'Fruit River' Black Currant

Fruit River was selected by using seedlings of the black currant and its hybrids. The plants are shade tolerant and can fruit up to  50 percent shade. All of our plants for 'Fruit River' are grown from seed so there is little chance of continually spreading viral diseases . The flavor is strong yet raisin like with little astringency. 

This is our first generation of this highly beneficial fruit plant rich in antioxidants and minerals. We are trying to grow it using no supplemental irrigation and additional fertilizer. Plants seem to do better in rich moist loamy soils with a bark mulch. It takes about 3 years to fruit from seedling. The plants after 3 years of growing are 2-3 ft. tall with flowers produced in long panicles.

The state of New York has now allowed growers to produce the fruit once again for specialty markets by removing the rather entrenched and scientifically outdated 1920's Ribes legislation that prohibited their use before. It is being used successfully as a shade tolerant plant for woody agriforestry type plantings throughout Illinois and Missouri. Because our plants are not a cultivar and have not been tested outside of our farm, they cannot be shipped to ME,NH,CT,VT,MA & most of northern Michigan. The seed sources we use are completely immune to white pine blister rust yet there is no scientific evidence on how resistant they are to rust. No rust has been found at our farm after 25 years but best to be safe. 

The plants we offer for spring are small one year old container plants and are now growing vigorously. Keep the plants irrigated and out of intense sunlight the first year if possible.