fruit · transplant · beginner friendly
Red Currant: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating red currant a few times a week needs about 2 plants in ~48 sq ft, worth about $24 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$3.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~24 sq ft | ~2 | ~$12 |
| 2 people | 1 | ~24 sq ft | ~2 | ~$12 |
| 4 people | 2 | ~48 sq ft | ~3 | ~$24 |
| 6 people | 2 | ~48 sq ft | ~3 | ~$24 |
Spacing
48" in row · 72" between rows
Sow depth
0"
Days to harvest
120 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 24 – May 8 | — |
| Zone 4 | Apr 19 – May 18 | — |
| Zone 5 | Apr 9 – May 14 | — |
| Zone 6 | Mar 30 – May 4 | — |
| Zone 7 | Mar 15 – Apr 19 | — |
| Zone 8 | Mar 4 – Apr 8 | — |
| Zone 9 | Jan 30 – Mar 6 | — |
| Zone 10 | Jan 10 – Feb 14 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Clusters glassy, fully red, and slightly translucent. Strip whole strigs; they hold on the bush a week or two once ripe.
Yield
About 4 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~4 lb).
Watch for
Spotted wing drosophila · Japanese beetles · Aphids · Powdery mildew & gray mold, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
56 kcal · 4.3 g fiber · 41 mg vitamin C · 275 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Currant, red cans, freezes, or dries for the pantry. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Currant, red planting questions
How many red currant plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 1 plant per person. A family of 4 needs about 2 plants, which takes around 48 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does red currant need?+
Space plants 48" apart in the row with 72" between rows. Sow 0" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant red currant?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing red currant worth it?+
At about $3.00/lb retail and ~4 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $24 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.