Ribes rubrum Ribest 'Lisette'

The Ribest Redcurrant Bush ‘Lisette’ is a carefully selected variety known for its performance, combining robustness, hardiness, productivity, and fruit quality. It forms a bush with upright branches and vigorous growth until autumn. From early to late July, it produces a high yield of compact clusters composed of 7 to 12 large, shiny, red berries. The incredibly juicy and flavourful fruits are of excellent taste quality, with a subtle combination of sweet and sour flavours.

In April, this small fruit tree is covered in greenish, insignificant flowers that provide food for bees and insects. Optimal conditions for a bountiful harvest include a sunny to partially shaded exposure and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. It can easily be incorporated into a small edible hedge, a productive garden, or grown in a sufficiently large pot on a balcony.

The Ribest Redcurrant, 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 by its fruits grouped in clusters. Its origins in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and the Andes Mountains give the Redcurrant excellent cold resistance. Cultivated for a long time, it was introduced during the Middle Ages. Historically, in the 14th century, it was primarily used as a medicinal plant, with apothecaries and healers attributing powerful properties (fever-reducing, digestive, laxative, diuretic, and depurative). In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Redcurrant began to appear in gardens. Then, in the 18th century, the Danish and Dutch intensified the cultivation of Redcurrants and spread them worldwide.

The Ribes rubrum Ribest ‘Lisette’ is a Swiss selection from the Ribest range. This range consists of Redcurrant varieties selected for their high yields of fleshy fruits with high sugar content on vigorous plants resistant to diseases. It forms a bushy, non-thorny shrub with a clumping habit, slightly stiff and sparsely branched stems, and softwood with abundant pith. This very hardy bush reaches a height of 1.50 m (5ft) with a spread of 1.20 m (4ft). The deciduous foliage consists of palmate, lobed, and aromatic leaves, medium green in colour and fragrant. The flowering takes place in April, with clusters of small, greenish to brownish, insignificant flowers that attract bees. Fruit production mainly occurs on one- and two-year-old branches. It has a medium-early harvest period from early to late July. It produces a high quantity of compact clusters composed of numerous round, translucent berries. When ripe, the Redcurrants are bright, shiny, and vibrant red, filled with juicy, fruity, sweet, and slightly tart flesh containing tiny seeds.

The Lisette Redcurrant is self-fertile, meaning it does not require a companion plant to produce fruit, but having another variety nearby will increase the yield. The fruits can be harvested as they ripen, and the long clusters make picking easier. A Redcurrant bush can produce approximately 3 to 5 kg of fruit per plant, depending on the age and growing conditions. All Redcurrant varieties are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals, trace elements, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, making them beneficial for health. Moreover, they are among the least caloric small fruits (50 kcal per 100 g). Rich in nutrients, they are delicious to eat fresh, and for added indulgence, they can be sprinkled with a little granulated sugar. They are excellent for making jellies or jams, can be used to garnish pies, and can be used in cake recipes. They are also perfect for making sorbets or ice creams, accompanying red meats, or as a garnish to salads.

In the summer, this Redcurrant bush, with its long pendulous clusters resembling strings of pearls, will bring pleasure and enchantment to the garden. You can pair it with Blackcurrant Raspberry bushes or other small fruit varieties to create an edible hedge. As with any planting, it is important to alternate species and varieties where possible. This helps reduce the risk of diseases and promotes pollination, even if the variety is self-fertile. It can be grown in a pot, but a container with a height of at least 40 cm (16in) should be chosen, and regular watering with non-calcareous water should be ensured.

Tips: To maintain healthy growth and optimal fruit production, it is recommended to prune the redcurrant bush every year by removing one-third of the branches at ground level, to encourage the growth of new fruit-bearing branches.