How many currant bushes do you need? My currant calculator will tell you, along with expected yields and space requirements.

Red, pink, and whitecurrants are all the same family but offer different flavours and visual appeal. The different colours share productivity characteristics.

• Redcurrants are tart, known for their vibrant colour and tangy taste.
• Pinkcurrants: A lovely middle ground between the red and white, both in colour and taste.
• Whitecurrants: Sweeter, often used in desserts or eaten fresh. I use whitecurrants to replace grapes in wine making, and  I make quite a lot of wine!

Using the currant calculator below will give you an idea of how many plants you will need to grow. It is designed to give a best to worst case output to see the minimum and maximum yields you can expect from your soft fruits.

The currant calculator:

Tell the calculator how many kilograms of currants you would like to harvest OR how much space you have available and find out how many red, pink or white currant plants you need to grow.

This calculator is based on fully grown fruit bushes that are well cared for on good soil. Pot grown currants can have slightly lower yields because they tend not to grow as big.

Choose the right location: Currants prefer a sunny spot with well-drained soil.

Plant at the correct spacing: Give your bushes enough room to grow.

Prune regularly: Pruning currants encourages healthy growth and better yields.

Protect from birds: Birds love currants as much as we do! Netting is a good idea.

How many red, white or pinkcurrant bushes? Here’s a rough guide:

It all boils down to your space, taste for berries, and what you envision for your garden. Start with one or two if you're testing the waters, but remember you can always expand later and plant more!

A good rule of thumb for planning for soft fruit yields is for every 10 pounds of currants  you want, plant 2 bushes.

For fresh eating: One or two bushes should be plenty for a small household.

For occasional baking and preserving: Two to four bushes will provide a decent harvest.

For serious preserving and sharing with friends: Four or more bushes will keep you busy!

I have 16 redcurrants and 12 whitecurrant bushes and I never have any left over.

Below: All my white currants go towards wine making.

Factors affecting your currant bush needs:

• Your household size: A single person might only need one bush, while a family of four might want two or three. Consider how much fruit you can handle.
• Your currant cravings: Are you a currant fanatic who wants to make jams, jellies, pies, and everything in between? Or do you just fancy a handful now and then?
• Do you grow them in the best conditions or are they on rough soil or in partial shade as this will lower the yield.
• Available space: Currant bushes need space to grow. Consider the mature size of the bush before planting. Don't try to cram ten bushes into a space meant for two – they won't be happy campers.
• Currant variety: Different currant varieties have different yields. Some are more prolific than others. Redcurrants tend to be the most productive, followed by whitecurrants and then pinkcurrants. It is worth doing your research.
• How you plan to use them: Do you primarily want to eat them fresh, freeze them for later, or make preserves? Preserving requires a larger harvest.

Choosing the right number of currant bushes is all about finding the right balance. Think about your needs, your space, and your currant enthusiasm. With a little planning, you’ll be enjoying a bountiful harvest of delicious currants in no time.