Blackcurrant Bush

[237SJ]

In the spring I planted a blackcurrant bush in a terracotta pot. It didn`t do very well because it had gall midge so if it is still infected next summer I`ll probably bin it. Anyway, due to the mild autumn it has grown lots of new buds and some of them have tiny leaves sprouting. Will it be OK like this over winter or should I wrap it in bubblewrap or something?

[woofgang]

If it had gall midge, I would be inclined to let the new growth get frosted and cut it all off.

[237SJ]

I think the gall midge go into the soil to pupate so that probably wouldn`t do much. Someone said it might have been in the soil when I bought the plant.

[woofgang]

did you repot it. removing as much of the soil as possible?

[Chipchopper]

Rather than bubblewrap, I would use a horticultural fleece to keep good airflow to the plant.

[237SJ]

When I bought the plant the roots were in a bag so there wasn`t much soil to speak of. I`m not sure I`ll get a fleece as the plant might be binned next year - I don`t have much luck with growing things.

[alavahalf]

You should prune a blackcurrant in the late Autumn when it's dormant ... cut out all the older stems ... leave any new growth .. Any straggly stems should be cut back and aim to retain no more than 10 good stems. A change of soil.
Try all that and then give it one more chance, if that fails

[alavahalf]

Whoops ....... you know what to do with it !