Hardwood cuttings are an almost bomb-proof way to propagate softwood fruits such as gooseberries, currants and blueberries. Take them soon after leaf drop, using growth put on over the past season. Currant cuttings should be around pencil thickness and 30cm (12in) long. Cut just below a bud then trim the top of the cutting on a slant just above a bud. Root them in deep pots of compost to which a little perlite or grit has been added to improve drainage. Push them two-thirds down into the compost, water them, then grow on in a greenhouse or cold frame. Separate and plant a year from now.