Currant
Ribes nigrum
Also known asBlackcurrant (R. nigrum) · Redcurrant (R. rubrum) · Whitecurrant (R. rubrum cultivar) · Cassis (French, blackcurrant) · Schwarze Johannisbeere
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 3–8 (winter low around -40°C)
- Frost
- very hardy (survives deep cold)
- Season
- cool (spring/fall)
Growing systems
Root mass: moderate.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.4 |
| flowering | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.6 |
| fruiting | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.6 |
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended
Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.
Care notes
Feasible as a container fruit crop for outdoor or greenhouse aquaponics integration. The bushes are compact (1–1.5 m), productive, and well-suited to container growing (20 L). EC 1.5-2.5 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.0. Temperature: 10–25°C (cool-climate crops that need winter chill of 800-1500 hours below 7°C; not suited to warm climates). Moderate light (DLI 14-20 mol/m2/day; currants tolerate partial shade better than most fruit crops). Self-fertile; a single bush can produce fruit, though cross-pollination improves yield. Fruiting begins in the second year from nursery stock. Each mature bush produces 2–5 kg of berries annually. Harvest currant clusters (strigs) when all berries in the cluster are fully colored. Blackcurrants are stripped from the strig for processing; redcurrants are often used still on the strig as a garnish. For aquaponics growers in cool climates (USDA zones 3-7), currants are a low-maintenance fruit crop that produces reliably for 15-20 years per bush.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Origin | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titania | open pollinated | Sweden, 1980s | 365 | Blackcurrant. White pine blister rust resistant, which makes it accepted in most US states that restrict standard blackcurrants. Productive, late season, dessert-quality. |
| Ben Sarek | open pollinated | Scottish Crop Research Institute, 1980s | 365 | Blackcurrant, dwarf (1 m). Container-suitable. Productive for the size. Frost-resistant blossoms. The compact blackcurrant for small gardens. |
| Red Lake | open pollinated | Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1933 | 365 | Redcurrant, the most-planted commercial variety in the US. Cold-hardy zone 3, long clusters, productive, classic redcurrant flavor. |
| Pink Champagne | open pollinated | 365 | Pink-fruited redcurrant. Sweeter than red, milder than white. Decorative. |