Top 20 Currant Varieties to Grow: Tips and Advice for a Successful Harvest
Currants are among the most productive, reliable, and space-efficient soft fruits you can grow. Whether you choose blackcurrants, redcurrants, or whitecurrants, these hardy bushes thrive in UK gardens, allotments, and even containers, producing heavy crops with relatively little maintenance.
Currants are valued for their intense flavour, nutritional benefits, and versatility in the kitchen. From fresh eating and desserts to jams, juices, and freezing, currants earn their place as a staple fruit crop. With modern breeding offering disease-resistant and compact varieties, they are easier than ever to grow successfully.
This guide covers the top 20 currant varieties to grow, along with practical tips and advice to help you achieve healthy plants and generous harvests year after year.
⭐ Recommended Products for Growing Currants Successfully
Currants benefit from good soil fertility, regular pruning, and protection from birds once fruit begins to ripen. The right setup improves both yield and fruit quality.
• Fruit Cages or Bird Netting
Birds are especially attracted to currants. Netting or a fruit cage is essential to protect ripening clusters and ensure a full harvest.
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• Well-Rotted Manure or Garden Compost
Annual mulching feeds plants, improves soil structure, and increases berry size and flavour, particularly for blackcurrants.
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• Secateurs and Pruning Gloves
Regular pruning is vital, especially for blackcurrants which fruit on new wood. Sharp tools make pruning quicker and safer.
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What Are Currants?
Currants are deciduous fruiting shrubs from the Ribes genus. They are grouped into three main types:
- Blackcurrants – rich, intense flavour, ideal for cooking and preserving
- Redcurrants – sharp, juicy berries often eaten fresh or used decoratively
- Whitecurrants – sweeter, milder versions of redcurrants
- Flavour: Sweet to sharp depending on type
- Harvest season: June to July
- Uses: Fresh eating, jams, juices, freezing, baking
Currant bushes are long-lived and can crop reliably for 15–20 years.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Currants
- Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained
- Position: Full sun to partial shade
- Spacing: 1.2–1.5m between bushes
- Pruning: Essential for productivity
- Harvesting: Pick when fully coloured and ripe
Blackcurrants tolerate shade better than red or white currants.
Top 20 Currant Varieties to Grow
1. Ben Sarek (Blackcurrant)
Compact and productive.
- Large berries
- Excellent flavour
- Ideal for small gardens
2. Ben Hope (Blackcurrant)
Highly disease resistant.
- Strong growth
- Heavy crops
- Reliable performance
3. Ben Lomond (Blackcurrant)
Classic variety.
- Mid-season cropping
- Good flavour
- Vigorous plants
4. Ben Connan (Blackcurrant)
Modern compact variety.
- Large berries
- High yields
- Easy to manage
5. Ben Alder (Blackcurrant)
Late-season variety.
- Strong flavour
- Excellent freezing quality
- Extends harvest
6. Titania (Blackcurrant)
Very popular modern type.
- Large berries
- Strong disease resistance
- Reliable yields
7. Baldwin (Blackcurrant)
Traditional heavy cropper.
- Intense flavour
- Good for cooking
- Robust growth
8. Rovada (Redcurrant)
One of the best redcurrants.
- Long trusses
- Heavy yields
- Excellent flavour
9. Red Lake (Redcurrant)
Reliable classic variety.
- Bright red berries
- Good disease resistance
- Consistent crops
10. Jonkheer van Tets (Redcurrant)
Early-ripening type.
- Early harvest
- Juicy berries
- Vigorous growth
11. Rosetta (Redcurrant)
High-yielding variety.
⭐ Recommended Products — Garden & Allotment Essentials for March
March is when the growing season truly begins. Seeds are being sown daily, beds are prepared and late frosts are still possible — these essentials help produce strong plants and a successful start.
Seed Trays, Modules & Propagation Kits — perfect for tomatoes, brassicas, lettuce, onions and flowers. 👉
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Heated Propagators, Heat Mats & Grow Lights — improves germination and prevents leggy seedlings during cold nights. 👉
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Seed & Cutting Compost — essential for healthy seedlings and strong root growth. 👉
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Garden Fleece & Plant Protection Covers — protects seedlings, potatoes and early plantings from late frost. 👉
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Spring Vegetable Seeds — carrots, beetroot, peas, spinach and salads can all be started now. 👉
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Garden Kneeler & Seat — makes long sowing and planting sessions far more comfortable. 👉
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Pressure Washer (Greenhouse & Patio Cleaning) — clean patios, paths and greenhouses before planting. 👉
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Solar Garden Lights — perfect for enjoying the garden during brighter spring evenings. 👉
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- Large clusters
- Strong growth
- Good dessert quality
12. Versailles Red (Redcurrant)
Traditional favourite.
- Large berries
- Balanced flavour
- Reliable cropping
13. White Versailles (Whitecurrant)
Classic whitecurrant.
- Sweet flavour
- Attractive translucent berries
- Good yields
14. White Grape (Whitecurrant)
Mild and sweet.
- Excellent fresh eating
- Decorative fruit
- Productive bush
15. Blanka (Whitecurrant)
Heavy-cropping variety.
- Long trusses
- Sweet flavour
- Reliable performance
16. Pink Champagne (Pinkcurrant)
Unusual and decorative.
- Blush-pink berries
- Sweet flavour
- Excellent dessert fruit
17. Junifer (Redcurrant)
Early-season variety.
- Good berry size
- Strong growth
- Early cropping
18. Ometa (Redcurrant)
Cold-tolerant variety.
- Consistent yields
- Good flavour
- Hardy plants
19. Ben Tirran (Blackcurrant)
Late-cropping variety.
- High vitamin C
- Strong flavour
- Extends season
20. Heritage Currant
Traditional open-pollinated type.
- Reliable cropping
- Hardy growth
- Classic flavour
Common Problems When Growing Currants
- Small berries: Lack of feeding or water
- Poor cropping: Incorrect pruning
- Bird damage: Netting required
- Disease: Choose resistant varieties
Regular mulching and pruning prevent most issues.
Pruning Tips for Better Harvests
- Blackcurrants: Remove old wood annually, fruit on new growth
- Red & white currants: Fruit on spurs, prune lightly
- Keep bushes open for airflow
- Prune during dormancy
Correct pruning dramatically improves yields.
Harvesting and Storage Tips
- Harvest whole trusses
- Pick when fully coloured
- Use fresh or freeze immediately
- Currants freeze exceptionally well
Blackcurrants are best harvested in clusters.
Nutritional Benefits of Currants
- Extremely high in vitamin C (especially blackcurrants)
- Rich in antioxidants
- Good source of fibre
- Supports immune health
Among the most nutritious garden fruits.
Final Thoughts
Currants are one of the most dependable and productive fruit crops you can grow, delivering reliable harvests even in challenging conditions. With a wide choice of black, red, white, and pink varieties available, there’s a currant to suit every garden size and taste.
Whether you’re growing for fresh eating, preserving, or freezing, currants reward simple care with generous crops year after year—making them an essential addition to any fruit garden.