Fruit
Ben Sarek
A tier
Ben Sarek is a compact Scottish black currant bred for smaller gardens and denser plantings—shorter bushes, early-mid crop, and good berry size relative to plant stature. Flavour stays true black currant: sharp, aromatic, purple-staining. Easier netting and picking height than sprawling heritage types. Excellent for home freezers, small-batch jam, and pick-your-own. Commercial juice acres may prefer taller high-yield Bens, but Sarek shines where space and wind exposure matter. Harvest as soon as berries are fully black; uneven strigs need two picks. Disease resistance improved garden reliability.
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History
Ben Sarek was introduced as a compact cultivar from Scottish programmes.
Garden centres and smallholders adopted Sarek for manageable bushes.
Amateur growers prized early crops and dense fruiting.
Sarek remained a recommended compact black currant for UK gardens.