Ribes rubrum Ribest 'Babette'

The 'Babette' Cluster Currant is a recent variety selected for the early ripening of its large, light red berries, which are incredibly juicy and deliciously fruity. It is very early and begins to ripen in mid-June, allowing for harvesting until mid-July. Its growth is bushy and upright but compact enough to reach a height of 1.50 metres (5 feet), making it well-adapted to all gardens, including container gardening. Resistant to major diseases, it tolerates all soil types and prefers sunny exposures. 'Babette' offers excellent yields and a harvest of regularly sized fruits. Its taste is sweet and less acidic than other red currant varieties. The berries are suitable for both snacking and processing. They have a high vitamin C content, and the pulp contains few seeds. The bush requires careful pruning to optimise fruit production and size.

The Cluster Currant, known as Ribes rubrum in Latin, is sometimes called Gadelle or Raisinet. It belongs to the Grossulariaceae family, like the Gooseberry, from which it differs in its clustered fruits. Its origins in temperate northern hemisphere regions and the Andes Mountains give the Cluster Currant excellent cold resistance. Cultivated for a long time, it was introduced in the Middle Ages. Historically, in the 14th century, it was mainly used as a medicinal plant, with apothecaries and healers attributing powerful properties to it (febrifuge, digestive, laxative, diuretic, and purifying). In the 15th and 16th centuries, currants began to appear in gardens. Then, in the 18th century, the Danes and the Dutch intensified currant cultivation and spread it worldwide.

The Ribes rubrum Ribest 'Babette'  is a recent Swiss creation from the Ribest range. This range consists of currant varieties selected for high yields, fleshy fruits with a high sugar content, and vigorous and disease-resistant plants. It forms a bushy, non-thorny shrub with a tufted habit of slightly stiff, sparsely branched branches, whose wood is soft and has abundant pith. This very hardy bush reaches a height of 1.50 metres (5 feet) with a spread of 1.20 metres (4 feet). The foliage is deciduous, composed of palmate, lobed, and aromatic leaves, medium green and fragrant. Flowering occurs in April in clusters of small, inconspicuous greenish-to-brownish flowers highly visited by bees. Fruiting mainly occurs on one- and two-year-old branches. Early harvest begins from mid-June to mid-July. It produces a high quantity of compact clusters composed of numerous round and translucent berries. When ripe, the currants are bright red, vibrant, and shiny, filled with juicy, fruity, sweet, and slightly acidic flesh containing tiny seeds.

The 'Babette' Cluster Currant is self-fertile, so it does not need a companion to bear fruit, but having another variety nearby will increase production. The harvest is staggered as the fruits ripen and is made easier by the size of the long clusters. A currant bush produces approximately 3 to 5 kg of fruit per plant, depending on the age and growing conditions. All currant varieties are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals, trace elements, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, making them true health benefits. Moreover, they are among the least calorie-dense small fruits (50 kcal per 100 g). Rich in nutrients, they are delicious when eaten fresh, and for added indulgence, they can be sprinkled with a bit of granulated sugar. They are excellent for jellies or jams, garnish pies, and make great cakes. They are also perfect for making sorbets or ice creams, as an accompaniment to red meats, or as a garnish in salads.

In the summer, this currant bush, with its long pendulous clusters resembling a string of pearls, will bring pleasure and enchantment to the garden. You can pair it with Blackcurrants, Raspberry bushes, or other small fruit varieties to create an edible hedge. When planting it is essential to alternate species and varieties where possible. This reduces the risk of diseases and promotes pollination, even if the variety is self-fertile. It can be grown in containers, but you should choose a container at least 40 cm (16in) tall and water regularly with non-limestone water.