North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Brungardt, Sam" <Sam.Brungardt@state.mn.us>]

Title: Message

Jim, my experience here in St. Paul is that there's quite a bit of difference on how black currants ripen, depending on cultivar.

 

My 'Crandall' currants, which are not R. nigra, ripen very ununiformly.  I picked my first about a month ago and fruit on the lower branches are still ripening.  Undoubtedly, the harvest is more drug out when the growing season temperatures have been cool as they have been this year.  In Kansas, where summer temperatures are considerably higher, wild buffalo currants ripen all their berries within a week or so.  Luckily, Crandall holds its berries well until they can be picked (although those that are ripe too long will begin to dry on the plant).

 

My 'Consort' currants seem to ripen fairly evenly and can usually be picked in two pickings.  They also seem to stick pretty well to the bush.

 

I have found 'Ben Sarek' very likely to drop if the fruit is left ripe on the plant too long.  Other Ben series cultivars seem to vary, with 'Ben Lamond' possibly sticking best when ripe.

 

--Sam Brungardt, St. Paul, Minn. (USDA Hardiness Zone 4b)

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jim Fruth
Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 7:16 AM
To: NAFEX Submissions
Subject: [NAFEX] Question.......

    How are Black Currants to be harvested?

    My red currants all get ripe at the same time but my black currants ripen one-at-a-time.  They get ripe, then fall off and dry up.  I've been picking them every second day for over a month and it has become such a time waster that I'm seriously thinking about grubbing them out and planting something else.

    But then, the Canadians say that it is a farm crop so am I doing something wrong?  How does anyone else harvest black currants (I have Ben Sarac, Ben Alder and Crandell).

 

Jim Fruth