How to tell when your redcurrants are ripe and ready for the picking.

Let's talk redcurrant ripeness. These little ruby gems hanging in your garden are a promise of summer crumbles, jams, and maybe even a cheeky redcurrant gin.

But how do you know when they're ready to unleash their tart deliciousness?  Picking them too early is like biting into a lemon – puckeringly sour. Too late, and they become bird feed.

Firstly remember redcurrants only ripen on the bush!

Red currants are not a climacteric fruit. They are considered non-climacteric. This means that red currants will only ripen fully while they are still on the bush. Once picked, they will not continue to ripen or become sweeter.

Redcurrants will spoil, grow mould or soften a bit, but their sugar content won't increase and their flavour will not improve after they have been gathered from the plant.

This is why it's important to harvest red currants when they are fully ripe on the plant for the best flavour.

Below: the pink stage - a week or two to go yet.

I use a good portion of my currants to make wine so I tend to leave them on the bush for a few days to make sure the sugar level is as high as it can be.

Are your redcurrants are ready to harvest?

The earliest I have ever begun to harvest redcurrants is the 5 June and the latest I have picked ripe redcurrants is 31st July.

Colour check: Redcurrants should be a vibrant, deep red. If they're still green or pale, they're not ready. Think of it like waiting for a tomato to turn from green to red; you'll know when they're good to go.

Below: Ripe redcurrants are a deep, glossy red, and they should come off the stems with minimal effort. 

Feel the firmness: Gently squeeze a berry. If it's soft but not mushy, that's your sign. Too firm, and they need more time on the bush. Too soft, and you might have missed the boat.

Testing for sugar: You can test for sugar and measure sweetness with a Brix refractometer (°B). These are cheap and really useful if you plan to make wine. Never pick redcurrants if the brix is lower than 9 °B, 10 or 11 is better.

Sample One: Pop a berry into your mouth. If it's tart with a hint of sweetness, you've hit the jackpot. If it's sour like a lemon, give them a few more days. Remember, once they're off the bush, they won't get any sweeter.

Visual cues: My grandfather used to say "Wait until the first one falls!". This means they are at their absolute peak.

Below: Over ripe redcurrants. They have gone cloudy and dull and begun to wrinkle and spoil.

Look for transparency: When fully ripe, redcurrants become slightly translucent, letting you peek through the red hue. It's like they're winking at you, saying, "Pick me!"

Shine on: A glossy shine is another indicator. If they look dull, they're either not ripe yet or past their prime.

Watch the birds: Garden birds are nature’s harvest alarm. If the local birds start flocking to your bushes, take it as a not-so-subtle hint. Birds have an uncanny knack for knowing when fruit is ripe. But be quick—they’re not known for sharing!

Below: getting there - nearly ripe. The top berries are ready first.

Different currant varieties are ripe as much as two weeks apart from each other and the season may last as much as two months.

When to pick - timing and technique.

Redcurrants ripen over several weeks, so you'll likely need to harvest them in stages.

Check your bushes every few days, especially during warm, sunny weather and remember, they ripen from the top of the bunch downwards, so keep an eye on the lower berries.  

Below: Picking my redcurrants.

 

The best time to harvest is in the morning, after the dew has dried, but before the sun gets too hot.

Avoid picking when the berries are wet as this causes all sorts of problems down the line.

Redcurrants grow in bunches so don't be tempted to pick them individually.  It's much more efficient (and less tedious) to snip off entire bunches with a pair of sharp scissors or secateurs.  This also prevents you from bruising the delicate berries.

Gently twist or snip the clusters off. Handle with care; these berries are delicate.