Ben Alder Black Currant (Ribes nigrum)

Ben Alder black currant produces uniform strings of dark purple berries with concentrated juice suited to commercial pressing, preserves, or freezing. Bushes stay moderately vigorous and upright, making machine or hand harvest straightforward while keeping rows narrow. Plant in full sun to light shade with fertile, moisture-retentive soil; mulch annually to hold moisture and suppress weeds. Ben Alder shows strong tolerance to powdery mildew and leaf spot, responds well to renewal pruning, and performs reliably in wind exposed shelter belts or high density planting.

Hardiness: Zone 3