Bred by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Ben Alder is a very high yielding mid-season variety. It is widely grown commercially for juice production due to very high yield & content of Vitamin C. The currants are small, and ripe fruit will only hang on the bush for a limited time but the fruit quality is excellent with high colour stability. High level of disease resistance, particularly to foliar problems. Late flowering and so escapes the late spring frosts. Fairly vigorous upright growth habit. Eventual height and spread: 1-1.2m (3-4ft). Cropping season: late July. Self fertile.
*Bareroot – November to March is the ideal time to plant bare-root plants. These are plants that have been grown in open ground, then dug up for despatch and planting during the dormant season. They are called ‘bare-root’ plants as they are supplied with no soil around their roots. They will come packed in damp compost to stop the roots drying out and should be planted as soon as possible. As long as the compost is kept damp planting can be delayed for a few weeks if necessary.