Blackcurrant 'Ben Tirran'
Ribes nigrum 'Ben Tirran'
A blackcurrant against the fence near the pond (not a pond plant). Variety 'Ben Tirran', a late-flowering Scottish variety that tends to dodge spring frosts. Planted this spring.
Pruning: blackcurrants fruit best on young wood, so in winter cut about a third of the oldest, darkest stems right down to the base to keep new shoots coming. A mulch of compost in spring helps too.
- Common name
- Blackcurrant 'Ben Tirran'
- Section
- Fruit, veg & herbs
- Spot
- Garden
- Soil
- Garden soil with bark mulch
- Options
Potential
A fruiting bush for an edible garden or generous container, with established plants offering material for further propagation.
- From
- A local independent garden centre, 2026
- Age
- About 3 years
- Next repot
- Not needed: it's in the ground
- Edible
- ✅ Yes: Blackcurrants, great for jam.
- Hardy
- ✅ Fully
- Garden-centre price
- about £12
Did you know?
During the Second World War, Britain promoted blackcurrants for vitamin C while oranges were scarce, and the syrup went to children. That's how Ribena took off.
Care & updates
- What to expect
- Flowering and cropping depend on maturity, variety, pollination and growing conditions. First useful harvests may take several seasons. Flowers Apr–May.
- Feeding
- Every 28 days, Mar–Jul, with High-potash fruit feed
- Observation
Healthy, with leaves starting to colour for autumn and some browning on the older leaves higher up. Several long stems against the fence.
🎮
Dizzy spends the whole game hunting down fruit. Berries very much included.
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