new blackcurrant bush hasn't grown leaves... should I dig it up?

[matildasquared]

I'm so bummed. I got a blackcurrant bush in a container at Gordon Riggs in March, planted it in a newly freed-up bed. I know the soil is good, lots of nice muck, good sun and drainage.

We had one frosty night since then, during which I covered the plant with fleece. In April it sprouted leaves but now the tiny leaves have dried up. I've made sure it's had a few extra waterings when it was new, and in any event we had a wet spring here.

Should I prune it and leave it? Or dig it up and get a new containerised one?

I am not an expert but wouldn't try pruning. I have plant infirmary in a corner where plants get put and occasionally tended to and if there are still dead after a year then they go in the bin. Could you pot it up and leave it to see what it does?

Oh dear, it doesn't sound good.

Mine have been in leaf for a while but I'm in the south. If you're way up north I suppose it could still be dormant? I have never needed to fleece mine, maybe the protection fooled it into thinking it was later in the year and it came into leaf too early?

Try scraping a bit of bark off and see if it's green below.

I have had plants I was sure had died unexpectedly revive so don't give up hope yet.

Yes, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to let it sit until next year. Thank you.

No, the blackcurrants around are in full leaf here. It started to sprout leaves at the usual time, then the leaves just stopped growing.

If there are not even any leaves I think it must be dead. Just to be on the safe side I will have a look to see whether there's any green bark under the surface.

There is some green under the bark. I just touched the leaf-buds and they were so dry they crumbled under my fingers.

Which is weird because the soil is still wet from last week's rain. I have doused it and we had a rainy spring here in Yorkshire.

All I can think of is that I went away for two weeks in mid-April. I had a neighbour in to water the seedlings in my greenhouse, but didn't think to have her check on the blackcurrant. Maybe there was just a streak of dry days then that did it in.

Did you notice, when you planted it, what its roots looked like? Was there a good healthy root ball?

We bought a plant in a container from a garden centre once that was little more than a twig in a pot of compost; virtually no root at all.

We got our money back, and maybe you should try and complain if it was a reputable seller, and get you money back.

Unless, maybe you packed in too much manure or fertiliser next to the roots; as with children, too much kindness can be a bad thing!

Sounds like it's rotted. Blackcurrants are generally pretty indestructible.

I think you're right. I tried to do everything by the book, don't know what happened.

I went to the garden centre and got myself another blackcurrant bush in a pot. Of course it's already in leaf. I know it's the "wrong" time of year but I've had success moving gooseberry bushes in summer. It had a good root system and I've planted it carefully, dousing it with water and then letting it soak up some afternoon sun.

Fingers crossed! I want my own home-grown blackcurrants!