Black Currant Ben Alder

Black Currant ‘Ben Alder’ is a dependable blackcurrant variety valued for its strong cropping potential and richly flavoured, dark berries. The fruits are ideal for jams, jellies, juices, syrups, baking, and freezing, making this shrub a great choice for gardeners who love home preserving. It’s a robust, easy-to-grow option for kitchen gardens, allotments, and mixed edible borders, offering reliable harvests with straightforward care. The berries also provide a wonderful depth of flavour when combined with other summer fruits in desserts and drinks.

The plant typically grows to a height of 100 cm (39 inches) and forms a vigorous, branching shrub that produces generous clusters of blackcurrants in summer. For best performance, grow it in full sun to light shade in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, and water during dry spells to support berry size and quality. Mulch annually with compost or well-rotted manure to feed the plant and help keep the root zone evenly moist, and protect ripening fruit from birds if needed. Prune in winter by removing some of the oldest stems at the base to encourage strong new shoots, as blackcurrants crop best on young wood.

• Plant species: Ribes nigrum (black currant), cultivar ‘Ben Alder’
• Height: 100 cm
• Fruit size: Medium to large (may vary with growing conditions)
• Fruit color: Deep black (with a natural gloss)
• Harvest period: Summer (typically mid to late summer; varies by climate)