Blackcurrant 'Ben Lomond' 3Ltr

'Ben Lomond' has been one of Britain's best-loved blackcurrants since it was introduced in 1975. It was the first of the famous 'Ben' series bred at the Scottish Crop Research Institute, and it is still a dependable choice for home growers. It produces heavy crops of large, glossy berries with a rich, sweet-sharp flavour, carried in clusters on short strigs that make picking easy. They ripen from late July into August and are ideal for jams, pies, cordials and summer puddings, and they freeze well.

Its biggest advantage is late flowering. Because its blossom opens later in spring than many varieties, it usually escapes damage from late frosts, which makes it a good choice for frost pockets, exposed sites and colder gardens. It is very hardy, self-fertile and forms a compact, upright bush around 1.5m tall and wide once mature, so it suits smaller plots and fruit borders. Plant it in full sun or light shade in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, and dig in plenty of well-rotted manure first. Set the plant about 5cm deeper than it sat in the pot to encourage strong shoots from the base.

Mulch generously each spring, feed with a general fertiliser, and water well in dry spells, especially while the fruit is swelling. Cover the bush with netting as the berries ripen to protect them from birds. Once the bush is established, prune each winter by removing about a third of the oldest stems at the base. This encourages fresh fruiting wood and keeps the centre open for good air circulation.

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.