Fertilizing currants: instructions & best fertilizer

If you expect a rich harvest, you should fertilize your currants sufficiently at the right time. We'll tell you what is important when it comes to fertilizing.

Even if you have the impression that Currants (Ribes) produce their delicious fruits every year as if by themselves, that's not entirely true. Both red currants (Ribes rubrum) as well as black currants (Ribes nigrum) must constantly form new shoots. For this and for the development of their fruits they need nutrients from the soil. On nutrient-rich soil that may still be used during planting compost improved, the berries may be able to do without fertilizer for a few years. But at some point this soil is also depleted. The shoot growth decreases, the shoots become weaker, yield and fruit quality decrease further and further. So that it does not come to that, we will tell you what to consider when fertilizing.

When should currants be fertilized? Which fertilizers are suitable and what is the best approach to fertilizing? We have summarized the answers to these for you in this article.

Fertilizing currants: the best time

The vegetative growth, i.e. the growth of the shoots, begins early in spring in currants. The plants already need nitrogen for this. Since organic fertilizer usually takes a while for the nutrients to be available to the plants, currants are fertilized very early on. Best of all in early February. If you only fertilize with compost, we recommend giving it in late autumn. The organic material can already decompose a little and the currants can eat directly from new nutrient stores when they sprout early. In early spring, one or two more compost additions are added. This is not absolutely necessary for fertilizers with a higher nutrient density such as manure or organic commercial fertilizers. They are applied once in spring (March). It is best to use organic slow release fertilizers such as our Plantura Organic universal fertilizer. This is particularly gentle on plants, soil and animals in your garden. A second, smaller application of fertilizer can also be made at the end of April to support the formation of flowers and fruits.

Summary: when to fertilize currants?

• Compost in late autumn or early spring
• Basic fertilization in spring (March) with organic slow release fertilizer
• Second application of fertilizer for flower and fruit formation (end of April)

Tip from the professional: Manure should have rotted well for a few weeks or, better still, months so that it is suitable for fertilization. You can tell whether the manure has rotted well by its smell. Rott manure no longer smells of its ingredients.

Currants and their nutritional needs

Currants need a lot of nitrogen for the constant renewal of their shoots. They also have an increased need for potassium. A potassium deficiency can be seen in currants on the brown leaf edges, which curl upwards. Currants also want to be supplied with magnesium. However, these are very small amounts that are found in organic fertilizers like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer usually included anyway.

Suitable fertilizers for currants

As long as you fertilize early enough in spring, organic fertilizers are best for currants. They work for a long time and therefore provide the currants with good nutrients over the long term. However, not all organic fertilizers are suitable for currants.

Organically fertilize currants

Nitrogen-based horn meal and horn shavings products do not contain enough potassium and magnesium and therefore do not provide sufficient supplies of currants. In the case of rotting manure or compost, exact recommendations for fertilizer quantities are difficult, as the nutrients vary greatly depending on the content of the compost, the composting method and the straw content in the manure. Basically, currants are very grateful for having plenty of nutrients. It goes without saying that the amount of fertilizer must be adapted to the size of the plant.

What also ensures a constant, small supply of nutrients with currants is mulching with lawn or clover clippings. We especially recommend this for currants because it keeps the soil nice and moist - just the way the berries like it. Mulch also prevents grass or weeds from growing under the currants, which would rob the plants of nutrients. Nevertheless, in addition to the grass mulch, you should apply an organic slow release fertilizer once a year. Depending on how much has been mulched, one then holds back a little with the application amount.

Both from a scientific and especially from a sustainable point of view, there are many reasons for using an organic long-term fertilizer in the garden. These also have many advantages when fertilizing currants, for example:

• Continuous decomposition by microorganisms and thus long-term supply of nutrients to the currant
• Active, healthy soil life is promoted (good for microorganisms, earthworms and Co.)
• Particularly gentle on people, pets and garden animals due to the lack of chemicals

Our Plantura Organic universal fertilizer consists to a large extent of organic, plant-based raw materials and is therefore ideal for fertilizing your currants. A high proportion of nitrogen promotes plant growth and leaf formation. Sufficient phosphorus and potassium also ensure abundant flowering and plenty of fruit. In addition, the production of fertilizer from residues from the food, feed and luxury food industries is particularly sustainable and resource-saving.

Fertilize currants properly: Instructions for ideal application

If your currants are not fertilized enough, this naturally has a negative effect on the yield. However, over-fertilization or imbalanced fertilization are also undesirable as they increase susceptibility to plant diseases. So that you supply your currants with the optimal amount of nutrients, we have prepared detailed fertilization instructions for you below.

Long-term organic fertilization: Instructions and dosage quantities for currants

1. Before planting: work 80 - 160 g / m² (6 to 13 heaped tablespoons) of our Plantura organic universal fertilizer into the upper soil layers
2. Water the inserted bush well so that the granules can loosen
3. Every spring (March) fertilize 90-140 g per plant (7-11 heaped tablespoons)
4. A small amount of fertilizer for blossoming and fruiting (end of April) provides your plant with another optimal supply

Mineral fertilize currants

Blue grain, Liquid fertilizer and Co. are often used in the garden, as the nutrients they contain can be absorbed in their pure form directly by the plant from the soil solution. Although this ensures a rapid burst of nutrients, the simple solubility of the nutrient salts also increases the risk of leaching into the soil. In the worst case, this can lead to contamination of the groundwater. Organic fertilizer In contrast, they work more slowly, but promote soil life due to the constant decomposition by microorganisms and ensure a sustainably improved soil structure. In addition, there is hardly any risk of over-fertilization with organic fertilizers, since the nutrients are not as concentrated as in Mineral fertilizers are present.

Regular pruning measures are also important for a rich currant harvest. Instructions and professional tips on how to Cutting currants see this article.