How to Pick Black Currants

Black currants make a delicious wine or jam and they are relatively easy to grow--if your state allows growing them. Black currants were outlawed in 1911 because the logging industry feared it would face harm from them because they can carry white pine blister rust. The U.S. federal government lifted the ban in 1966, but growing black currants is still illegal in some states. Black currants are a bit more difficult to harvest than other types of berries because you cannot simply pick the berries off the stems--you have to cut the branch off the plant.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Container
• Gloves

Instructions

1. Wait until the berries are firm and ripe. The berries will look dry and hard and have a nice black color.

2. Separate a stem, or "strig," of black currants from the main plant. Carefully move the currants, so as not to squash them. At this point, the currants will still be attached to the main plant, but pulled away from the center.

3. Cut the strig of black currants. Cut at the edge of the strig. This helps you to prune as you harvest.

4. Wash the black currants with cold water.

5. Prune the black currant plant after harvest. Black currants do not grow well on old wood, so you want to constantly prune in order to have new growth wood for the berries to grow on in the following year.

References

• Washington State University: European Black Currants
• Pick Your Own Fruit Site: Currants