Collection: Boskoop Blackcurrant plants for Professional Growers

Technical sheet of the Boskoop Giant Blackcurrant variety

• Fruit flesh color: Juicy
• Skin color: Shiny black
• Size and shape: Large fruits, larger than the average size of standard varieties. Average diameter about 1 to 1.2 cm. The berries are 1.5 to 2 times larger than standard varieties. The shape is not specified in the sources.
• Tree Size: Typically reaches 1 to 1.5 meters or 1.5 to 2 meters in height at maturity, with a spread of about 1 meter. The growth habit is upright.
• Fruit maturity: Early, early July, about 7 to 10 days before the Noir de Bourgogne variety. Harvesting is done in groups, allowing for a 1 to 2 harvest.
• Fruit Taste: Slightly tart and well-flavored, tangy with a well-developed aroma at full maturity. The flavor is balanced between acidity and sweetness.
• Earliness of the variety: Early.
• Fruiting period: Early July.
• Disease resistance and storage: Known for its good resistance to powdery mildew. Generally good disease resistance, but susceptible to powdery mildew. Fruits keep well after picking, lasting 3 to 5 days at room temperature.
• Variety Yield: Medium to high, with an estimated yield of between 3 and 5 kg per adult plant.
• Is this variety self-fertile? Yes, but productivity is better with cross-pollination. It is also an excellent pollinator for other varieties, especially 'Noir de Bourgogne'.
• Commercial use: Mainly for processing (juices, jams, pastries), but also suitable for fresh consumption.
• Comments: The fruits have a thin skin, which facilitates juice extraction. Flowering is late, in April-May, which allows it to escape spring frosts. This variety is native to Holland (1887). The structure of the shrub (upright habit, approximately 1.5 m in height) is compatible with mechanical harvesting. Detaching ripe fruits is easy, reducing losses during harvesting. The firmness of the berries is 10 to 15% greater than that of Noir de Bourgogne.

Quick read / the essentials on Boskoop Giant Blackcurrant

For producers looking for a high-value blackcurrant variety, the Giant of Boskoop blackcurrant is a strategic choice. This old cultivar, originally from the Netherlands, is distinguished by its precocity , its exceptional size (up to 15 mm in diameter), and its high sugar content (15 to 17 °Brix), ideal for processing into juice or liqueurs. Thanks to its remarkable hardiness (down to -30 °C), it adapts to cold regions, provided it has cool, slightly acidic soil. Its bushy habit and loose bunches make the Giant of Boskoop compatible with mechanical harvesting , an essential asset for professional producers.

At Bairiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of blueberry plants , we also provide the best blackcurrant varieties to meet the performance and quality needs of French farms. By choosing to buy Giant blackcurrant plants from Boskoop , you benefit from a high-yielding variety, reaching up to 600 kg/1000 m², and an excellent pollinator for the Noir de Bourgogne. In addition to its regular production (2 to 5 kg per adult plant), it offers good post-harvest performance and good general resistance to disease.

Small fruit professionals, trust our expertise: buying Giant blackcurrant plants from Boskoop means ensuring expert support, tailored agronomic advice, and the reliability of a specialist wholesale supplier of blueberry plants , at your service all year round.

Origin of the variety

The Boskoop Giant is an old variety originating from the Netherlands , developed in 1887 from crosses between Burgundian and Dutch varieties. Very hardy, it withstands temperatures down to -30°C (USDA zone 7b) . However, it requires high cold requirements for good fruiting.

Fruit characteristics

The Boskoop Giant is known for its large fruit , with an average diameter of 12 to 15 mm , 1.5 to 2 times larger than many other varieties. The skin is black and shiny when ripe, and although the color of the flesh is not specified, it is believed to be dark. The fruits have a classic round shape of blackcurrant berries.

Their flavor is tangy and very fragrant , with a high sugar content , around 15 to 17° Brix , which makes it a well-balanced variety for processing. Their post-harvest shelf life is good , 3 to 5 days at room temperature , and their firmness is 10 to 15% greater than that of Noir de Bourgogne.

The juice content is high , reaching 75 to 85% of the fruit weight , making it an excellent choice for juices and liqueurs.

Fruiting period and precocity

The Giant of Boskoop is an early variety , generally harvested in late June to early July , about 7 to 10 days before the Noir de Bourgogne . The harvest is grouped , which makes it easier to organize the picking.

Commercial use

This variety is versatile : its fruits are appreciated both for processing (juice, liqueurs) and for fresh consumption . Its large size , its precocity , and its good post-harvest behavior make it an interesting choice for direct or industrial marketing . In addition, its ability to play an effective pollinating role makes it an indirect economic lever for improving yields on other plots.

Yield

Yield is medium to high , with an estimated production of 2 to 5 kg per adult plant , depending on growing conditions. It reaches its full production capacity approximately 5 years after planting , with optimal yield between the 3rd and 7th year .

At a density of 350 plants per 1000 m² , the yield can reach 600 kg . It is slightly lower than that of Noir de Bourgogne, but higher than Andega.

Plant characteristics

The Giant Boskoop blackcurrant is a vigorous shrub with a bushy, upright habit , reaching 1.5 to 2 metres in height and 1 to 1.5 metres in width at maturity. Its structure is compatible with mechanical harvesting , thanks to its upright habit and its long, loose bunches which facilitate access to the fruit.

It has a superficial root system , located mainly in the first 30 to 50 centimeters of soil, which makes it sensitive to surface drying , but adapted to heavy and fresh soils .

Pollination

The Boskoop Giant is a self-fertile variety, but cross-pollination significantly improves its productivity . It is therefore advisable to associate it with compatible varieties such as:

• Black Burgundy

• Goliath

It is also an excellent pollinator for other varieties, including Noir de Bourgogne. For optimal effectiveness, it is recommended to plant one pollinator plant for every 3 to 4 plants to be pollinated.

Resistance to diseases and soil and climate conditions

The Boskoop Giant has moderate to good resistance to common diseases. However, it is susceptible to powdery mildew and moderately susceptible to anthracnose . Its overall resistance can be estimated at 3 to 3.5 out of 5. In comparison:

• Less resistant than the Blackdown

• More resistant than Noir de Bourgogne , very sensitive to powdery mildew

No specific information is available on its resistance to pests or drought , but it is advisable to maintain moist soil to ensure good production. It prefers slightly acidic, well-drained soil, which helps avoid the risk of root asphyxiation . Sensitivity to limescale is not documented, but as with most blackcurrants, a neutral to slightly acidic pH is preferable.

Maintenance and size

Annual pruning is essential to maintain the production and structure of the plant. It should be carried out between November and March , removing dead or diseased branches, thinning out the center of the clump and keeping 10 to 12 vigorous branches per plant. This pruning encourages fruiting on two-year-old wood.

Watering

Water requirements are moderate but regular , particularly during establishment and the fruiting period:

• First year : watering 10 L per plant every 10 to 15 days (March to October)

• Following years : 20 to 30 mm per week in fresh soil, 30 to 40 mm in drier soil, especially between April and July

Critical periods are bud break, flowering and fruit enlargement . A drip irrigation system is recommended.

Comparison with other varieties

The Giant of Boskoop is often compared to:

• Bigno : same precocity, equivalent size but less aromatic .

• Costwold Cross : also vigorous, very productive, good taste. Boskoop has larger fruits, Costwold Cross is sweeter.

• Blackdown : mid-season maturity, very resistant, very productive.

• Andega : comparable earliness, smaller size, better resistance to powdery mildew.

Conclusion

The Boskoop Giant Blackcurrant is a robust, productive and early variety, suitable for industrial processing as well as direct sales . Its large, fragrant fruits , its precocity and its good shelf life make it an excellent choice for producers seeking profitability and cultural efficiency . Its role as an active pollinator , combined with its compatibility with mechanical harvesting , makes it particularly suitable for modern professional farms .

To summarize: Giant Blackcurrant from Boskoop

The Giant Boskoop blackcurrant bush is an essential reference for professionals wishing to combine yield, size and precocity. Thanks to its shiny black fruits , large in diameter (12 to 15 mm), rich in juice (up to 85%) and with a very pronounced tangy flavor , it is suitable for both fresh consumption and industrial processing (juice, jams, liqueurs). This early variety allows a grouped harvest from the end of June, with a productivity of up to 600 kg/1000 m² , in optimal growing conditions.

Blackcurrant growers looking for a reliable partner will find at Bairiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of blueberry plants , a complete, technical offer adapted to their objectives. The Giant of Boskoop, in addition to its strong vigor, adapts to mechanical harvesting and plays a decisive role as an effective pollinator , particularly for the Noir de Bourgogne. It is particularly suitable for professional orchards seeking productivity and ease of management .

Choosing to buy Giant blackcurrant plants from Boskoop means investing in a robust, competitive variety renowned for its agronomic qualities. By collaborating with a specialist blueberry plant wholesaler , you are relying on expertise, traceability, and personalized support throughout your planting project. For a high-performance, sustainable, and profitable orchard, buying Giant blackcurrant plants from Boskoop from Bairiverse is an informed choice.