Black currant - Photo by storebukkebruse
Black currant is a berry with a strong tart taste. It is often used in juices, soft drinks, jams and jellies, but can also be eaten raw as a dessert fruit, or in fruit salads.
Names
Scientific
Ribes nigrum
English
Blackcurrant
Dutch
Zwarte bes
Spanish
Casis
Grosellero negro
Parrilla negra
Zarzaparrilla negra
French
Cassis
Cassissier
Cassissier d'Europe
German
Schwarze Johannisbeere
Taxonomy
Order
Saxifragales
Family
Grossulariaceae
Genus
Ribes
Species
Ribes nigrum (Black currant)
Basic information and facts
Origin:
Black currant originates from central Europe, northern Europe and northern Asia.
Distribution:
Most common in temperate regions of northern Europe and Russia.
Annual, biennial, or perennial:
Perennial
Flowers:
The flower is bell-shaped, hermaphroditic and self-pollinating.
Leaves:
The leaves are 3 to 5 cm long and wide. they have five lobesand a serrated margin.
Fruits:
The fruits are berries with a diameter of up to 1 cm. They have a glossy skin and very dark purple or black color. Fruits have a strong tart flavour.
Climate and weather:
Grows in temperate climates. They prefer cool regions with humid summers and good winter chilling.
Pollination:
Both self-pollination and cross-pollination occur. Cross-pollination with pollen from another black currant variety often produces a better yield. Pollinated by insects such as bumble bees.
Height:
It’s a shrub whicg grows up to 1.5 meter tall.
Spacing
About 1.5 meter between plants.
Propagation:
Often propagated using hardwood cuttings of one-year old wood. Can also be grown from seed.
Harvesting:
Hand picking of ripe fruits.
Uses:
Fruits are eaten fresh, often combined with other frutis in fruit salds. They can be used to make juice, jellies, syrups, jams. Blackcurrants are sometimes used in cooking to flavor sauces, meat dishes and desserts.
Crop categories
Food crops
Fruits
Temperate crops
Pictures
Black currant - Photo by mwri
Black currant - Photo by mmmavocado
Black currant - Photo by avramishin33