Description
Rubina came out of Sweden, and it is bred for a climate that does not forgive. It bears heavy crops of striking dark red berries, deeper in colour than the usual bright scarlet red currant.
What sets it apart is sweetness. Most red currants are grown for jelly because they are sharp; Rubina is sweeter than most, which puts it in fresh-eating territory while still making excellent preserves.
Overview
- Sweeter than most red currants; genuinely good fresh.
- Striking dark red berries, deeper than the usual scarlet.
- Heavy crops on a hardy Swedish selection.
- Excellent in preserves as well as out of hand.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Ribes rubrum ‘Rubina’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; rich, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 3
Rootstock: Grown from cuttings
Bearing Age: Light crop the year after planting; full crops by the third or fourth year
Size at Maturity: Upright and compact, about 3 to 5 ft tall and wide
Ripening Time: Mid season; July into August
Pollination: Self-fertile; one bush sets a full crop, and a second currant nearby increases berry size
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Taste one before you pick the bush. Rubina goes on sweetening after it has finished colouring.
- Regional Insight: Currants are cool-climate fruit, at their best where summers stay moderate and winters are properly cold.
- Explore more berries in our collection: Berries
