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Bill,

 

'Crandall' here loses leaves when it gets hot and humid, so I suspect foliar diseases. I doubt it is just heat stress, as 'Crandall' originated in a hotter climate than here. There is a clump of clove currants out by my pond that were here we we bought the place. They stop blooming just before 'Crandall' gets started, so little if any cross-pollination occurs. The early blooming clove currant has hundreds of flowers, but sets only 2-3 small fruits.

 

I have never pruned them. These are all planted over the past 2-3 years, and none have gotten very large yet.

 

Hal

zn6b, TN

 

> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> From: "William C. Garthright" <billg@inebraska.com> 
>
> > Very interesting, Hal. 
> > 
> > > I have quite a number of clove and golden currants that I am testing. For me, 
> > 'Crandall' does reasonably well, but gets defoliated by mid to late summer. 
> > 
> > Due to the heat, you mean? Or insects? 
> > 
> > 
> > > It sets fruit without cross-pollination, but when I saved some pollen from an 
> > earlier blooming clove currant of unknown origin, and used it on the 'Crandall' 
> > flowers, the fruits were 2-4 times larger. 
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > I planted six 'Crandall' currants last summer, but I also planted one 
> > seedling clove currant, just in case cross-pollination would help. It 
> > sounds like that was a good idea. Presumably one seedling currant
>  would 
> > be enough? They're all in the same area. Hmm,... but it sounds like your 
> > second clove currant didn't bloom at the same time as the 'Crandall'? 
> > 
> > And could you explain how you prune your Ribes odoratum? 
> > 
> > Thanks, 
> > 
> > Bill 
> > Lincoln, NE (zone 5a) 
> > 
> > -- 
> > Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error. - 
> > Thomas Jefferson