Is it illegal to grow black currant?

Blackcurrants are currently illegal to grow in New York, but it may soon be legal to grow cultivars that are immune to white pine blister rust. In the United States, blackcurrants are not as common as they once were, but they have begun to thrive again in areas such as Connecticut, Oregon, and New York.

When should I buy currant bushes?

Redcurrants can be bought as bare-root plants, without any soil around the roots, or in containers. Bare-root plants are only available while they are dormant, from late autumn to early spring, usually by mail order from fruit nurseries.

Are black currants illegal in the US?

The US Department of Agriculture had no choice but to have black currants banned because the plants became a vector for a disease that threatened to annihilate all pines in America. It might seem extreme, but this measure was necessary to save the logging industry at that time.

Why were black currants illegal in America?

In 1911 it was made illegal to grow currants in the United States. They were banned by the US Department of Agriculture because they carried the white pine blister rust disease. This fungus threatened to wipe out the pines in the US, so all Ribes were banned to protect the logging industry at the time.

Why was Gooseberry banned?

Unfortunately, also in the early 1900s, the growing of gooseberry and related currants became federally banned because of a fungal disease called white pine blister rust, a deadly disease for all species of white pines (which includes the ancient bristlecone pines).

Do I need 2 blackcurrant bushes?

The bushes are incredibly simple to grow; there’s not much going against them! They’re happy in sun or shade and one bush is all that’s needed, to produce high yields of fruit. Blackcurrants crop best on vigorous two and three year old stems.

What is the best time to plant blackcurrants?

The best time to plant is during the dormant season, from late October to March, but it’s best to avoid planting in the middle of winter if the soil is either very wet or frozen. Containerised plants can be planted all year round and are available in garden centres, nurseries or online for most of the year.

Is it legal to grow currants?

In 1911, a federal ban made it illegal to grow all Ribes, including currants and gooseberries, because these plants served as an intermediary host of white pine blister rust.

Why are black currants banned in America?

The federal government had banned the growing of black and red currants in 1911 when the burgeoning logging industry put pressure on lawmakers to eliminate the currants because they were thought to be an intermediate host of white pine blister rust.