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Why we like this plant
For gardeners seeking a reliable, hardy fruit bush that’s bursting with flavour, Ben Lomond ticks all the boxes. It shrugs off frosts, produces loads of juicy berries, and fits beautifully into a kitchen garden or even a spacious pot. A solid performer that’s stood the test of time, it’s a blackcurrant you can count on year after year.
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About this plant
Ben Lomond is a well-loved blackcurrant variety in the UK, prized for its heavy yields of large, glossy berries and its excellent hardiness. This deciduous shrub is late flowering, which protects it from spring frosts, and produces a bumper crop of richly flavoured fruits in mid-summer. It’s compact, easy to manage, and ideal for gardens both large and small.
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Key features
- Late flowering to avoid frost damage
- High yield of large fruits
- Excellent flavour
- Compact growth habit
- Good disease resistance
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Eventual height and
spreadHeight: 120–150cm | Spread: 120–150cm
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Growth
habitBushy and upright, with strong stems that support heavy crops
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Moisture
Moist but well-drained
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Position in
the GardenBest in a sunny, sheltered spot — ideal for fruit cages or beds
Planting guide
Plant in a sunny position in fertile, well-drained soil. Space bushes 1.5m apart for airflow and easy harvesting. Water regularly in dry spells and mulch annually.
Care tips
Cut back about a third of the oldest stems in winter to keep the bush productive. Feed in spring with a high-potash fertiliser to boost fruiting.
Winter care
Prune in winter to remove older stems and encourage new, fruit-bearing growth. Mulch well to conserve soil moisture and insulate roots.