{"product_id":"ben-lomond-black-currant-bundle-of-2","title":"Ben Lomond Black Currant (Bundle of 2) | Spring 2027","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ben Lomond Black Currant is a currant shrub rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), and self-fertile, so one plant can crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Our notes have it taking -50°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 6 of 7 (late), very early spring here. Ben Lomond sets fruit on its own. It flowers late, which helps it avoid spring frost; another black currant nearby can still boost the crop. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/currant-gooseberry-pollination-chart\"\u003eCurrant \u0026amp; Gooseberry Pollination Chart\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJuice and sweet cider (9\/10), sauce and butter (9\/10), jams and jellies (8\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), wine (7\/10), brandy and liqueurs (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 6-12\" or 1-2 ft or 2-3 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis is our second year growing Ben Lomond currants, and we were actually able to taste the fruit already. The fruit is quite good, perhaps the sweetest of all black currants we’ve ever tried.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFlavor Comparison \u0026amp; Use\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThese will be far less sweet than the Montana Black Currants, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, we’ve heard from some of our customers that Montana Black Currants make the \u003cem\u003ebest\u003c\/em\u003e jam. These would complement them quite well, or they could simply be purchased on their own, thanks to their nice, large, sweet berries. They’d likely be great in baked goods, too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCold Hardiness \u0026amp; Plant Size\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eHardy to -50°F, these Ben Lomond currants are roughly 1–2 feet tall and very well rooted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border:1px solid #cfcfcf;border-left:4px solid #8a1c1c;background:#faf7f6;padding:14px 18px;margin-top:28px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping restrictions: white pine blister rust quarantine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;\"\u003eBlack currants (\u003cem\u003eRibes nigrum\u003c\/em\u003e and its hybrids) are an alternate host for white pine blister rust. We \u003cstrong\u003ecannot ship this plant to Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, or West Virginia\u003c\/strong\u003e, where its sale or importation is prohibited by state law.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePermit or local restrictions also apply in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Michigan and New Jersey (state permit required) and New York (prohibited outside designated fruiting-currant districts unless the cultivar is certified rust-resistant). Several other states restrict planting only within specific counties or townships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0;font-size:0.9em;color:#555;\"\u003eOrders placed to a prohibited state will be cancelled and refunded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Ben Lomond Black Currant\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Ben Lomond Black Currant need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Ben Lomond Black Currant is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Ben Lomond sets fruit on its own. It flowers late, which helps it avoid spring frost; another black currant nearby can still boost the crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Ben Lomond Black Currant?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Ben Lomond Black Currant hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our notes have it taking -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Ben Lomond Black Currant good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Ben Lomond Black Currant are juice and sweet cider (9\/10), sauce and butter (9\/10), jams and jellies (8\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Ben Lomond Black Currant?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Ben Lomond Black Currant now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Ben Lomond Black Currant ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 6-12\" or 1-2 ft or 2-3 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"6-12\"","offer_id":42547414106178,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1-2 ft.","offer_id":42547414138946,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"2-3 ft.","offer_id":42547414171714,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/ben-lomand-black-currant-fruit.webp?v=1789019191","url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/products\/ben-lomond-black-currant-bundle-of-2","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}