Northland Blueberry vs Ben Sarek Black Currant - TreeTime.ca

Northland Blueberry vs Ben Sarek Black Currant

Ribes nigrum Ben Sarek

Vaccinium x Northland

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Ben Sarek Black Currant
Northland Blueberry

Ben Sarek Black Currant is a compact, high-yielding Black Currant cultivar, making it ideal for smaller gardens and easy berry picking. The large clusters of flavourful, sweet-tart berries ripen in mid-summer and are perfect for fresh eating, preserves, baked goods, and liqueurs. Plants may start producing some berries after two years, reaching full production in about four to five.

Developed by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Ben Sarek Black Currant is resistant to powdery mildew and moderately resistant to white pine blister rust. It is self-fertile, meaning it does not require cross-pollination from another variety to produce fruit.

Northland Blueberry is the hardiest of the half-high highbush blueberries. It's also the best looking. In fact, it is frequently planted as an ornamental. Northland Blueberry produces large quantities of medium-size berries that taste amazing but are on the softer side, which matters to some people.

You must also prune Northland Blueberry to maintain its health and productivity.

Note: Blueberries require very specific soil conditions. They need well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0. If the starting pH of your soil is between 5.1 and 6.2 you can lower it by adding sulfur. We recommend against planting blueberries in soil with a starting pH greater than 6.2. Please do your own research before buying any blueberry plants.

Ben Sarek Black Currant Quick Facts

Northland Blueberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3b
Height: 1.1 m (4 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 1.1 m (4 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: compact, dense, rounded
Spreading: layering - low
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: aromatic when crushed
Fall colour: orange-red
Flowers: greenish-yellow
Bloom time: early to mid spring
Berries: black currants, edible
Berries: large clusters of blue berries
Fruit size: medium
Firmness: soft
Flavor: sweet-tart
Flavor: excellent
Harvest: mid-summer
Harvest: early to mid summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: ben sarek blackcurrant