Red Currant Bush

[Elaine]

We have a Red Currant bush which we would like to move. It has been in place for three years and is around 3' in height and spread and is too big for it's place in the fruit cage.

If we move it, will it survive? Is October/November the best time to move it or should we leave it until spring?
Cheers.

[realfood]

Yes, you will be able to shift it and it is best done while the bush is dormant.

[glallotments]

Elaine if it is as dry with you for us I'd definitely leave it until the ground is wetter and then try and get as large a rootball with it as you can.

[Elaine]

Thanks folks. We will leave it until later in the year to move it.
Yes Glallotments, it certainly is dry around here..unbelievable for this time of the year!

I have no doubts that this will all change in two weeks time. Why so sure, you may ask.

Because that is when the annual Hull Fair begins and the weather almost always changes to persistent rain for the entire week!
Thanks again.
Cheers.

[glallotments]

Good Luck for the fair

Forgot to mention water the plant really really well before lifting.
I'd dig ahole larger than required and incorporate some compost into the soil and then watering the planting hole before dropping the plant in. That is unless we do get some really wet weather and the ground is very wet when you replant.

[Elaine]

The weather won't affect me for Hull Fair....I stopped going years ago. Just watching some of those hair-raising rides makes me feel ill!
The Dodgem cars are about my limit these days!
Cheers.

[Johnboy]

Hi Elaine,
When you do finally decide the time is right to move your Red Currant Bush may I suggest you add to the bottom of the planting hole some Horn and Hoof Fertilizer and a small handful of Bone Meal and mix in well.
Horn and Hoof is a long acting/Slow release Nitrogen Fertilizer and it will be active for several years and the Bone Meal is a quicker acting fertilizer which will aid your plant from almost day one.
If you prepare your new planting hole first and get it all prepared and then dig up the plant, transport from old site and prune any roots damaged in the digging-up process and then plant your Red Currant. It will never realise that it has moved!
I did this a few years ago with 6 long established Gooseberry Plants and they just got on with growing the next year without even a shrug and thirty years ago I took an 18ft Apple tree from my old property in Hertfordshire to here in Herefordshire and I pruned it very severely and it took 5 people to lift onto the lorry and the first year it was growing new branches and settling in but in the second year it had more apples than it had ever had in previous years and I am happy to say that it still fruits to this day.
JB.

[glallotments]

The weather won't affect me for Hull Fair....I stopped going years ago. Just watching some of those hair-raising rides makes me feel ill!
The Dodgem cars are about my limit these days!
Cheers.

Me I love gokarts! When I used to take my class of 11 year olds on residential visits I always went on the gokarts with every group. No excuse for this now though.

[Elaine]

Why ever not Glallotments? Go for it and have a go!

[Elaine]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I feel a lot more confident moving the bush now.

JB
I shall have to buy some Horn and Hoof and Bonemeal if they are so good though the very names make me cringe!
Cheers.

[Johnboy]

Hi Elaine,
I agree that the products mentioned do sound rather gruesome but I can assure you that they are well worth using.
JB.

[glallotments]

JB,
I know you will be able to answer this but what is the difference between fish blood and bone & horn and hoof etc? Other than the obvious i.e. where it comes from. Is one more beneficial than the other?

[Johnboy]

Hi Glallotments,
To the best of my knowledge Horn and Hoof is the fertilizer with the longest action. I takes many years to completely break down and is therefore giving of a steady contribution of low nitrogen which is what trees, shrubs and perennials appreciate. Fish, Blood and Bone fertilizer is equally nutritious, if not more so, but is shorter lived. These natural fertilizers are sadly becoming things of the past and also very expensive.
Although occasionally I use Vitax man made preparations for a quick fix if needed but on the whole I use H&H and Bone Meal for preference on my growing areas.
Vitax fertilizers are quick in and quick out solutions but the others are there for a long term measure and soil health. Vitax is used to enhance old potting compost and to a lesser degree with seeding composts along with a very small amount of Super Phosphate.
Hope that this answers your question.
JB.

[glallotments]

Hi JB,
As usual it does very well.

I don't know why you don't become a radio expert - a nice sideline for you!!!