Ben More is a Scottish-bred black currant that lives up to its mountain heritage with impressive vigor and fruit quality. This cultivar produces exceptionally large berries held on short, compact strigs that ripen evenly by mid-July, delivering the authentic, robust flavor black currant lovers crave. Hardy in zones 3-8, Ben More combines late blooming (which sidesteps spring frosts) with early ripening, giving northern gardeners a reliable harvest window. The bushes grow to 4-5 feet tall with sturdy branches capable of supporting heavy crops, and while partially self-fertile, they produce best with cross-pollination from another currant variety.
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Moderate
3-8
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Ben More earned its place among the world's highest-quality currants for good reason: those unusually large berries ripen with exceptional evenness across each strig, delivering a flavor that is strong and unmistakably true black currant. The timing alone sets this variety apart. Late blooming protects the flowers from random spring frosts that often catch earlier-flowering varieties, yet the fruit still races to ripeness by mid-July, well ahead of many competitors. Gardeners in cold climates find this combination almost miraculous: a currant that blooms safely but finishes early.
Black currants are prized for their intense, aromatic flavor in preserves, syrups, liqueurs, and baking. Fresh berries are sometimes eaten raw, though their tartness and bold character make them better suited to cooking, where they shine in jams, compotes, cordials, and traditional British preparations. The berries are also valued for their nutritional density.
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Plant bare-root currant bushes in early spring or fall, spacing them 4-5 feet apart to allow room for the mature shrub's width and for air circulation. Choose a location with full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Harden off any container-grown plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before planting in their permanent location.
Ben More berries ripen evenly in mid-July, shifting from green to deep black as they mature. Harvest when fully black and the berries feel soft to gentle pressure; this even ripening across each strig means you can pick fruit at peak sweetness without waiting for stragglers. The short, dangling strigs make harvesting straightforward, as berries release cleanly from the branches when ripe.
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“Named after the Scottish mountains that define its breeding legacy, Ben More belongs to the 'Ben' series of black currants developed for their exceptional quality and reliability. This lineage represents decades of Scottish horticultural refinement, creating cultivars specifically bred to handle cool climates while delivering fruit of commercial and home-garden caliber. The variety carries forward a tradition of Scottish currant breeding excellence that prioritized both hardy growth and superior flavor.”