Currants Planting Guide
Your May guide to currants
currants rewards gardeners who pay attention to a few basics. Here's what matters in May, wherever you're growing.
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How to water currants
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for currants. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
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Where to put currants
South-facing beds are ideal for currants. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
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Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant currants. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.
Currants are small, tart berries that grow on attractive shrubs in red, white, and black varieties. They are prized for jams, jellies, and liqueurs.
Ribes rubrum · Fruit · Grossulariaceae family · 730–1095 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Currants Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Currants?
Currants Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Currants planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | — | — | Jun 12 | — |
| Zone 3b | — | — | Jun 7 | — |
| Zone 4a | — | — | Jun 3 | — |
| Zone 4b | — | — | May 29 | — |
| Zone 5a | — | — | May 16 | — |
| Zone 5b | — | — | May 9 | — |
| Zone 6a | — | — | May 1 | — |
| Zone 6b | — | — | Apr 24 | — |
| Zone 7a | — | — | Apr 15 | — |
| Zone 7b | — | — | Apr 8 | — |
Why are some columns showing "—"?
Start Indoors shows "—" because Currants is typically direct sown outdoors rather than started indoors. It germinates quickly and doesn't transplant well.
Direct Sow shows "—" because Currants benefits from being started indoors first, then transplanted after the last frost.
How to Plant Currants
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Partial Shade (3-6 hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 6.5
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 3a – 7b
📅 Days to Maturity
730–1095 days
Long-season crop. Start indoors in cold climates to get a head start.
👪 Plant Family
Grossulariaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Grossulariaceae family crops grew last year.
How Much Currants to Grow
Currants takes 730–1095 days to mature. In most zones you'll get one harvest per season, so plant enough to last.
Companion Planting for Currants
✅ Good Companions
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Currants
Plant in a sheltered location with morning sun. Prune out wood older than 3 years to encourage new fruiting wood. Mulch heavily to keep roots cool and moist.
Saving Currants Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Sharp bypass pruners for clean cuts on fruit trees, berry bushes, and woody herbs.
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Currants by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Currants?
Currants (Ribes rubrum) takes 730 to 1095 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Currants grow in?
Currants can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 7b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Currants need?
Growing Currants requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 6.5.