Blackcurrants flower early in spring, and frost at flowering time can cost the crop. Modern varieties have been bred to flower later, which makes them a better choice in cold places, and most of them come from the James Hutton Institute's breeding programme in Dundee. In Scotland, frost and disease decide which one to plant.
Quick answer
Ben Connan as the all-rounder. Ben Tirran for a frost pocketA low-lying spot where cold air drains and pools on still nights, making it noticeably more frost-prone than the surrounding area. Full definition → or upland garden. Ben Hope or Ben Gairn where big bud mite or reversion virus is a problem, and Ben Sarek for a small space.
What Scotland means for the choice
A site prone to cold winds or late frosts puts the flowers at risk, so in Scotland a later-flowering variety is the first defence, before fleeceA lightweight, breathable fabric laid or draped over plants to trap a little warmth and keep off frost, wind and some flying pests. Full definition →. The later the flowers open, the more likely they miss the last frost; check your area's frost dates. The Hutton programme set out to breed for spring cold tolerance by introducing late flowering, "reaching its highest expression in 'Ben Tirran' released in 1990". Breeding for flowering any later than Ben Tirran starts to cost yield. The blackcurrant growing guide covers planting, pruning and protecting flowers from frost.
| Variety | Ripens | Size | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Connan | Early | Compact | Large, tasty berries; resists mildew and leaf spot; whole clusters ripen together |
| Big Ben | Early | Compact | Very large fruit; whole clusters ripen together |
| Ben Sarek | Mid | Compact | Heavy crops of large fruit; resists powdery mildew; suits a pot |
| Ben Gairn | Early (flowers early too) | Compact | Resists reversion virus; suits a pot |
| Ben Hope | Late July to early August | Not stated | Resists big bud mite; resists mildew and leaf spot |
| Ben Tirran | Late July to early August | Not stated | Flowers late; less susceptible to frost damage; self-fertileA plant that can set fruit using its own pollen, without needing a second, different variety nearby to cross-pollinate it. Full definition → |
Ben Connan and Big Ben hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGMThe RHS's Award of Garden Merit: a UK-wide trials award for reliable performance, not a Scotland-specific recommendation. Full definition →), a UK-wide award rather than a Scottish one. The others don't.
Ben Connan and Big Ben
Ben Connan gives large, tasty berries, ideal for cooking, on a compact bush that resists mildew and leaf spot. Big Ben is a fairly recent Hutton variety with very large fruit, also compact. With both, most of the currants in a cluster ripen at the same time, so you can pick whole bunches instead of berry by berry. They're modern varieties, but neither has a stated flowering time, so on a frost-prone site Ben Tirran is the surer bet.
Ben Tirran, for frost
Ben Tirran flowers late and is "less susceptible to frost damage" as a result. It's self-fertile and ripens in late July or early August. It doesn't hold the AGM and isn't as widely sold as the newer Ben varieties, so you may need a specialist fruit nursery, but for a hollow, an upland garden or anywhere with late frosts, it's the one to find.
Ben Hope and Ben Gairn, for disease
Big bud mite spreads reversion virus, which has no cure: infected bushes have to be removed. Ben Hope, now the most popular blackcurrant in the UK, has high resistance to the mite (the Ce gene), which blocks the virus's route in, and also resists mildew and leaf spot, with whole clusters ripening together. Ben Gairn was bred to resist reversion virus itself. It's compact, but it flowers early, so it's not the one for a frost pocket.
Ben Sarek, for a small space
Ben Sarek is compact, with heavy crops of large fruits on short strigs, and it resists powdery mildew. Blackcurrants don't do well in pots long term, but compact varieties like Ben Sarek and Ben Gairn should be fine for a few years.
Which one for your situation
- Most gardens: Ben Connan.
- A frost pocket, hollow or upland garden: Ben Tirran.
- Big bud mite or reversion virus in the area: Ben Hope, or Ben Gairn on a site without late frosts.
- The biggest berries: Big Ben.
- A pot or small garden: Ben Sarek or Ben Gairn.
Whatever you grow, net against birds, and watch for currant aphids, powdery mildew and leaf spot.
Common questions
Which blackcurrant is best for a frosty Scottish garden?
Ben Tirran. It flowers late, so it's less susceptible to frost damage. Modern varieties generally flower later than older ones, but Ben Tirran is the one bred furthest in that direction.
Which blackcurrants hold the AGM?
Ben Connan and Big Ben. Ben Hope, Ben Gairn, Ben Sarek and Ben Tirran don't, but each is worth growing for a particular reason.
Is Ben Gairn late-flowering?
No. It flowers and ripens early. Grow it for its resistance to reversion virus, not to dodge frost.
Sources
Show the 10 sources
- How to Grow Blackcurrants: Modern varieties flower later, better in cold locations; AGM varieties and descriptions; whole clusters ripening together; compact varieties in pots; avoiding cold, frosty sites
- James Hutton Institute — Blackcurrant Breeding Programme: Late-flowering breeding reaching its highest expression in Ben Tirran; later flowering costs yield; Ben Hope the most popular UK cultivarA plant variety that arose or was bred under cultivation and is kept true by deliberate propagation, rather than a naturally occurring wild species. Full definition →
- Ribes nigrum 'Ben Tirran' (B): Late flowering, less susceptible to frost damage, self-fertile, ripening time, no AGM
- Ribes 'Ben Hope' (B): Late season, ripening late July to early August, no AGM
- Ribes nigrum 'Ben Gairn' (B): Early flowering and ripening, reversion virus resistance, no AGM
- Ribes nigrum 'Ben Sarek' (B): Powdery mildew resistance, no AGM
- Ribes nigrum 'Big Ben' PBR (B): AGM
- Ribes nigrum 'Ben Connan' (B): AGM
- Ben Connan (James Hutton Institute): Ben Connan mildew and leaf spot resistance
- Ben Hope (James Hutton Institute): High resistance to gall mite (Ce gene); good resistance to mildew and leaf spot