Black currant bush dying

pandamonium

Hi all
It is our first year with this garden. When we moved into the house most of the garden was pruned right back, so it's been a year of surprises.

We have what I assume is a black currant bush (although it's very tall). Berries started to form just before we went on holiday, but when we can back it had a dead patch of leaves and the berries are kind of white. Any ideas what has happened to it, can it be saved and if it has something nasty, is it likely to spread to neighbouring plants/trees?

TIA

Brock_and_Roll

pandamonium wrote: »

Hi all
It is our first year with this garden. When we moved into the house most of the garden was pruned right back, so it's been a year of surprises.

We have what I assume is a black currant bush (although it's very tall). Berries started to form just before we went on holiday, but when we can back it had a dead patch of leaves and the berries are kind of white. Any ideas what has happened to it, can it be saved and if it has something nasty, is it likely to spread to neighbouring plants/trees?

TIA

Whereabouts are you in the UK? If in the North/Scotland where the summer has been quite cool and wet I would put my money on a form of mildew.

If you are on the south coast/south east, where it has been very dry up until recently, it may be drought conditions that have caused the problems.

Either way, this problem is highly unlikely to affect other plant species nearby.

Personally, I would do one of two things:

1) cut it right back to 12 inches from the ground and "start again" in terms of shaping the bush.

2) Dig it out and plant another bare root this winter (not expensive)

Either way, make sure you allow room for plenty of air to circulate round the bush and prune during subsequent winters to ensure that that there is not too much "internal growth" - i.e. too many leaves etc reduces air circulation and causes mildew and other diseases/problems.

pandamonium

Thank you for the comprehensive reply.

The blackcurrant was one of the only things that wasn't pruned hard when we moved in, so I guess it's time to do it quick.

We're in the midlands - the summer hasn't been that wet, but looking at pics of mildew it looks like that's it.

We are on very clayey (is that a word??) soil. Will a new bush take OK?

Brock_and_Roll

Well if were me, I would dig out a smallish area of soil before planting a new bush and replace it with fresh top/soil loam - that sure ensure bush gets off to a decent start. Once it is established, should be no problems with the clay unless very heavy.