About currants

A long time ago when I was a child I went to visit a family and they gave me a jar of currant jelly to take home with me. I don't know what kind of currant it was but the color was pinkish. It was delicious and I thought to plant one. Could anyone tell me what type of currant it could be?

Arklady

Some white currants are very slightly pinkish; I have read (but never seen 'em) that there are red-white hybrid currants.

There are also IIRC pinkish gooseberries, it couldn't have been them?

Mmmm, I love currants Redcurrants are good in breakfast cereal!

Pat

Are they really white or just that they are called white... lol... I actually never heard of white before. I know there are some black and red currants but I hesitate to buy one unless I know its close to what I want. I don't want to get something I don't like. I had considered the red though... Any thoughts on that?

Nope, they're fairly close to white (translucent, not opaque), like if you sucked all the pigment out of a red currant I *think* they are bred from red currants -- certainly they are a lot more like redcurrants than like black currants. Here you go: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitecurrant but the ones I've seen in real life have never been quite that pinkish looking!

I like redcurrants. They're pretty easy to grow, probably a little more relaxed in their requirements than other fruits (just no wet feet or serious drought). Need a bit of pruning every couple years to thin them out and keep them producing well. You may need bird netting if you want a harvest My impression is that the disease that is communicable to white pines (and other 5-needled pines) is more of an issue with black currants than red.

Go plant some! Ha, of course I think *everyone* should plant currants, just because *I* like 'em <g>. Assuming the disease issue is not going to be a problem for you.

(edited to correct url)

Have fun,

Pat

how many is best to plant for good poilination? I know nothing about them except my gram loves them. I bought her one a few years ago and it is doing well but never gets alot of berries on it.

Pink Champagne currants? They are white-ish pink.
Or Blanka White currants? They are pure white.
Currants are self-fruitful, but they set a heavier crop if you have another variety for cross pollination.
http://www.jungseed.com/sp.asp?c=227

Thanks another bush it is then

Came across this thread in a search for information on currants. I'd like to try to grow some red currant bushes here. Anyone have experience? I remember my grandmother having them outside Rochester, NY.

They are the easiest things I grow! I tossed them in the ground a few years ago, one year my husband accidentally completely mowed one off, and yet they thrive. Never pruned, rarely fertilized or watered, but very productive.

Yup, no reason they shouldn't do well in CT, go get some this fall and let 'em get going

Pat