CURRANTS, both flowering and fruiting, are sometimes described as idiot-proof. I’m not sure I’d go quite that far, but both kinds really are easy to grow, the closely related gooseberries, too. In most gardens you’ll get colourful spring flowers and summer berries bursting with flavour, all with little special care. Even the varieties that are not quite top notch, or that have been around for decades, will bring you bright colours or prolific crops.
However, as ever, you cannot go wrong choosing varieties that have the accolade of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Awarded after the RHS has grown all available varieties side-by-side, and assessed them over a number of years, look for the RHS cup symbol.
Botanically, they’re all ribes
There are about 200 different species of currants and gooseberries, gathered under the scientific name of Ribes. Four species are British natives, some grow wild in other parts of Europe or
