Find help and information on Ribes nigrum 'Big Ben' Blackcurrant, including varieties and pruning advice. The bushes do demonstrate a slight spreading habit, but the branches are fairly strong and will tolerate being grown on wires in protected situations. Producing up to 4.5kg of fruit per plant at maturity, Blackcurrant 'Big Ben' is a high yielding cultivar and deservedly won an RHS Award of Garden Merit at recent trials. A larger bush than other varieties which gives you more fruits. BEN CONNAN This is normally the heaviest cropper of all the blackcurrant varieties, even so the plants are compact and not sprawling. Grows many shiny, black fruits with a sweet and aromatic taste. Netting the bushes will help to protect the currants from birds. Mechanical Harvesting: Not suitable for mechanical harvesting. Ben Sarek is supposed to be the best variety for growing in a container. Blackcurrant shrub Ribes nigrum, the blackcurrant, is a medium-sized shrub, growing to 1.5 by 1.5 metres (5 by 5 ft). The fruit is huge, often about the size of the other big variety, Big Ben, and when ripe it is easily sweet enough to eat without sugar. Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. The large, glossy, strong-skinned fruits weigh on average 2.9g each, compared to a weight of 1.1g in standard varieties! This blackcurrant bush produces up to 4.5kg of fruit per plant at maturity, Blackcurrant 'Big Ben' is a high yielding cultivar and deservedly won an RHS Award of Garden Merit at recent trials. Click here to find out more. Its heritage is broad, but the main parents are Goliath, Ojebyn, and Ben Nevis. After the first season, prune out any thin or weak shoots. Culinary note: Blackcurrants are delicious when eaten fresh in a fruit salad or added to a colourful and tasty summer pudding. Blackcurrant Big Ben is a superb blackcurrant with huge fruits - much larger than the fruits of most other blackcurrants. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Vegetable Seeds. Grow blackcurrants in rich, moist, well drained soil. ‘Ben Connan’ crops from early July over a long cropping season, and can produce more than 3.5kg (over 7lb) fruit per season, for up to 10 years. Big Ben’ is a great blackcurrant with many good qualities but one very special feature. Also has excellent mildew resistance. The largest blackcurrant we have ever seen - and with a lovely sweet flavour too. Bred especially for eating fresh the large fruits are much sweeter than other varieties and once mature a plant can produce 4.5kg (10lb) of fruit! Blackcurrant Big Ben is an outstanding early blackcurrant variety that produces shiny black fruits that are over double the size of standard blackcurrants, but with a much sweeter flavour that makes them suitable for picking and eating fresh, straight from the bush. Click here for our page solely devoted to the characteristics of the excellent variety. Background Information on Big Ben Blackcurrant Bushes: This modern breed is another excellent creation of the Scottish Crop Research Institute. Blackcurrants can be harvested from July. Woody plant, usually having a permanent framework of branches. The Ben Nevis, black currant variety, is really a “sister seedling” of Ben Lomond. Blackcurrant 'Big Ben' Bare Root Ribes nigrum. Plant blackcurrant bushes between late autumn and spring, at a distance of 1.5m (5') apart and a depth of 5cm (2") lower than the soil mark on the stem. The fruits are borne on naturally arching stems for easy picking and are sweet enough to be eaten fresh or used in cakes, jams and crumbles. In the following years prune out any damaged or weak shoots before removing 20% of the remaining stems to create an open bush, and encourage fresh new shoots to develop. During trials undertaken in 2009, the average berry weight was 2.9g when up against the control variety in trial which produced an average of 1.1g. Excellent fresh flavour, sweet and rich when cooked. All plants are supplied as ‘royalty paid’ and any unauthorised propagation without licence is strictly prohibited. Its standout feature however is that it produces enormous blackcurrants – two or three times the size of other varieties. Black currant with especially large fruits. Excellent fresh flavour, sweet and rich when cooked. A late flowering variety so best for missing the frosts! They are also frost hardy and reliable. This plant is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring. Big Ben Blackcurrant is the newest variety of blackcurrant to be released from the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) breeding programme. This particular choice is really a effective, mid-season currant along with huge, firm berries. Jostaberry Bush | Bare Root [TR0606] Jostaberry Bush | Bare Root. Big Ben is … Mixed with other fruit, they are delicious. Ben Sarek Black Currant 1-9 $10.00 USD 10-19 $9.00 USD 20-49 $8.00 USD 50+ $7.00 USD The fruits are huge, far far larger than the fruits of other blackcurrants. Blackcurrant Big Ben is a variety selected for these qualities. Pre Order For Dispatch In Early February. Simply tasty and perfect for snacking. Keep blackcurrant plants well watered during dry periods, particularly as the fruits are developing. This delicious duo combines 2 varieties which are renowned for… £6.99 RRP £7.99. Big Ben' Blackcurrant Bush | Bare Root [TR0600] Big Ben' Blackcurrant Bush | Bare Root. This blackcurrant bush produces up to 4.5kg of fruit per plant at maturity, Blackcurrant 'Big Ben' is a high yielding cultivar and deservedly won an … Incorporate plenty of well rotted manure into the ground prior to planting. BLACKCURRANT Ben Hope £ 7.50 – £ 16.00 Bred by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Ben Hope is a vigorous and upright-growing bush variety producing consistently high yields of medium sized currants with good sensory qualities. Cropping season: Ripens in a similarly early season to Ben Gairn. History: Developed in the UK by the Scottish Crop Research Institute. With varieties such as Ben Nevis, Ben Connan, and Ben Lomond already released from this programme Big Ben has both fantastic heritage and a lot to live up to! Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations. Blackcurrants are easy to grow, producing bunches of dark purple berries in mid-summer, rich in vitamin C. With their tart flavour they can be made into pies and jams, cordials and even cassis. Blackcurrant 'Big Ben' The largest blackcurrant we have ever seen - and with a lovely sweet flavour too. Extremely vigorous once established, the plant has shown resistance to both mildew and leaf spot. The fruits are borne on naturally arching stems for easy picking and are sweet enough to be eaten fresh or used in cakes, jams and crumbles. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. Best when eaten straight from the bush! For the chance to be featured, share your plant pictures with uson Instagram by using the hashtag #YourTMGarden. Blackcurrant bushes There is nothing quite like the very distinctive flavour and aroma of blackcurrants. Once mature (3 years), these bushes are capable of producing 4.5kg of fruit per bush.The berries themselves are large shiny fruits with a strong skin and a sweet flavour making them ideal for consumption directly from the plant, unlike many other blackberries. Resistant to leaf spot and powdery mildew. Blackcurrant Big Ben is a superb blackcurrant with huge fruits - much larger than the fruits of most other blackcurrants. Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £4.99. Currant Duo includes: Blackcurrant Big Ben and Redcurrant Rovada.Fresh currants can cost a small fortune in the supermarkets, so why not grow your own and enjoy them straight from the bush. BLACKCURRANT Big Ben £ 8.50 – £ 10.00 Bred by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Big Ben is an outstanding early season variety with many excellent qualities. Its standout feature however is that it produces enormous blackcurrants - two or three times the size of other varieties. Big Ben Blackcurrant is the newest variety of blackcurrant to be released from the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) breeding programme. Any person or persons found to have illegally propagated Big Ben will likely face legal proceedings. It’s got great frost tolerance without any indications of overwintering issues within the Edmonton area. Moreover, it needs less pruning. The fruits are borne on naturally arching stems for easy picking and are sweet enough to be eaten fresh or used in cakes, jams and crumbles. Popular 21 others are looking at this right now, The largest blackcurrant we have ever seen, Plant Size Height Up to 120cm (47.2in)Spread Up to 120cm (47.2in). There are three varieties to consider – Ben Conan, Big Ben and Goliath, or maybe Laxtons Giant too. Blackcurrant Bushes. Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99. Blackcurrant Big Ben is a superb blackcurrant with huge fruits - much larger than the fruits of most other blackcurrants. Blackcurrant Big Ben Description: Big Ben is an early season variety that produces large blackcurrants, bearing more than double the fruit size of standard varieties. The variety is a complex cross involving varieties such as Goliath, Ojebyn, and Ben Nevis, but the result is a fantastic early season blackcurrant, fruiting from the last week of June for 5-7 weeks. Can reach a fruitweight of 3g/fruit - which is the double of ordinary varieties. Currant blister aphid is very common, leading to puckered leaves … For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes. If you are passionate about bigger fruits, you can choose Big Ben, Ben … FROM £6.99. Trim weak shoots to 2-3 buds. The blackcurrants ‘Ben Connan’ and ‘Ben Sarek’ are resistant to blackcurrant gall midge. Capable of withstanding outdoor winter temperatures down to -15C. Also has excellent mildew resistance. Blackcurrant Big Ben An outstanding early season variety with many excellent qualities. Best when eaten straight from the bush! Resistant to mildew and leaf spots. *Your 20% discount only applies to plants, bulbs and seeds.© 2020 Thompson & Morgan. Bred specially for eating fresh the large fruits much sweeter than other varieties and once mature a plant can produce 4.5kg (10lb) of fruit! Ben Sarek was developed by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, where all the “Ben” series of black currants have been developed. 7 reviews. Resistant to leaf spot and powdery mildew. Bred especially for eating fresh the large fruits are much sweeter than other varieties and once mature a plant can produce 4.5kg (10lb) of fruit! Description: Ben More is an upright bush that produces beautiful rich and juicy blackcurrants. This blackcurrant bush produces up to 4.5kg of fruit per plant at maturity, Blackcurrant 'Big Ben' is a high yielding cultivar and deservedly won an RHS Award of Garden Merit at recent trials. Save £3. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email. 3 litre pot: £12.99: 3 litre pot £12.99: Quantity: in stock (shipped in 3-5 working days) Buy. The large, glossy, strong-skinned fruits weigh on average 2.9g each, compared to a weight of 1.1g in standard varieties! Ribes nigrum ‘Ben Connan’ is a heavy cropping, small bush variety of blackcurrant, bearing large, glossy black fruits with a superb flavour. Blackcurrant growing guide click here> After planting, reduce the stems to 2 buds above ground level to promote sturdy new growth. This is because it is compact, ideal to be grown in the container. Blackcurrant Big Ben Growing Tips. Estimated time to cropping once planted: 16-20 months (4-8 months for cordon plant)Estimated time to best yields: 16-20 months. Bred by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Big Ben is an outstanding early season variety with many excellent qualities. Planting blackcurrants slightly deep will encourage the production of extra stems from below ground level. Big Ben Currently licensed to Winterwood Farms.. Parentage: Complex cross involving (Goliath x Ojebyn) op, Ben Nevis and Vistavotnaja. Blackcurrants were traditionally used only for jams, pies and puddings, and they tasted great. The berries are larger than normal and disease resistance is excellent. Most blackcurrant berries weigh in at about 1.1g, but the average weight for a ‘Big Ben’ berry is 2.9g – that’s almost three times the size. More recently, there are varieties the size of small grapes (Big Ben) which are tasty eaten by themselves, with ice cream or cream. Codes 3 bare root blackcurrant plants (KB6892) 1 bare root blackcurrant plant (46910). ‘Ben Hope’ is a resistant cultivar. Big Ben is protected in the European Union by Plant Variety File Number 20080249. Big Ben is … Description: Big Ben is an early season variety that produces large blackcurrants, bearing more than double the fruit size of standard varieties. Neat and compact in habit, very suitable for growing in the north as it has very strong branches that support the crop well. Cropping is from early July onwards. Breeder's number - SCRI C2/15/40 Flowering: Flowers ca. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. We supply established, healthy 1-year old bareroot pre-pruned plants which will quickly establish once planted. Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £6.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered. 1 review. Suitable for freezing. If you have too many, they freeze well. Big Ben is … 7 days prior to Ben Lomond. Height and spread: 120cm (47"). The first two are really the most satisfactory with big fruits individually nearly twice the size of normal blackcurrants, and easily produced too. Put quite simply, this is the largest blackcurrant that we have ever seen, producing more than double the size of standard varieties. More info on Blackcurrant gall midge Big bud mite: These mites infest the buds of blackcurrant bushes. With varieties such as Ben Nevis, Ben Connan, and Ben Lomond already released from this programme Big Ben has both fantastic heritage and a lot to live up to! Hardy Shrub. Look out for the small, distorted and crumpled foliage of blackcurrant gall midge and the enlarged rounded buds in winter that fail to develop in spring which indicates blackcurrant big bud mite. In Stock. The leaves are alternate, simple, 3 to 5 cm (1 1⁄4 to 2 in) broad and long with five palmate lobes and a serrated margin. Ebony is a high yielding blackcurrant with the sweetest flavour, intended for eating when fresh. Varieties to Choose for Bigger Fruits. All rights reserved. Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket. blackcurrant 'Big Ben' (PBR) blackcurrant. All parts of the plant are strongly aromatic. Our Nation of Gardeners were asked to plant Blackcurrant Big Ben in February 2014 as part of a trial to test it’s yield and flavour. What is Hardy Shrub? Shelter from cold winds and late spring frosts as these conditions may damage the flowers, and reduce the yield of fruit later in the year. A division of BVG Group Ltd. 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