CurraNTS, GOOSeberrIeS & elderberrIeS

Admired for generations in Europe for their adaptability as plants and their versatility as food, currants and gooseberries – known collectively as ribes – are growing in popularity in this country. Gooseberries are good cooked, and eaten fresh. They offer a tasty alternative to grapes. Both make excellent jams. Currants, which make a refreshing juice, provide more vitamin C than fresh oranges. Ribes can handle long cold winters, and have excellent shelf-life. They can stay on the vine for up to two weeks, and store well in the refrigerator.

Some states have restrictions on growing ribes (currants and gooseberries). prior to ordering, please contact your local extension Office or Department of Agriculture to determine if there are restrictions in your state.

H JONkHEER vAN TETS

This early red currant variety is known for its highly rated flavor and fruit size. Jonkheer van Tets will outperform other early varieties. being early, it may be susceptible to late frosts, so site selection is important. In Massachusetts, it matures in early July. Special pruning may also be necessary.

The erect bush is easy to pick and has mildew resistance. Grows best in zones 3-7.

H ROvAdA

Rovada is a red currant with very large fruit on extremely long strigs, producing a heavy crop that is easy to pick. The plant is very free of mildew and other leaf diseases. Its late flowering escapes frost.

Rovada’s dependable nature makes it the #1 red currant around the world! zones 3-7.

Nutraceuticals/Phytochemicals H nutraceuticals are substances that provide a healthy benefit to the human body. High levels of these compounds have been identified in all berries. strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and currants all have generous quantities of these healthpromoting compounds. The varieties marked with a H in this catalog contain the highest levels of these phytochemicals.

This is the tastiest currant on the market for fresh eating! pink Champagne is a vigorous, upright bush, free of leaf diseases, with a beautiful translucent pink fruit. easy to grow, pink Champagne produces fruit of high quality and good flavor. best in zones 3-7.

blanka produces dependably high yields of offwhite berries on long strigs. It is easy to grow and commonly used for making wine and juice. The immature fruit is tart, but turns sweeter when fully ripe and is very nice for eating fresh-picked. This vigorous variety has a spreading growth habit and produces fruit at mid-season. Grows best in zones 3-7.

SEASON FRUIT SIZE FRUIT COLOR BUSH HABIT

SHOWS RESISTANCE TO ZONE

red Currants Jonkheer van Tets early Medium Red upright Mildew 3-7 Rovada late large Red upright Mildew 3-7

White and Pink Currants pink Champagne early Medium pink upright Mildew 3-7 blanka late large Off-White Spreading Mildew 3-7

Gooseberries Hinnomaki Red early Medium Red upright Mildew 3-7 Invicta Mid large pale Green Spreading Mildew 3-7 Tixia* Mid/Late Large Red Upright • 3-7

plant currants and gooseberries in well-prepared, weed-free soil that contains at least 3% organic matter. planting on a slight slope will facilitate cold air drainage. Avoid southern-facing slopes, since intense sun may injure the plants. Soil pH should be between 6.0 and 6.3. Our extensive planting guide will arrive with each order to provide you with further details for success. you may also visit our website to view the planting guide and additional information including diagrams.

Massachusetts and Maine have restrictions on the planting of currants and gooseberries. Please check with the MA and ME Departments of Food and Agriculture for regulations in your area. Other states may also have planting The elderberry, long known and utilized in restrictions. Please contact your local extension offices or the Department of Agriculture for up-to-date regulations. Europe and America, makes a great wine Varieties cannot be combined for quantity pricing. or jam and is prized for its medicinal Gooseberries “ Outstanding quality on their plants! Come with an qualities. The fl owers can also be used to make syrup and other recipes. Samdal and Samyl varieties are both of the Sambucas amazing root system very well nigra strain from Europe and are very high HINNOMAkI REd established so full and fibrous, in antioxidants. The growth habit makes for Hinnomaki Red is a variety with superb flavor, high just excellent will definitely be yields and a beautiful red fruit color. The outer choosing Nourse for more of a great hedge, with ornamental fl owers and skin is tangy while the flesh is sweet. The plants my planting needs. fruit for most of the growing season. grow upright and are mildew resistant. These

very productive plants are adaptable to various – J. S. ”growing systems, hedge or ornamental. The sweet SAMdAl EldERbERRy berries can be eaten fresh or baked in a pie. plants are vigorous, producing long shoots from zones 3-7. soil level one growing season and bearing fruit the 1-3 for $9.00 ea. • 4-24 for $8.50 ea. next. These are removed after bearing and replaced INvIcTA Sold Out! by the current year’s growth. This makes the bush easy to prune and manage. large fruit clusters Destined to become the standard ripen in August each year. berries have very high for green gooseberries, Invicta has the highest anthocyanin content are very good for you! This is yields of large, high-quality fruit of any gooseberry the more productive variety, but both varieties are variety and is resistant to mildew and late spring required for cross pollination in a ratio of 1 Samyl: 5 frosts. The bush is vigorous and spreading. We Samdal. zones 3-7. advise trellising this variety because of its spines. 1-3 for $8.30 ea. • 4-24 for $7.50 ea. Regular dormant season pruning will encourage the best production. zones 3-7.

TIxIA This variety will provide TIxIA®* Canadian Plant Breeders Rights Certification #3348 (Variety – Rafzicta) Tixia™, introduced in our 2005 catalog, produces large, beautiful, bright-red fruit similar in size to Invicta. In addition to its attractive fruit, it is distinguished by its semi-thornless shoots and “ These are the finest plants I’ve ever received. Stocky & well rooted. We can’t wait to taste them. I wish I would have learned of you many good cross-pollination when paired with the Samdal variety. Samyl has particularly high-quality flowers. best in zones 3-7. 1-3 for $8.30 ea. 4-24 for $7.50 ea. upright growth habit. Its growth is medium to years ago! strong. zones 3-7. 1-3 for $11.00 ea. • 4-24 for $10.50 ea. Order by phone (413) 665-2658 M-f, 8am-5pm (eST ”- Allen K. ) • Fax (413) 665-7888 27 EldERbERRy blOSSOMS