After warm springs, currants ripen from the end of June. New, ready-to-harvest berries keep appearing until August. A few tips on how to tell the fruit is ready to be picked and how to harvest it properly.

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
  • Red currants
  • Black Currants

From the end of June, the first red and white currants ripen a little earlier than the black fruits. Their harvest time does not begin until mid-July.

This is how you recognize ripe currants

The currants can be harvested when the fruits have acquired a rich color and all the berries in a panicle are evenly colored red, yellow or black.

The berries are full and not wrinkled. They give off a pleasant scent. When you touch the panicles, the currants almost fall into your hands by themselves.

If in doubt, do a taste test. If the red and white berries taste sweet with a slightly sour undertone, they are ripe. Black currants have a rather tart taste.

The best time for picking

Pluck the shrubs 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 when the bushes are dry is best for picking. Moist or wet berries rot faster.

Currants are sensitive

Avoid squeezing the delicate berries when harvesting. It is better to cut or pick off the whole panicle.

Carefully place the harvested panicles in a basket and do not stack too many.

Bruises on the fruit lead to water loss and allow the berries to spoil more quickly. Currants keep longer on the stalks and can be kept in the fridge for a day.

tips and tricks

Not only people, but also birds love the red currant varieties in particular. So that you can harvest enough berries, you should stretch a net over the bushes by the beginning of June at the latest to keep the birds away. Special protection is not absolutely necessary for white and blackcurrants.

Category:

Vegetable garden