Blackcurrants and Gooseberries
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| Berryfruit Variety Descriptions
Blackcurrants and Gooseberries |
Blackcurrants and gooseberries belong to the genus Ribes. Considerable intercrossing has occurred within the genus and a wide range of types are available with a range of attributes. Most of these fruits are used for processing especially into juices and pies but some are suitable for fresh consumption.
Blackcurrants benefit from high organic levels especially near the surface where the majority of the feeding roots are active. Plants are usually established from cuttings planted directly into the field at 0.33m apart. Row widths depend on machinery but 2.8-3m are most common. For hand harvesting wider spacing can be used up to 0.8m between plants. North/south oriented rows appear to perform better. Blackcurrants prefer soils with good moisture holding capacity.
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General description:
Consistently good yielding variety. Bushes are spreading and moderately vigorous. Bud break is very good. Flowers mid to late season and harvests late season. Holds on well when mature. Fruit size is large. Resistant to leaf spot but susceptible to bird attack. Not suited for small blocks for this reason. The fruit is exceptionally firm. Low acid, medium Vitamin C and very strong colour. Sugar levels can be very high having reached 22_Brix. The flavour is distinctively different being similar to Ben Rua in its fruity mild very pleasant flavour.
Cultural notes:
Should not be harvested for at least 7 days after all fruit has turned black.
Market suitability:
Fresh fruit, processing uses where high colour and low acidity and mild flavour is required.
District suitability:
All South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
General description:
Consistently high yielding variety with very large fruit size. Bushes are upright and quite vigorous. Flowering is consistently early. Harvest date is variable and has ranged from early to late in different seasons. Holds on well so can be left on the bush longer once mature. Shows resistance to leaf spot, but is susceptible to botrytis, leafhoppers and two spotted mites. This variety is high acid, medium sugar and vitamin C, but colour is low. The flavour is distinctively different with little typical blackcurrant character.
Market suitability:
Fresh and PYO. Process uses where high acidity is required
District suitability:
All South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
General description:
Bushes are relatively upright, and require little pruning. Yields are good. Bud break is consistently good. Flowering time is early season and is prone to frost damage for this reason. Harvests mid - late season. Susceptible to leaf spot but quite resistant to botrytis. The fruit holds extremely well on the bushes and is easy to pick in strigs. The fruit is firm. Has very strong colour and good sugar levels when fully ripe. Acidity is low and vitamin C levels are medium. The flavour is typically blackcurrant but can be slightly "thin".
Market suitability:
Suitable for fresh marketing in strigs. Good processing variety.
District suitability:
All South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
General description:
Bushes have a wide base but are relatively upright. Yields are variable and can be very high if winter chilling requirements are satisfied. Bud break is only good following cold winters. Flowering time is mid season and harvest time mid - late season. Resistant to leaf spot and botrytis. The fruit holds well on the bushes. The fruit is large and firm. Has good juice colour and good sugar levels when fully ripe. Acidity is high and vitamin C levels are medium. The flavour is typically blackcurrant.
Market suitability:
Good processing variety.
District suitability:
Not generally suitable for coastal Canterbury areas and north of here because of insufficient winter chilling
General description:
Very heavy yielding variety. Fruit size is very large. Large vigorous rather spreading bushes. Bud break is moderately good. Flowers late and is harvested about two weeks after Magnus. Susceptible to botrytis but shows little leaf spot. Does not hang as well as other varieties when ripe and needs to be harvested as soon as 90% black stage is reached. Acidity, vitamin C, colour, and sugar are all medium. Flavour is typical blackcurrant.
Cultural notes:
Side pruning is essential to keep the bush open and fruit off the ground.
Market suitability:
PYO, Gate sales, Juice processing
District suitability:
Lighter soils of all South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
General description:
Yields are consistently high. Fruit size is large. Flowering is generally about 10 - 14 days after Magnus. Harvesting date is about 14 days after Magnus. Bushes are slightly sprawling and quite squat in habit. The variety is leaf spot resistant but is quite susceptible to mites. Fruit ripens evenly, is firm and holds well on the bush once ripe. This a medium acid variety. Process colour is strong. Sugar levels and ascorbic acid are medium - high. The flavour is distinctive with a rich fruitiness but lacking some strong distinctive blackcurrant notes.
Cultural notes:
Well suited to fertile soils where excessive vigour is a problem. Introduce mite predators each year to maintain mite control. Post harvest control for leafroller may be required. Do not harvest until at least 7 days after all fruit is black.
Market suitability:
A very good juicing variety.
District suitability:
All South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
General description:
Yields are moderate. Fruit size is very large. Bud break can be low in areas where winters are mild. Bushes are moderately vigorous and reasonably upright. Fruit tends to be soft when fully ripe. Medium acidity, sugar and colour. Flavour is exceptionally good but lacking distinctive blackcurrant character. When processed this variety has a cherry type flavour.
Market suitability:
Fresh fruit, special process uses.
District suitability:
Not generally suitable for coastal Canterbury areas and north of here because of insufficient winter chilling
General description:
Bred at Long Ashton Research Station. Parentage Baldwin x Brodtrop. Bushes have a wide base but are relatively upright. Yields are variable but can be good if winter chilling requirements are satisfied. Bud break is only good following cold winters. Flowering time is mid season and harvest time mid - late season. Resistant to leaf spot and botrytis. The fruit holds well on the bushes. The fruit is large and firm. Has good juice colour and good sugar levels when fully ripe. Acidity is medium and vitamin C levels are medium. The flavour is typically blackcurrant. Shows some resistance to gall mite.
Market suitability:
Good processing variety.
District suitability:
Not generally suitable for coastal Canterbury areas and north of here because of insufficient winter chilling
Availability:
Very limited.
General description:
A gall mite resistant variety. Has moderate to low yields. Fruit size is moderate-small. Produces juice which has strong characteristic `blackcurrant' flavours, moderate colour, Vit C and brix. Low acid. Ripens late January. Bushes are generally small and have moderate vigour. Fruit holds well on the bushes.
Market suitability:
A processing variety where gall mite is a major issue.
District suitability:
All South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
General description:
Released from the NZ Blackcurrant breeding programme. Parents are Ben Ard x EM1613/8. Bushes are relatively upright with moderate vigour. Flowers late. Yields are high with moderate fruit size. Harvests mid - late season. Has very strong colour, high acid and strong typical blackcurrant flavours.
Market suitability:
Good processing variety where high colour and strong blackcurrant flavours are needed.
District suitability:
All South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
General description:
Released from the NZ Blackcurrant breeding programme. Parents are Ben Rua X Linton. Has moderate-high yields. Fruit size is moderate. Harvests around Magnus time. Bushes are upright with moderate vigour. This low acid variety has moderate process colour and Vit C level. Sugar levels are good when ripe The flavour is similar to Ben Rua, perhaps more mellow and lacks a strong distinctive blackcurrant note.
Market suitability:
Processing variety where low acid and mild flavours are required.
District suitability:
All South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
There are a number of special purpose varieties which are available in small numbers. Ben Nevis is another variety requiring high winter chill producing big fruit and good yields when the chill requirement is met. Ben Sarek produces a very small bush with tight clusters of very large fruit which are susceptible to sunburn. These produce a plum flavoured processed product. Ben Nora produces a small quantity of huge fruit which can be up to 5g in size.
Gooseberries have been grown for many years in New Zealand. However the arrival of American Gooseberry Mildew disease in 1984 and it's subsequent spread throughout New Zealand decimated gooseberry crops to the point where few commercial crops remain.
Gooseberries prefer similar conditions to blackcurrants but are very susceptible to Phytophthora root rot. Ensure good drainage before planting. Plants can tolerate some shade. Plant spacing between the plants is about 0.8m for most situations. Bushes are grown free standing. Pruning side branches off the main trunk at the base and growing on a "leg" will help with harvest access. Gooseberries benefit from high organic levels especially near the surface where the majority of the feeding roots are active. Plants are usually established from bushes but cuttings planted directly into the field can be successful. Row widths depend on machinery but 2.8-3m are most common.
General description:
Bred at East Malling, this is a mildew resistant, vigorous variety. The plant has long extension growths which tend to droop if not shortened. The plant has typical long spines. The fruit is green when ripe and covered in pale hairs. It is used for processing purposes at an under ripe stage and is excellent for freezing, canning and jams. Ripe fruit have an excellent flavour when eaten fresh. Heavy yielding variety. Susceptible to Gooseberry mite and spraying after bud burst is necessary. Not damaged by low rates of sulphur which can be used for control of the mite.
Main Deficiencies:
Drooping plant, hairiness, susceptibility to gooseberry mite
Cultural notes:
Provide support for plants when young and establish a framework of sturdy branches from which annual growths are permitted. Replace these growths every two to three years. Do not allow more than a single stem to develop below 15cm high.
Plant Availability:
Readily available
District suitability:
All South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
General description:
Bred at East Malling from parentage including Whinhams Industry, Captivator and Lancashire Lad. Not yet grown in New Zealand so information about chilling requirement and performance is not yet known. UK information suggests this is a moderately mildew resistant, mostly thornless variety. Occasional spines may develop on the young growth. Yields are similar to Invicta but berry size is larger. The fruit is red when ripe. Ripe fruit have an excellent flavour when eaten fresh.
Plant Availability:
Released from Quarantine November 1997. Limited availability until 1999
District suitability:
All South Island districts and coldest parts of North Island
BLACKCURRANTS:
P Hyatt, Sunrise Valley, R D 1 Upper Moutere. Ph 03 543 2877
G Langford, HortResearch, P O Box 51, Lincoln (New releases only) Ph 03 325 6350
K A Thompson, Rakauhauka, R D 2 Invercargill (Linton only) Ph 03 231 3065
GOOSEBERRIES
Harrison's Trees, V. Harrison, R D 1, Palmerston North Ph 06/357 0054, Fax 06/356 8938
Heritage Horticulture, Helen Greer, Woolrich, R D 8, Hamilton Ph 07/829 7607
Millichamps, J. Millichamp, Main South Road, Ashburton Ph 03/308 8100
Harry Wientjens, Waterson Road, R D 1, Carterton Ph 06/379 7068
Roy Beecroft, Glencroft Gardens, Wrights Road, Sheffield Ph 03/318 3865 evenings
Peter Robson, Kapiti Kroppers Nursery, P O Box 15, Te Horo Ph 06/ 364 7156
Oaklands Nurseries, Pam Smale, 22 Atkins Street, Motueka Ph 03/528 9049
Tharfield Nursery, Te Puna Road, R D 6 Tauranga Ph 07/552 5802
Bill Gunderson, R D 8, Dannevirke Ph 06/374 8126
For Pax availability, check with Antonia Crawford, NZ Berryfruit Propagators Ltd, P O Box 10050, Wellington. Ph/Fax (04) 569 8263