Currants grow in USDA hardiness zones 3-5, so they cannot be grown commercially or locally in Texas without special equipment, which makes cultivation very expensive. Currants are still mostly banned where pine trees are grown for lumber, which is basically where currants grow best.

Is black currant still illegal in the US?

The commercial growth of blackcurrants is no longer banned at the federal level, although several states do still have regulations in place to restrict the blackcurrants' growth.

Can I grow currants in Texas?

The filbert (hazelnut) tree will grow in Texas, but nut production is generally poor. The tree does well on a wide variety of soils, ranging from acidic to highly calcareous. Gooseberries and Currants. These berries will not tolerate our hot Texas summers and are seldom fruited here.

Where is blackcurrant banned?

Nationally, a prohibition on the import of blackcurrant plants from Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and several EU countries remains. A special permit is required to import it from Chile.

Where are black currants legal?

Finally, he wrote this: "Based on the USDA inspection manual, black currants are allowed in Florida, since they are not a fruit fly host. However, they cannot enter the U.S. from Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and several other EU countries.

Why are blackcurrants banned in USA?

The growing and importation of currants were banned in New York and other parts of the United States for more than half a century because they were thought to help spread a fungus that threatened the timber industry.

Why do Americans not eat blackcurrants?

The US Department of Agriculture had no choice but to have black currants banned because the plants became a vector for a disease that threatened to annihilate all pines in America. … Today, some states lift the ban as new ways to fight this disease are developed. However, this fruit remains very rare in the US.

Can you grow fruit trees in Texas?

'Tis the season to plant fruit and nut trees in North Central Texas. … While many varieties of fruit and nut trees can be grown in our eco-region, some of the more successful large-fruit crops include figs, peaches, plums, and pomegranates. Blackberries and grapes are some of the easiest small-fruit crops to grow here.