Black currant cuttings

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Black currant cuttings
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cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 8:47 am Post subject: Black currant cuttings

I took a few shoots from black currant plants this time last year and put them in a glass of water, with a tiny bit of sugar. My plan was to eat the leaves as they opened (try that, add the young leaves to salads, they're very tasty).

The leaves not only opened, but the shoots flowered, and they formed roots. Rather than a few salad leaves, I had three extra black currant bushes which I gave away as gifts. One of them even fruited, and they all thrived.

So to boost your black currant stocks, take cuttings now (cut last years wood, not the old stuff), cut just below a leaf bud, and put it in a glass of water with a little sugar, somewhere light. Keep it well watered, and when it forms some root pot it up.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 9:43 am Post subject:

When I prune my blackcurrant bushes and grape vines I go through the trimmings and pick the most healthy wood. Trim to about 25cm, cut under a bud on the bottom, cut a slanting cut above a bud on the top. Then just push them into a row on the veg patch and almost all root and are growing strongly by late summer.

When we moved in we bought 2 blackcurrant plants, I have three more that are big enough now to give a crop this year and I have several more in the rough wild patch at the end of the garden.

Luckily I've not had any problem with viruses yet but if you do it's worth buying in a new plant and taking cuttings from that.

I'll try some blackcurrant leaves this year, I know they can be made into a tea.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 10:12 am Post subject:
I planted some blackcurrant bushes at the weekend and used the 'trimmings' as cuttings, just trimmed, as above, and shoved in the soil. I put them near the relevant parent bushes so I know what they are when they take. So I should soon have at least 9 plants instead of the 3 I've bought.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 11:43 am Post subject:
Blackcurrants being quite different to raspberries I assume the leaves don't have the same effect? (I understand raspberry leaves can affect pregnancy...women near labour might use it, but in early stages it's best avoided?). I'm fairly sure it's fine but it's important enough to bring up.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 11:45 am Post subject:
The wife drank blackcurrant tea during late pregnancy. Apart from the absolute agony of giving birth she had really strong contractions and both kids were born very quickly.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 11:46 am Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Apart from the absolute agony of giving birth she had really strong contractions and both kids were born very quickly.

Can I just bring that to TD's attention?

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 1:06 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Apart from the absolute agony of giving birth she had really strong contractions and both kids were born very quickly.

Can I just bring that to TD's attention?

Don't worry, I'll be able to drink to numb any pain I have.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 1:22 pm Post subject:
It's quite painless for the bloke. Just remember to only give the woman two of your fingers to squeeze, then there's less risk of broken bones.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 1:26 pm Post subject:
If you haven't got anything helpful to say Sean, don't say anything at all Anyway, we can't bring a child in to the world when we're living in sin

Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 1:43 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Anyway, we can't bring a child in to the world when we're living in sin

Well, if you've got to commit a sin, it may as well be a cardinal one.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 2:48 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

If you haven't got anything helpful to say Sean, don't say anything at all

You're confusing 'helpful' with 'helpful to you'. The thing about fingers is official medical advice, or was when I was a student.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 3:38 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

It's quite painless for the bloke.

She's doing it wrong! It can be arranged (for several years!), Bugs!

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 4:33 pm Post subject:
It's only painless while he's unconscious. As soon as he wakes up...

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 05 9:12 pm Post subject:

Getting back on topic, you can also grow more bushes in springtime by taking a strong branch, and bending it over to touch the ground. Peg it into the soil, and then damage a small area of the tip, say about ten inches from the end. Blokes have an easy measure for this, ladies may need a ruler.

Anyway, having partially broken it, bury the damaged bit in the ground, and keep moist for about four weeks. Then hey presto, new bush emerges!

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 05 9:16 pm Post subject:

Madman wrote:

Getting back on topic

Entirely overrated occupation if you ask me

.

Oops, you didn't. No change there then

"you can also grow more bushes in springtime by taking a strong branch, and bending it over to touch the ground"

Never ever heard of this version, similar to blackberries I suppose. Interesting, thanks for that, investigations to be done there!

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