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Strings of ripe red currants hanging on the bush
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When to plant currants in John Day, OR

Plant currant bushes in John Day Apr 20 – Jun 15.

Easy Plant bare-root or potted bushes

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun west of the Cascades; afternoon shade east
Spacing
4 to 5 feet apart
Planting depth
An inch or two deeper than in the pot
Frost
Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest
A small crop in year two; full crops from year three

Why these dates

John Day's typical last spring frost is May 28. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the high desert and mountains, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 20.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

How to grow currants in John Day

  1. Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant currant bushes Apr 20 – Jun 15, 4 to 5 feet apart. An inch or two deeper than in the pot.
  3. Prune in late winter: keep about ten stems of different ages and cut out any older than three or four years. Mulch to keep roots cool.
  4. Harvest: Pick whole clusters (strigs) once all the berries are colored. Red currants hang on the bush for a couple of weeks; black currants are best picked as soon as they're ripe.

Key numbers

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Red, white and black currants

Red and white currants make sparkling, tart jelly and are lovely raw in small amounts. Black currants are stronger and musky, best for jam, syrup and cordial. All are hardy, long-lived bushes that crop well in cool summers and in spots with a few hours of shade, which makes them good fits for Northwest gardens.

White pine blister rust

Black currants (and to a lesser extent other currants and gooseberries) are an alternate host of white pine blister rust, a disease that kills five-needle pines like western white pine. Plant rust-resistant black currant varieties such as Titania, Consort or Crusader, especially if you live near forests with white pines.

Pruning and pests

Currants fruit best on two- and three-year-old wood. Each late winter, cut out stems older than three or four years at ground level and keep about ten stems of mixed ages. Black currants fruit on younger wood, so prune them a bit harder.

In spring, watch for imported currantworm: green, spotted larvae that start under the lower leaves and can strip a bush in a week. Pick them off or spray with spinosad. Net the bushes as berries color.

Common questions

When is the last frost in John Day, OR?

Typically May 28. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for John Day.

Is it too late to plant currants in John Day?

The spring planting window runs through June 15. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer.

How long until I can pick currants?

A small crop in year two; full crops from year three. Pick whole clusters (strigs) once all the berries are colored. Red currants hang on the bush for a couple of weeks; black currants are best picked as soon as they're ripe.

Can currants grow in shade?

Yes, better than most fruit. A few hours of direct sun is enough, and afternoon shade helps in hot eastern valleys.

Is red-flowering currant the same plant?

It's a related native shrub grown for its spring flowers. Its berries are edible but dry and bland; grow red, white or black currants for fruit.

Do I need two currant bushes?

Red and white currants are self-fertile and crop well alone. Black currants set fruit alone too, but most give bigger crops with a second variety nearby.

Also plant in John Day around the same time

Planting dates for currants in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for John Day · Currants in every city