Blackcurrant 'Titania' 3Ltr

'Titania' is a reliable, heavy-cropping blackcurrant, bred in Scandinavia and grown by gardeners for its large, juicy berries and excellent disease resistance. It has very good resistance to powdery mildew and to rust, two of the most common problems with blackcurrants, so it is an easy choice for anyone wanting good crops without much trouble. The large berries ripen in July, are rich in vitamin C, and have the classic sharp, aromatic blackcurrant flavour that makes outstanding jam, cordial, crumbles and summer puddings. They freeze well too.

'Titania' forms a vigorous, upright bush around 1.2–1.5m tall and wide. It is self-fertile, so a single plant will fruit on its own, though planting two or more varieties together can improve yields. It grows best in full sun or light shade in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Plant it about 5cm deeper than it sat in the pot to encourage strong new shoots from the base, then cut all the stems back to two buds above soil level. This gives up the first summer's fruit but builds a strong, productive bush for the years after.

Water the bush well during dry spells, especially while the fruit is swelling. Feed it with a general fertiliser in spring and mulch it with well-rotted manure or compost. Netting the bush before the berries ripen will keep the birds off. Blackcurrants fruit best on young wood, so once the bush is established, cut out about a third of the oldest stems at the base each winter to keep new growth coming.

Supplied in a 3 litre pot and can be planted at any time of year, though autumn is ideal. Each plant is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.