How to Prune Currants and Gooseberries in Winter
Prune currants and gooseberries in winter, from November to early March, while the bushes are dormant. Blackcurrants fruit best on young wood, so remove about a third of the oldest stems at the base each year. Redcurrants, white currants and gooseberries fruit on older wood, so keep an open framework of main branches and shorten the side shoots. This guide covers both methods step by step.
Short on time? Planting new bushes this winter? Our black currant plants are sold bare-root from November, the ideal time to plant and give their first formative prune.
Pruning Quick Facts
When: November to early March, while the bushes are dormant
Blackcurrants: remove about a third of the oldest stems at soil level each year
Redcurrants and white currants: keep 8 to 10 main branches; shorten side shoots to one or two buds
Gooseberries: prune like redcurrants, with an open centre for airflow
Tools: clean, sharp secateurs, a pruning saw for old stems, and thick gloves for gooseberries
Optional summer prune: shorten side shoots on redcurrants and gooseberries to five leaves in late June or July
Why Blackcurrants Are Different
Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) produce most of their fruit on stems that grew the previous year. They grow as a "stool", with many stems coming from below ground, so the aim is to keep a steady supply of young stems.
Redcurrants, white currants (both Ribes rubrum) and gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa) fruit on short spurs along older branches and at the base of last year's shoots. They grow on a short trunk, or "leg", so the aim is to keep a permanent, open framework.
How to Prune Blackcurrants
Newly planted bushes: after planting, cut every stem down to one or two buds above the soil. It feels drastic, but it encourages strong new stems from the base.
Remove old wood: from the third year, cut out about a third of the oldest stems at soil level each winter. Old wood is dark grey to black; young wood is paler and smoother.
Remove weak and low stems: cut out thin, damaged or low stems that trail on the ground.
Keep 8 to 10 good stems: a healthy mature bush has a mix of one-, two- and three-year-old stems.
How to Prune Redcurrants, White Currants and Gooseberries
Keep a short leg: remove any shoots growing from the lowest 10 to 15 cm of the main stem, so the bush sits on a clear trunk.
Keep 8 to 10 main branches: arrange them like a goblet, with an open centre. Remove crossing branches and any growing into the middle.
Shorten the leaders: cut back the new growth at the tip of each main branch by about half, to an outward-facing bud.
Spur back side shoots: cut last year's side shoots back to one or two buds from their base. Fruit forms on these short spurs.
Renew old branches: every few years, replace an old, unproductive branch with a strong young shoot from lower down.
An open centre lets air move through the bush, which helps prevent gooseberry mildew and makes it easier to spot gooseberry sawfly caterpillars in spring.
Summer Pruning (Optional)
For redcurrants and gooseberries, shortening the current year's side shoots to about five leaves in late June or July lets more sun reach the fruit and makes winter pruning quicker. Blackcurrants don't need summer pruning, though some growers cut out fruited stems at harvest time.
Common Pruning Mistakes
Pruning blackcurrants like redcurrants: shortening every stem removes the young wood that carries the fruit.
Never removing old stems: unpruned blackcurrants become crowded and crop mainly at the tips.
Letting the centre fill up: crowded bushes are prone to mildew and harder to pick.
Pruning in spring growth: late pruning wastes the plant's energy. Finish by early March.
FAQ: Pruning Currants and Gooseberries
When should I prune blackcurrants in Ireland?
Prune blackcurrants in winter, from November to early March, while the bushes are dormant and leafless, which makes it easy to see the stems. Cut out about a third of the oldest stems at soil level each year, along with any weak or low stems. Avoid pruning once buds start to break in spring.
What is the difference between pruning blackcurrants and redcurrants?
Blackcurrants fruit mainly on young stems, so you remove whole old stems at the base to encourage new ones. Redcurrants, white currants and gooseberries fruit on spurs along older branches, so you keep a permanent framework of 8 to 10 branches on a short trunk and shorten the side shoots to one or two buds each winter.
How do I prune an overgrown gooseberry bush?
Tackle an overgrown gooseberry over two or three winters rather than all at once. Each winter, remove dead wood and a few of the oldest or most crowded branches at the base, opening up the centre. Then shorten the remaining side shoots to one or two buds. Wear thick gloves, as gooseberries are very thorny.
Do I need to prune currant bushes every year?
Yes. Yearly pruning keeps currant bushes productive, healthy and easy to pick. Unpruned blackcurrants become congested with old, unproductive wood, and unpruned redcurrants and gooseberries fill up in the centre, which encourages mildew. A light prune each winter takes only a few minutes per bush.
Add to Your Fruit Garden
Winter is the time to plant as well as prune. Currants and gooseberries are easy, reliable croppers for Irish gardens, and our red currant, white currant and gooseberry plants are sold bare-root from November at Earthling Plants.
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