.
