Technical sheet of the Black Down blackcurrant variety
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Fruit flesh color: Firm and juicy texture
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Skin color: Dark black with purple highlights
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Size and shape: Medium size (approximately 1 cm in diameter)
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Tree Size: Reaching 1 to 1.5 meters in height and about 1 meter in width, bushy and upright habit
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Fruit maturity: End of July
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Fruit taste: Relatively mild and sweet taste, tangy but balanced flavor, intense aroma typical of blackcurrant. Firm, juicy and resistant flesh.
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Earliness of the variety: Late
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Fruiting period End of July
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Disease resistance and storage: Good general resistance, slightly susceptible to powdery mildew, good resistance to rust. The firm fruits withstand cooking well without bursting and keep well frozen.
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Variety yield: Very productive, up to 4 kg per adult plant, with a potential of 600 kg per 1000 m². The yield is higher than that of Noir de Bourgogne.
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Is this variety self-fertile? Yes, self-fertile. The presence of other varieties (Royal de Naples, Burga, Andega, Géant de Boskoop) can improve pollination and yield.
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Commercial use: Industrial processing (pastry, jams, juices, concentrates, syrups), suitable for freezing and can be sold fresh. Particularly recommended for pastries thanks to its good cooking resistance.
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Comments: English variety obtained in 1974, one of the most cultivated in France. Adapted to calcareous soils. Early flowering in April. Moderate cold requirements. Well adapted to mechanical harvesting.
Quick read / the essentials on Blackcurrant Black Down
Black Down Blackcurrant is an English variety renowned for its exceptional agronomic qualities and its ability to meet the demands of professional producers. Created in 1974, it quickly established itself in France, particularly in regions dedicated to the industrial processing of blackcurrants. With its shiny black skin , its exceptional cooking resistance and its rich juice content, it has become an essential reference in the food industry.
At Bairiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of blackcurrant plants , we offer this high-performance variety, appreciated for its high productivity (up to 10 kg per plant) and its excellent Brix level (up to 20°). Its fruits with an intense and balanced flavor are as attractive for the production of jams, syrups and pastries as for the fresh market, despite its primary industrial vocation.
Thanks to its hardiness (-25°C), its honey-producing flowering and its good resistance to diseases such as rust or anthracnose, it is an excellent choice for professionals looking for safety and yield. A specialist wholesale supplier of blackcurrant plants , Bairiverse supports you with certified plants and technical advice adapted to your objectives.
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Origin and context of the variety
The Black Down blackcurrant ( Ribes nigrum 'Black Down') is a variety created in England in 1974. It has become widely established in France, particularly in production areas intended for industrial processing. It is known for its high productivity , good resistance to disease and fruit quality suitable for the food industry .
Fruit characteristics
Black Down fruits have a deep black skin when ripe , sometimes with purple highlights . They are medium-sized , with a diameter of 10 to 15 mm , which places them between the smaller Noir de Bourgogne and the larger Géant de Boskoop.
The shape of the berries is spherical , typical of blackcurrant. Their texture is firm , which facilitates manual or mechanical picking and allows good resistance during processing.
In terms of taste, the fruits offer a balanced flavor between sweetness and acidity , with an intense aroma . The Brix level is high , generally varying between 16° and 20° , and the juice content is estimated between 75% and 80% . The juice has moderate acidity (pH 3.0 to 3.3), with a high vitamin C content (up to 200 mg/100g) and a richness in anthocyanins (250-300 mg/100g).
The fruits tolerate freezing and cooking well, making them ideal for processing (juice, jam, pastries, syrups). They can be stored for 2 to 3 weeks in a cold room (0-1 °C, humidity 90-95%).
Productivity and performance
Black Down is a very productive variety . The yield per adult plant is generally between 3 and 4 kg , with possible peaks of 8 to 10 kg in optimal conditions.
On the scale of a professional plot (350 plants per 1000 m²), yields can reach 600 kg per 1000 m² , or 0.6 to 1 kg/m² .
Production is regular and is carried out on two-year-old wood and that of the previous year .
Earliness and harvest period
Black Down is a late variety, with harvest in late July . Maturity is reached about a week after Andega . Fruiting is concentrated over a period of 8 to 10 days .
Plant characteristics
Black Down forms a dense, upright bush with a mature height of 1.2 to 1.5 metres , and in some cases up to 2 metres . The plant's spread is usually around 1 to 1.5 metres.
Its vigor is average to good . The root system is superficial , mainly concentrated in the 20 to 30 cm of soil , which makes it sensitive to water stress . Regular irrigation and mulching are recommended .
Black Down is self-fertile , which allows for good production without other varieties. However, combining with compatible varieties such as 'Royal de Naples', 'Burga' or 'Andega' can improve yield.
Cultural requirements and adaptation
Black Down adapts to a variety of soil types, including slightly calcareous soils up to a pH of 7.5 . It prefers deep, humus-rich, well-drained soils . Sunny to partial shade is recommended.
It is hardy to -25°C , suitable for USDA zones 6b. It performs well in temperate, oceanic, or Mediterranean climates .
The variety tolerates calcareous soils but can be susceptible to root asphyxiation , like most blackcurrants. No specific information is available on recommended rootstocks.
Resistance to diseases and parasites
Black Down is generally disease resistant , with good rust tolerance and variable resistance to powdery mildew (low to medium depending on conditions). It is not very susceptible to anthracnose , with resistance higher than that of Boskoop Giant and Black Burgundy.
Data on pest and drought resistance are limited. However, regular phytosanitary monitoring is recommended.
Commercial interest
Black Down is particularly suitable for industrial processing , thanks to its cooking resistance , its high juice content and its strong aroma . It is commonly used for jam and baking , as well as for the production of juices , syrups and concentrates , or for freezing . It also remains relevant for the fresh market , thanks to its firmness and balanced flavor , although this is not its primary vocation .
Maintenance and longevity
Black Down requires annual winter pruning to maintain vigor and productivity. Coppicing , renewing 20 to 25% of the wood each year, is recommended.
With proper maintenance, the productive lifespan can reach 12 to 15 years .
Honey potential
The early flowering (April) of Black Down attracts bees and bumblebees , providing honey and promoting biodiversity in the orchard.
Equivalent and alternative varieties
Several varieties share similar characteristics with Black Down . Ben Lomond is a late-ripening , productive variety with good resistance and a medium to large size . Titania is distinguished by its very good disease resistance and larger size . Andega is earlier , very productive , with large fruits and a good taste balance . Finally, Ben Connan , a mid-season variety , produces large fruits , has good resistance and is self-fertile .
Technical recommendations
A balanced fertilization plan is necessary, with particular attention to trace elements : boron, magnesium, zinc, manganese . A soil analysis every 3 years is recommended to adjust the inputs.
To summarize: Blackcurrant Black Down
The Black Down variety is attractive for its versatility and exceptional yield . Thanks to regular production on two-year-old wood, it can reach up to 600 kg/1000 m² , while maintaining excellent fruit quality : diameter of 10 to 15 mm, high juice content, high concentration of vitamin C and anthocyanins. Perfect for processing, it also offers interest for the fresh market.
Robust, self-fertile and well adapted to temperate to Mediterranean climates , it tolerates slightly calcareous soils and lends itself to simple cultivation practices, provided that water stress is monitored. Its bushy habit and good mechanical resistance facilitate manual or mechanical harvesting . Its spring flowering attracts pollinators, providing additional ecological interest.
At Bairiverse , we promote this high-performance variety and make it available to market gardeners looking for reliable solutions . As a specialist wholesale supplier of blackcurrant plants , we offer you much more than plants: tailor-made support to make each season a success. For your planting projects, buying Black Down blackcurrant plants from Bairiverse means choosing expertise, quality and performance.
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