Right Chris, I have the idea, never be afraid of asking as many times as needed, some one will know and it is what this forum is for.
Currants of any colour are shallow rooted, the best planting time between October and March although container grown ones can go in anytime. They hate bad drainage though if the soil is too thin they will have a short life. Enhance the soil with plenty of compost mixed with manure and because of the shallow rooting mulch often. A dusting of organic fertiliser in spring with some Potash added, keep well watered especially black currants.
I personally would not grow them in a container they could need staking, birds love them so netting may be needed, after a frost it pays to heel them in as they can lift.
Pruning, cut down to a few inches after planting so the roots can establish, there after cut out about one third of the last years wood in Autumn, red and white currants cut back around half of the old wood in winter. Cut back all the shoots to about one third after fruiting.
They can be high maintenance to get the best from them, who said gardening was easy?
Aiding in drainage - don't worry about that, I'm placing the trough on three solid concret blocks so some sections will not be touching the ground.
The roots- I never thought that would be a problem but I can line the trough I also have some other ideas to stop this.
The trough is 8 feet long, by 18 inches wide by 16 inches deep(this would be £120 by my friend is selling one to me for £50)
I really don't know what to grow them in anymore but by the sounds of thing I'll go for 100l compost, 150l horse poop and 200l top soil, With a fertiliser when needed. Does that sound good?
The currents are out at the moment in the pots they came in, so far the birds haven't even looked at them, I'll be happy to get netting if needed. I personly want to keep them in the container.
Chris, Any good mix of soil manure and grit, I buy small bags of small grit and mix it in everything especially seed sowing. The birds will only eat the nearly ripe fruit that is when to net them, a flock of Starlings stripped my bushes after getting under the net. Do not fill the trough to the top leave plenty of room to top up with a mulch as containers will dry out quite quickly in full sun. Currants will be happy in partial shade and you may need to use some kind of support for them and the nets later.
In the Autumn ask again about pruning it is essential for the next years growth.
A reply to the above mail would be this forum is for learners to ask questions, the answers they do not know hence the question. Some of the more experienced or not gardeners to answer such questions and also learn from the experience of other gardeners who have made their mistakes and pass them on and who among us never made a mistake, I certainly have.
Many of the young people today did not have the type of education we old lags had including science physics experimentation and how to research, not their fault just a broken system. My point being we should give a straight answer to the question or request more information even not answer rather than cause people to not ask. It took me a while to work out what Chris was doing and would probably work in a different way but who is to say he is wrong, I think we all wonder what goes into compost and after some of the debacles with chemicals over my life time who is to say he is wrong to worry.
"experiment, fail, learn, repeat." it may sound odd but I'd rather fail first time and get it perfect the second time then not experience failure at all.
While the advice I've gotten has been incredibly helpful (thank you all) I am going to follow it but I will be using a little
..... Of my own judgment, if this ruins everythingthen I'll learn from It and I'll try again.
Today I gave the branded compost to a friend and I've gotten my hands on composted poop from a poo pile(don't worry it well composted). I've also spoken to a stable manager who has done the same thing as me but he's growing some kind of flower.
Dont worry about the grammar Chris, it will never be as bad as another posters on here, and dont worry that you havent got a degree in science, biology, soil make up or have a mile long profile, you ask the questions you need to ask, some one will know the answers, prob not me !!
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Posts
Right Chris, I have the idea, never be afraid of asking as many times as needed, some one will know and it is what this forum is for.
Currants of any colour are shallow rooted, the best planting time between October and March although container grown ones can go in anytime. They hate bad drainage though if the soil is too thin they will have a short life. Enhance the soil with plenty of compost mixed with manure and because of the shallow rooting mulch often. A dusting of organic fertiliser in spring with some Potash added, keep well watered especially black currants.
I personally would not grow them in a container they could need staking, birds love them so netting may be needed, after a frost it pays to heel them in as they can lift.
Pruning, cut down to a few inches after planting so the roots can establish, there after cut out about one third of the last years wood in Autumn, red and white currants cut back around half of the old wood in winter. Cut back all the shoots to about one third after fruiting.
They can be high maintenance to get the best from them, who said gardening was easy?
Frank.
Aiding in drainage - don't worry about that, I'm placing the trough on three solid concret blocks so some sections will not be touching the ground.
The roots- I never thought that would be a problem but I can line the trough I also have some other ideas to stop this.
The trough is 8 feet long, by 18 inches wide by 16 inches deep(this would be £120 by my friend is selling one to me for £50)
I really don't know what to grow them in anymore but by the sounds of thing I'll go for 100l compost, 150l horse poop and 200l top soil, With a fertiliser when needed. Does that sound good?
The currents are out at the moment in the pots they came in, so far the birds haven't even looked at them, I'll be happy to get netting if needed. I personly want to keep them in the container.
Chris, Any good mix of soil manure and grit, I buy small bags of small grit and mix it in everything especially seed sowing. The birds will only eat the nearly ripe fruit that is when to net them, a flock of Starlings stripped my bushes after getting under the net. Do not fill the trough to the top leave plenty of room to top up with a mulch as containers will dry out quite quickly in full sun. Currants will be happy in partial shade and you may need to use some kind of support for them and the nets later.
In the Autumn ask again about pruning it is essential for the next years growth.
Frank.
Sorry for not replying! Thank you all for being patient and helping me.
Yep, I'll go for the netting as soon as but I'll look out for somthing a little more bird friendly perhaps a wire meshing(small gaps)
a mulch sounds great, ill make sure to leave a four inch gap from the lip and I'll keep the mulch from touching the stems.
A reply to the above mail would be this forum is for learners to ask questions, the answers they do not know hence the question. Some of the more experienced or not gardeners to answer such questions and also learn from the experience of other gardeners who have made their mistakes and pass them on and who among us never made a mistake, I certainly have.
Many of the young people today did not have the type of education we old lags had including science physics experimentation and how to research, not their fault just a broken system. My point being we should give a straight answer to the question or request more information even not answer rather than cause people to not ask. It took me a while to work out what Chris was doing and would probably work in a different way but who is to say he is wrong, I think we all wonder what goes into compost and after some of the debacles with chemicals over my life time who is to say he is wrong to worry.
Frank.
"experiment, fail, learn, repeat." it may sound odd but I'd rather fail first time and get it perfect the second time then not experience failure at all.
While the advice I've gotten has been incredibly helpful (thank you all) I am going to follow it but I will be using a little
..... Of my own judgment, if this ruins everythingthen I'll learn from It and I'll try again.
Today I gave the branded compost to a friend and I've gotten my hands on composted poop from a poo pile(don't worry it well composted). I've also spoken to a stable manager who has done the same thing as me but he's growing some kind of flower.
^ it's been a long day please excuse my grammar.
Good luck - let us know how you get on
Dont worry about the grammar Chris, it will never be as bad as another posters on here, and dont worry that you havent got a degree in science, biology, soil make up or have a mile long profile, you ask the questions you need to ask, some one will know the answers, prob not me !!