CURRANT AFFAIRS

THIS is a good time to clean up and prune blackcurrants. Unlike redcurrants and gooseberries, these produce most of their crops on newly grown, vigorous wood, so pruning differs. The idea is to remove the oldest, least productive stems to ensure a good yield. Then, if necessary, remove a few younger ones to let in more air and light, but make sure to choose the weakest. Prune young bushes lightly, discarding weak basal shoots. If the bush is more than three years old, remove up to a third of all stems each autumn or winter.