When to Plant Currants in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Currants guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Apr to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
Red and black currants are small deciduous bushes about 1 m tall. They need a cold winter, 800 or more chill hours, so they suit cool temperate and cold highland gardens. Plant in autumn to winter and net against birds.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Blackcurrants are very hardy and tolerate minus 10°C and colder (Planting Season). Frost during flowering can cut the crop, so shelter the bushes. Harvest months are our estimate for colder sites.
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How to Grow Currants in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Moist but well drained, not waterlogged (GrowVeg). Currants do not need acid soil.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Blackcurrants prefer full sun. Redcurrants cope with part shade (GrowVeg). Shelter from hot drying wind (Garden Express).
- Good companions
- Chives, Garlic, Gooseberry, Elderberry
- Keep away from
- White pines (blister rust host, UK source), Hot windy sites
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Currants
Recommended Varieties
- Blackcurrant: Magnus, Ben Lomond
- Redcurrant: Rovada, Jonkheer van Tets
- Pot grown redcurrant (GrowVeg)
Key Challenges
- Frost at flowering
- Short season
Pro Tips
- Shelter from wind
- Mulch
Pests and problems for Currants in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Currants
When ready: Pick once berries reach their final colour (GrowVeg).
How to harvest: Comb strigs off with a fork (GrowVeg).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Currants
When do you plant currants in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): not recommended
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): not recommended
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Apr to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Apr to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): May to Jul
When should I plant Currants in Canberra?
Blackcurrants are very hardy and tolerate minus 10°C and colder (Planting Season). Frost during flowering can cut the crop, so shelter the bushes. Harvest months are our estimate for colder sites.
How do I know when Currants are ready to harvest?
Pick once berries reach their final colour (GrowVeg).
What are the best Currants varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Blackcurrant: Magnus, Ben Lomond, Redcurrant: Rovada, Jonkheer van Tets, Pot grown redcurrant (GrowVeg).
What grows well with Currants?
Good companion plants for Currants include: Chives, Garlic, Gooseberry, Elderberry.
Are currants salt tolerant?
No. Currants are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.