A frost tolerant blackcurrant bush, Ben Connan produces exceptionally large blackcurrants on short trusses. Heavy crops are ready to pick from early July and delicious in puddings, jams and cordials. Ben Connan blackcurrants have an excellent sharp flavour and are rich in vitamin C.
This award winning fruit bush has good resistance against frost, pests and disease. The bush itself has a compact habit and will grow to 1.5 x 1.5 metres.
AKA Ribes nigrum 'Ben Connan'
Use: Dual purpose, Cooking and Eating
Cropping period: Early/mid season (Early July)
Flavour: Sharp, Rich, Sweet
Latin name: Ribes nigrum 'Ben Connan'
Heritage: Scotland 1993
Pollination group: Self Fertile
Final height and spread: Up to 1.5x1.5 metres
Position: Sheltered
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Planting Advice for Ben Connan Blackcurrant Bushes
Our pot grown black currant bushes can be planted at any time of the year. Bare root currant bushes need to be planted between November and March and if you are not planting bare root fruit bushes straight away, it is best to ‘heel’ them in.
Currant bushes can be planted close together to create a ‘hedge’ of fruit, or at approximately 1m intervals to allow for the individual bushes to stand alone. Prepare the site by removing weeds and grass within a metre of each desired planting hole. Dig a square hole slightly deeper than the root mass and approximately 2x as wide.
To help fruit bushes establish more effectively, we advise applying root grow (sprinkle in the hole for pot grown plants or prepare and apply the gel mixture for bare root plants). Gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole. Using 50% of the original soil and 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently.
Watering & Aftercare Advice
If you’re planting black currant bushes in spring, summer or dry weather, water well and regularly for the first few months. Keep an eye on young fruit bushes and increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. If you’re planting in autumn, you may only need to water your tree a little.
To check if the soil requires further water, dig a finger down into the soil, a few centimetres and if the soil feels even slightly moist, it does not need further watering. If it feels dry, water and repeat this test again. Once you see your fruits begin to swell, water again. We also stock a range of irrigation kits, suitable for a variety of planting schemes.
Keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. Installing mulch matting and bark chips will aid in this. Do not simply mow the grass around the area as this will encourage it to grow more vigorously.
Pruning Advice for Ben Connan Blackcurrant Bushes
Soft fruit, including gooseberries, red currants and white currants require some formative pruning followed by a small amount of annual maintenance. In the first year, during early spring, select 5 or 6 main stems and trim back to approximately 15-20cm. Remove the remaining stems by pruning back to 1-3 buds from the ground. In the following year, during summer (June to July), prune back the current year’s growth to approx. five leaves. Soft fruit bushes fruit on older wood so you should not be removing any fruit from your tree, only new growth.
Then, in winter, remove all dead or damaged shoots and cut back the side shoots to about 1-3 buds from the base. Shorten the remaining branch tips by a quarter. Repeat this pruning regime each winter from then on.
Delivery Costs
*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.
Small/medium trees & shrubs
Select semi-mature trees & shrubs
All other mature trees
Mainland UK ex. Scottish Highlands
£8 for any quantity
£35 for 1-4 trees
From £55 for any quantity
Scottish Highlands & the Islands
From £30
Outside Mainland UK
Currently we are unable to deliver outside of Mainland UK
Delivery Times
Next Day Despatch We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible. For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours. We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.
Standard Delivery We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket
Pre-orders We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders. These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.
Special Orders Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.
If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].
Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.
Collections Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.
The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:
Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.
Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.
Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.
Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.
Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.
Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.
Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.
Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.
Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.
