How to properly plant and care for black currants. The pearl of fruit bushes

Growing currants on a plot is considered one of the simplest, since this crop grows successfully on any soil and in almost any climate. Planting black and red currants can be done not only in spring, but also in autumn. It should be taken into account that planting seedlings in the ground has certain features, depending on the season and crop variety.

In this article we will look at the main methods and features of planting black, red and golden currants in autumn and spring, and also provide basic rules for caring for shrubs after planting.

Planting currants in spring

Spring is not considered the most suitable time for planting, since this procedure is best carried out in early autumn.

However, if you bought seedlings in the spring and do not have the opportunity to store them in suitable conditions until autumn, planting can be carried out even after the snow melts. In this case, certain features of planting seedlings in spring should be taken into account.

Peculiarities

With proper care, a shrub can grow and successfully bear fruit in one area for up to 15 years, so the location for planting must be chosen very carefully. Well-lit areas without drafts are suitable for this. The soil should not be too acidic or wet.

Note: If possible, it is better to drain the soil in the garden bed so that moisture does not stagnate near the roots and cause them to rot.

For spring planting, two-year-old seedlings with well-formed skeletal branches and a developed root system are best suited (Figure 1). Before transferring plants into the ground, be sure to inspect and remove all dry or damaged parts of branches and roots.

Figure 1. Stages of planting seedlings in open ground

When replanting a crop into the ground in the spring, you need to strictly adhere to the time frame. Planting must be completed before the buds awaken. Otherwise, the culture simply will not take root in the new place. In addition, it is advisable to prepare the holes in advance so that the soil in them has time to settle a little.

Methods

You can grow currants not only with seedlings purchased in nurseries or stores, but also with planting material grown yourself.

Among the most popular planting methods are:(Figure 2):

Lignified cuttings: they are harvested at the beginning of winter, and rooting in the ground is carried out both in autumn and spring;
Green cuttings: it is better to root them in a greenhouse or greenhouse so that the branches can grow strong root system. Only after this can they be planted in the ground;
By layering: A branch growing close to the surface of the ground is used as a seedling. It is bent to the ground, a groove is dug, into which the branch is immersed so that its top protrudes slightly above the soil. In summer, the seedling is regularly watered, and the next year the branch can be separated from the mother bush and transplanted to permanent place if necessary.

Figure 2. Methods of crop propagation: cuttings, dividing the bush and layering

Planting with seedlings is more often practiced for rare breeding varieties, although many gardeners prefer not to waste time and plant with ready-made seedlings from the nursery.

Planting rules: distance between bushes

Growing and caring for crops in open ground requires compliance with certain rules regarding the placement of bushes on the site.

Firstly, it should be taken into account that the size of the hole should be approximately 55*55 cm with a depth of 45 cm. The seedlings must be placed at a distance of one and a half to two meters from each other. The same spacing is observed for row spacing (Figure 3).

Currants, planting and care, pruning: video

The author of the video will tell you how to properly plant the crop in the ground and how to care for the seedlings in the future.

When to plant currants in spring, in what month

As mentioned above, spring is not considered the most successful time for planting. This is due to the fact that this crop is characterized by an early start of the growing season, so it is very easy to miss the right time.

Figure 3. Layout of bushes on the site

Experienced gardeners It is recommended to prepare the holes for spring planting in the fall so that the soil in the pits has time to settle and warm up earlier after the snow melts. Planting is carried out in early spring, when there is no longer snow, but the buds have not yet awakened. If you plant seedlings in the ground in which sap flow has already begun, they will not take root well in the new place or even die without having time to form a strong root system.

Planting and caring for currants in open ground

Black currant is one of the most common garden crops. This is not surprising, because it unpretentious plant does not require special care and can successfully grow and bear fruit for 15 years.

At the same time, it is advisable to follow certain rules for caring for shrubs so that they regularly produce rich harvests and are not exposed to diseases and pests.

Rules

There are certain rules for planting crops. First of all, they relate to the timing of disembarkation. It is better to carry out the procedure in the fall, at the end of September or beginning of October.

Note: The plant quickly takes root in a new place and tolerates winter well, and the shrubs that awaken in the spring quickly begin to grow.

This requirement applies only to seedlings with an open root system. There are no such restrictions for plants grown in containers: they can be planted in the ground at any time of the year, except winter.

As a rule, bushes are placed at a distance of one and a half meters from each other. In such conditions, plants grow quickly, and the branches are better warmed by the sun. This allows you to get a more abundant harvest of large berries. In small areas, the distance between bushes can be reduced. IN in this case Fruiting of crops will begin earlier, but the lifespan of shrubs will be reduced.

It is best to choose a well-lit area with light loamy soil. The crop does not tolerate stagnant moisture, so it is not recommended to plant it in swampy lowlands, or in areas with close groundwater.

Black currant: planting and care

If the crop was planted in the fall, you need to start caring for the plants in the spring. First of all, you need to inspect the bushes and remove all damaged and dry branches. Also in the spring, fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers and shallow loosening of the soil is carried out (Figure 4).

In summer, the bushes are regularly watered, but so that moisture does not stagnate at the roots. As a rule, natural precipitation is sufficient for the plant to bear fruit successfully, but during drought it is necessary to control soil moisture and carry out root watering when the water content in the soil decreases.

Figure 4. Caring for currants in spring, summer and autumn

In autumn, the ground around the bushes needs to be lightly dug up. Moreover, it must be left in lumps so that moisture does not evaporate from the soil during the cold season. You can also apply potassium and phosphorus fertilizers to each bush. They will not only provide the plants with the nutrients they need for wintering, but will also speed up the awakening of the buds in the spring.

Peculiarities

Currants are unpretentious garden crops, so there are few specifics for caring for them. Firstly, you need to ensure that the area is not overgrown with weeds, as they can become a potential source of diseases and pests.

Secondly, the crop is very sensitive to lack of moisture, so during the period of intensive growth and fruiting, regular watering is carried out.

In addition, bushes, like other plants in the garden, need to be pruned regularly. This procedure not only allows you to rejuvenate the bushes, but also protects them from diseases and pests, since damaged branches can potentially become sources of infection.

You will find more information about caring for shrubs in the video.

Rules

The rules for caring for crops are quite simple. In the spring, a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer is applied to each bush (about 150 grams per bush). During the summer, they also carry out several fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers, and also inspect the bushes in order to detect possible diseases in time and carry out appropriate treatment.

Regular pruning is also necessary. Sanitation is carried out in the spring, removing all frozen or dry shoots. In the fall, bushes are formed and the crown is thinned. Summer pruning rarely practiced, but if the plant has been damaged by disease, the branches are removed immediately to prevent the spread of pathology.

Scheme

Currants begin to bear fruit the very next year after being transferred to open ground. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly follow the layout of plants on the site so that they quickly acclimatize in a new place and begin to bear fruit earlier.

First of all, you need to choose a suitable place for the bush. Well-lit areas protected from drafts are suitable for this. You can also plant in a slightly shaded part of the garden. It is important that the soil is not too wet or dense.

Figure 5. Scheme of planting seedlings in the ground

The pits should be located at a distance of 100-150 cm from each other, but in small areas they can be placed more compactly: with an interval of 70-80 cm (Figure 5).

Boarding time

Since currants begin to awaken early, it is better to plant them in the fall, in September or early October. In spring, you can plant only those seedlings that were grown in containers.

Preference is given to autumn planting, since after winter it is easy to miss the time when the ground has already thawed, but the buds have not yet awakened. When planted in the fall, the seedlings will have time to take root and get stronger before the onset of cold weather, and next spring will actively grow.

Planting black currants in autumn

Autumn, namely September and early October, is considered the best time for planting seedlings in open ground. For this purpose, two-year-old seedlings with a well-developed root system and strong skeletal branches are selected.

Note: It is better to prepare the holes in advance, in the spring. But, if planting material appears unexpectedly, you can make do with recently dug holes.

The soil in the selected area is dug up to a depth of 20-25 cm and organic fertilizers are applied (2-4 kg per square meter), as well as granulated superphosphate (150 grams per square meter) and 20-30 grams of potassium salt or wood ash.

Peculiarities

First of all, you need to choose a well-lit area, protected from drafts. The depth of the holes should be 45 cm, and the width and length should be 55 cm each. The holes should be placed at a distance of one and a half meters from each other so that the root system of the plants receives enough nutrients from the soil, and the seedlings could develop normally.

Figure 6. Layout of red currants in the ground

Organic and mineral fertilizers are applied directly into the pit. To prevent them from burning the roots, sprinkle them with a small layer of soil on top. The seedlings are placed in the holes at an angle of 45 degrees so that the bark neck is located under the surface of the soil at a depth of 5 cm. This is necessary so that the bush actively branches during the growth process.

Planting red currants in autumn

Red currants, like black currants, are best planted in the fall. But in extreme cases, the movement of seedlings and soil can be postponed until April. In this case, the holes are prepared in the fall so that the soil in them has time to settle.

Planting red-fruited varieties in the fall has certain features, which will be discussed below.

Peculiarities

Red currants are very demanding on lighting, so they are planted in sunny areas with good ventilation. It is best to choose a place with black soil, forest soil or light loam.

Otherwise, planting the crop does not differ from the activities carried out with chokeberry varieties.

Rules

To grow a healthy and productive bush, you must follow certain planting rules.

The scheme for placing crop seedlings on the site includes several important points (Figure 6):

In about 2-3 weeks, holes are prepared 40 cm deep and 50-60 cm wide;
The soil from the bottom of the pit is mixed with peat (8-10 kg), superphosphate (200 g) and wood ash (40 g);
Plants are placed at a distance of one and a half to two meters from each other so that in the future they can form a strong root system;
When the soil in the hole settles, a seedling is lowered into it and its roots are straightened;
The seedling should be placed at a slight slope so that the root collar is 5 cm below the soil surface.

The hole is covered with earth, periodically shaking the seedling so that there are no voids around the roots. Next, the soil is compacted, watered and covered with a layer of mulch. It is also advisable to trim the branches, leaving 2-3 strong buds on each, so that the root system of the bush becomes strong and the plant itself becomes branched.

Golden currant: planting and care

Golden currants attract not only with the unusual color of the berries, but also with numerous beneficial properties. It is the berries of this crop that contain the most useful substances and vitamins, in comparison with conventional varieties.

At the same time, growing of this variety is associated with certain difficulties, which relate, first of all, to choosing the right time for planting and optimal care of shrubs.

Description of the variety

Externally, golden currant bushes are slightly different from ordinary varieties. Firstly, this shrub is more compact and does not grow wide. Secondly, its leaves are smaller in size and resemble gooseberry leaves in appearance (Figure 7).

In addition, the flowers have a pronounced aroma, and the berries have a rich taste and unusual color.

Rules for planting and care

Planting of golden varieties can be done both in early spring (before the buds awaken) and in autumn. However, when planting in autumn, it should be taken into account that the interval before the onset of frost should be as long as possible so that the plants have time to take root and get stronger.

Figure 7. Growing golden currants in the country

Golden currants are unpretentious to climatic and soil conditions, so they can be planted in almost any part of the garden. The only requirement is that the area must be well lit so that the fruits are large and ripen evenly.

Note: The pit should be 50 cm wide and 60 cm long, and they should be placed a meter apart from each other with a row spacing of two meters. This will speed up the rooting of the crop and give it the opportunity to grow a strong root system and healthy shoots.

Caring for golden currants is quite simple. Once a year, the soil between the rows is dug up and freed from weeds. In the warm season, fertilizers are applied: nitrogen fertilizers in the spring, and potassium, phosphorus and organic fertilizers in summer and autumn. It is also necessary to periodically prune the bush so that its crown does not thicken.

Most varieties are disease resistant, but preventive treatments hot water or special chemicals still worth pursuing.

How to store currant seedlings before planting

There are often situations when a seedling appears unexpectedly, but there is no way to plant it in the ground. This can happen in the spring, when most plants have already begun to flow sap. Experienced gardeners in this case advise saving planting material until autumn.

Autumn is considered the best time for planting currants in the ground, so you need to know how to preserve them until the moment is suitable for planting.

Peculiarities

Regardless of when you received the seedling, you need to take into account some features of its storage until planting. Firstly, it is necessary to inspect the roots and branches of the plant and carefully remove the dry parts.

Figure 8. Seedling storage options

Secondly, you need to provide the seedling optimal temperature and humidity. To ensure that the plant remains viable until it is moved into the ground, but does not release buds, try to maintain a cool temperature and constantly moisten the roots with water.

Storage rules

There are certain rules by following which you can keep the seedlings healthy until planting in the ground. First of all, they need to be inspected and damaged parts of the roots should be cut off. Next, the roots of the seedlings are watered and wrapped in a damp cloth. This will ensure they receive the nutrients and water they need consistently.

Seedlings can be buried in a cool, ventilated basement or in the garden (Figure 8). In the latter case, sandy soil is used, and the plants are sprinkled with spruce branches on top. However, you need to remember that this method is not suitable for regions with harsh winters.

You can save seedlings in a city apartment. The roots are also wrapped in a damp cloth, and the branches are wrapped in paper. In this state, the plants are stored on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Periodically, the planting material is inspected and the fabric is moistened.

Currants are very healthy berry, most often it is used to prepare various compotes and juices; it is also included in various jams and preserves.

Grow such a plant on summer cottage quite simple. Also, red currant is a fairly unpretentious plant.

In order for red or black currants to develop well and bring abundant and annual harvests, it is necessary to choose the right place for planting so that the bush is comfortable:

It is not recommended to plant currants in places where old bushes of this crop or gooseberries previously grew;
The groundwater level should be no higher than 1.5 meters, otherwise the root system may rot or die altogether;
It is also not recommended to plant currants in low-lying places where rainwater or melted snow;

If it is impossible to plant a shrub in a dry place, you can make drainage using expanded clay. This product perfectly retains excess moisture.

The health and productivity of the bush directly depends on the amount of sunlight. In the absence of this indicator, the plant begins to get sick and ceases to resist pests, the berries become smaller or disappear altogether;
Gusty winds have the same effect on currants, so the place should not only be not shaded, but also protected from northern and eastern winds. To grow bushes, you do not need special agricultural technology. Everything can be done with your own hands.

Currants grow well in almost any soil, the exceptions are:

sandy soil;
rocky ground;
swampy areas.

Also, this culture prefers neutral soil Therefore, if there is acidic soil, it must first be limed. To do this, 400 grams of crushed limestone or 300 grams of slaked lime are added per square meter of land.

Deadlines for planting at a summer cottage

Currants can be planted both in spring (late March - early April) and autumn (mid-September - early October). But experienced gardeners recommend autumn planting, because it has many advantages:

The seedlings have time to take root before the onset of cold weather and tolerate winter frosts well. And when this procedure is carried out in the spring, the shrub actively develops the root system, but also spends energy on growing foliage and goes to winter in a weakened state, which is why it may not tolerate frosty weather and simply die;
Also, plants planted in autumn grow faster and, accordingly, begin to bear fruit faster.

For the southern and central regions Autumn planting is more suitable, and in the North or the Urals, red and black currants are planted in the spring so that the root system can properly become stronger, but at the same time, all buds must be removed in a timely manner so that there is no foliage on the seedling.

Planting and growing currants

Soil preparation

The initial stage of planting currants is timely preparation of the soil:

When conducting autumn planting the pit is prepared approximately 3-4 weeks before the procedure itself, and when planting in spring, the hole must be dug in September. Preliminary preparation is needed to make the soil more fertile;
Considering biological structure root system of red currant, the depth and width of the hole is usually 40-50 centimeters;
When digging a hole, the bottom layer is folded separately from the top. After which the fertile (upper) soil is mixed with:

2 buckets of compost, humus or rotted compost;
100 grams of superphosphate;
90 grams of potassium sulfate.

The planting hole is left in this form until the seedling is planted.

It is best to buy seedlings a few days before planting and follow all transportation rules. To do this, the roots of the plant are first moistened, then wrapped in burlap and the resulting structure is strengthened with a plastic bag.

Planting methods

Single landing

With this planting, currants bring the greatest amount of harvest and live much longer than with other methods. Experienced gardeners recommend planting plants at a distance of at least two meters from other trees and shrubs.

Ordinary landing

This method is suitable for those gardeners who want to collect maximum quantity berries from minimal areas. Typically, row planting is used for commercial cultivation of red currants. The only disadvantage is the rapid wear of the plants and, accordingly, their rapid death.

Using this method, you should take into account the characteristics of each variety and shrubs with lush crown plant at a distance of 120-150 centimeters, and plants with a more compact arrangement of shoots at a distance of 70-110 centimeters.

Planting on a trellis

To achieve the desired effect, shrubs are planted at a distance of 50-100 centimeters from each other. After 2-3 years, the currant branches are fixed on installed trellises. In this case, you can get a continuous fruiting plane.

Instead of special trellises, you can use a fence enclosing the area.

Landing rules

The technology for planting black currants is as follows:

It is best to place the seedling in the hole at an angle of 45 degrees, but it is also possible vertical landing, which is much simpler and more familiar;
The root collar should be buried 5-6 centimeters into the ground;
When digging a hole, you should periodically shake the seedling to avoid the formation of air pockets between the roots of the plant;
At the next stage, the earth must be carefully compacted.
For a plant to take root well in a new place, it is not enough just to plant it correctly.. It is necessary to provide proper care for the young bush:
Immediately after planting, a small ditch is dug around the currants, into which a bucket of water must be gradually poured. This procedure will not only moisten the soil, but also improve the contact of the roots with the soil;
After the water dries, the groove is filled with humus, peat or simply dry soil;

For this procedure, in no case should you use mineral fertilizers and fresh manure, because they can cause burns on the root system and the plant will die in the first year.

Also, the ground around the bush can be mulched to a height of 5-10 centimeters;
To speed up the formation of the crown of the bush and avoid the appearance of weak growths, immediately after planting, all branches of the plant are shortened to 2-4 buds.

Proper implementation of the planting procedure is the main key to success in growing healthy shrubs and obtaining a rich harvest.

Care

In order for the shrub to produce as much harvest as possible, you need to properly care for it and not neglect even the most insignificant procedures at first glance.

Loosening

The ground around the bush must be periodically loosened so that the root system receives required quantity moisture and oxygen. In the root zone, loosening is carried out to a depth of 5-6 centimeters, gradually increasing the depth to 15 centimeters as it moves away from the base of the plant.

Watering

Currants can tolerate short-term drought, but to obtain abundant harvests, it is necessary to maintain 80 percent soil moisture. To check this indicator, you can dig up the soil located at a depth of 30 centimeters; when compressed into a lump, it must retain its shape.

During watering, you need to saturate the ground with moisture by 40-50 centimeters; for this, a young shrub will need 2 buckets of water, and an adult 4-5. There are several methods of watering:

you can dig a groove around the plant and carefully pour water into it;
for large plantings, dig a trench and install a hose with water in it.

Top dressing

In order for the bush to produce a plentiful and large harvest, it is necessary to timely apply various fertilizers that nourish the soil. There is no need to fertilize the soil for the first 2 years after planting., the plant will have enough nutrients added during planting.

Prevention of diseases and pests

To avoid the appearance of diseases and pests, it is necessary to treat the shrub with special preparations and carry out sanitary and thinning pruning.
In spring:

Currants are watered once a day early May, but if the winter turns out to be little snow and the spring is dry, then this procedure is postponed to April;
Immediately after the snow melts, it is necessary to thoroughly loosen the ground;
In the spring, the tree is treated against diseases and pests using special preparations or Brodka liquid;
During this period, it is imperative to carry out thinning pruning, removing all frozen, damaged or excessively thickening branches of the crown.

At the beginning of the leaves blooming, currants are fertilized with 50 grams of urea and 500 grams of wood ash. The fertilizer is scattered under the bush and then carefully buried. It is worth remembering that moisture is needed to dissolve fertilizers, so if the soil is dry and there has been no precipitation for a long time, then the procedure should be carried out after abundant watering.

During flowering, red currants are fertilized with complex mineral fertilizer and bird droppings.

Currants do not tolerate chlorine, so you need to be very careful when choosing fertilizer and use sulfate instead of potassium chloride.

Also in spring, the shrub needs to be fed with organic fertilizers (humus, compost, manure, etc.). On fertile soils, this procedure is carried out once every 3 years, but on poor lands it will have to be repeated annually.
In summer:

In summer, the shrub needs to be watered as the soil dries; in normal weather and there is no drought, the procedure is carried out once every 2 weeks;
Experienced gardeners recommend lightly loosening the soil after each watering;
Also in the summer, you need to keep the root zone clean and remove all weeds.
During the formation and filling of fruits, currants can be sprayed with growth stimulants, but the safest and most effective method is considered a deposit liquid fertilizers after flowering. Such fertilizers include liquid fertilizer with an infusion of mullein, bird droppings or slurry.
Many gardeners use it as summer feeding infusions prepared from various herbs, fruit peels, etc. Such products can be used constantly and applied with each watering.

Autumn:

In autumn, the amount of watering is reduced to zero; it will be necessary to introduce a plentiful amount of moisture when preparing the shrub for winter;
It is also recommended to loosen the soil in the fall so that the roots receive as much oxygen as possible during the winter;
It is very important to carry out sanitary pruning in the fall, during which all dry, diseased and damaged branches will be removed. This is necessary in order to get rid of diseases and pests;
After harvesting, the following is applied under the bush:

50 grams of superphosphate;
20 grams of potassium sulfate;
Organic fertilizers (on fertile soils once every 2 years).

Preparing for winter at the dacha

Black currant, although it is a fairly winter-hardy crop, still needs additional protection in winter. To do this, you can use one of the following methods:

All branches of the bush must be carefully bent to the ground and the required number of bricks must be placed on top, which will serve as a load. When carrying out this procedure, it is very important not to harm the branches of the plant. Snow is a natural protection against harsh temperatures, so using this method is only possible during a snowy winter.

You can also wrap each branch of the bush in a special agrofibre, and it is advisable to add insulation in the form mineral wool. This product helps perfectly in severe frosts or at a time when there is no snow cover.

Red and black currants are wonderful berries, the juice or compote from which can easily quench your thirst on a hot day, and the jam prepared using these fruits has a pleasant and unusual sourness. Currants bring bountiful harvests, and growing it in the countryside will allow you to collect a huge amount of ingredients for processing from one bush.

And at the end short video on the topic of how to grow currants:

Currants (lat. Ribes) belong to the genus of the Gooseberry family, which has about 200 species of plants. Currant bushes first appeared in the 11th century in the monastery gardens of Rus', and only later they learned about it in Europe, where it gained enormous popularity. In our country, currants are one of the most beloved and widespread berries, which are grown by summer residents and gardeners on their plots. We especially love black currants, which are the healthiest and delicious berry from all other types of currants. It is consumed both fresh and in compotes, jellies, and for future use: it is frozen and made into jam, and also used to make wine, liqueurs, and aromatic liqueurs. In addition to black currants, red and white currants, rich in vitamins and microelements, are no less popular. In addition to the beneficial properties of the berries, the aromatic currant leaves, which are used for preservation and for brewing tea, are also healing. Currant leaves are rich in vitamin C and are used to prevent colds.

The currant bush is a perennial spreading plant with straight, elongated shoots, reaching a height of about 2 meters. Currant root is powerful, strong, up to 60 cm in length. Currant leaves can be elongated or round shape serrated, alternate, consisting of 3-5 lobes. The color of the leaves ranges from light to dark green shades. Currants bloom with white, yellow, red or pink bell-shaped flowers, collected in drooping inflorescences - brushes. One flower brush can contain from 5 to several dozen flowers. The flowering time of the shrub is mid-spring and depending on the region, its flowering time lasts until June.

Currant fruits are round or oval-shaped berries with a sour or sweet-sour taste and pleasant aroma. There are types of currants that have a fresh and weak taste and aroma. The color range of currant berries is varied; they can be white, golden, red, inky black, matte, glossy, or waxy.

Types of currants and the most popular varieties

There is a huge variety of types of currants, the most common of them are:

Black currant (lat. Ribes nigrum) is the most widespread culture throughout Europe, Russia, as well as Kazakhstan and Mongolia. It can be found in almost every garden or personal plot, black currant is also common in wildlife, where it grows in forests, meadows on the banks of reservoirs. The height of the black currant bush is from 1 to 2 meters. Young shoots of the bush are light green in color with an edge, while adults are brown tint. The flowering period of the bush is May-June, the time of fruit ripening is mid-summer. The fruits are black in color, aromatic and sweet and sour in taste.

The most famous varieties of black currant:

Ariadne. Winter-hardy, high-yielding and resistant to many diseases, with medium ripening berries.
Belarusian sweet. Winter-hardy variety with high yield.
Gross. An early winter-hardy variety with high yield.
Venus. High-yielding early variety with a sweetish taste of berries
Gulliver. A variety resistant to drought and frost with an average ripening period.
Pearl.Early variety with large spherical fruits with a sweet taste.
Sofievskaya. An early variety with oval-shaped berries with a sweet and sour taste, a high-yielding variety.
Bagheera. Winter-hardy variety with high yield. Fruits with thin glossy skin, the taste of the berries is sweet.

Red currant (common, garden currant) (lat. Ribes rubrum) a fairly common type of currant, growing in Russia, Europe and Asia. The height of the bush is from 1 to 2 meters with shoots of sandy or gray shades. The bush blooms in May, ripens in mid-June. Red currant berries hang from the shoots in large clusters with bright red berries ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 cm in diameter with a distinct sour taste.

The most famous varieties of red currants:

Darnitsa. High yielding, medium grade. Its distinctive ability is that the variety tolerates transportation well.
Enchantress. High-yielding variety with large berries with a sweet and sour taste.
Ural beauty. Large-fruited variety with high yield.
Valentinovka. Late variety with large berries.

White currant (lat. Ribes niveum) distributed in Europe and Asia, the height of the bush is from 1 to 1.5 meters. It blooms in May, fruiting period is June. Sweet and sour berries white with a yellowish tint, collected in brushes. The diameter of the fruit is from 0.6 to 1 cm.

The most famous varieties of white currants:

White fairy. A variety with sweet and sour berries of a white, transparent color and early ripening.
Dessert. Large-fruited cream-colored variety.
Belyan. Mid-season variety with sweet-tasting berries, high yield and resistance to various diseases. The fruit size is medium, the color is transparent yellow.
Primus. Winter-hardy variety with sweet, juicy yellow berries.

The main differences between black, red and white currants

Blackcurrant leaves and shoots, due to their high content essential oils, have a fragrant aroma. The above-ground parts of white and red currants do not have the same aroma.
Red and white currants are more watery and sour in taste than black currants.
Black currants contain 4 times more vitamin C than red or white currants
Black currants are propagated mainly by cuttings, while red and white currants are propagated by dividing the bush.
Red and white currants tolerate drought more easily than black currants.
Blackcurrant varieties are more resistant to pests and are less susceptible to diseases.
There is no need to replant red and white currants; the bush can bear fruit in one place for 15-20 years. The blackcurrant bush needs to be replanted after 6-7 years, as well as regular pruning to form a bush.

Planting currants

Choosing a landing site

Currants grow well and bear fruit on a flat area or on a small hillock protected from strong wind, dry wind is especially dangerous for currants. Currants grow best in fertile, moist soils that drain water well. Areas with groundwater, as well as swampy places. The shrub is sensitive to soil acidity. The lower it is, the more susceptible the currant is to disease and poor yield. Currants prefer well-lit areas, however, they also grow well in the partial shade of fruit trees.

Autumn planting of currants

Gardeners recommend planting currants in the fall; this planting allows the seedlings to gain strength for growth and take root before spring. A few weeks before planting, seedlings are prepared planting pits to allow the soil to settle. Holes for planting shrubs are dug approximately 0.5 by 0.5 meters, up to 45 cm deep. It is necessary to maintain a distance between the holes of approximately 1.5-2 meters. Fertilizers are added to the pit:

a bucket of humus;
100 grams of superphosphate;
45 grams of potassium chloride.

To avoid burns to the roots, sprinkle the fertilizer on top with a small layer of soil (7-9 cm). A special feature of planting currant seedlings is planting at an angle of 45 degrees, so that the root collar is buried 5 cm so that additional shoots begin to grow. The roots must be well straightened, sprinkled with soil, compacted and watered with water (0.5 buckets of water), then fill the hole with soil. After planting the seedling, you need to make a groove around the bush and pour water into it, and then mulch it with humus. Seedlings should be shortened, leaving 3-5 buds on each shoot.

Spring planting of currants

Seedlings can be planted in pre-prepared holes in the fall in early spring, as soon as the snow melts. Shrub planting is carried out according to the same scheme as autumn planting.

Currant propagation

Currant bushes can be propagated in the following ways:

dividing the bush;
cuttings;
layering.

Currants: propagation by dividing the bush

The method of propagating currants by dividing the bush is practically not used by gardeners. Dividing the bush is used when there is a shortage planting material, forced transplantation of a bush to a new place or for breeding valuable varieties of currants. The main advantage this method reproduction is the rapid rooting of the transplanted shrub.

Stages of work:

Transplantation is carried out in autumn or early spring. The currant bush is carefully dug out of the ground, trying not to damage the root. Young shoots are shortened with pruning shears to a height of 25-30 cm, and dry branches are cut out.
Using a sharp ax, it is necessary to divide the bush into several parts so that the divided parts of the bush have a healthy branched root and formed buds on the shoots.
For transplantation, it is necessary to prepare in advance holes 60-80 cm deep, fertilized with manure, into which the divided currant bush is transplanted. The roots should be carefully straightened and covered with soil. The soil around the bush is thoroughly compacted and watered, at least 1-1.5 buckets for each bush.

Propagation of currants by cuttings

Propagation of currants by cuttings is the most common and productive method for propagating the required variety of currants, which allows you to preserve all the valuable characteristics of the variety. Cuttings can be done at any time of the year: in spring, autumn, when woody shoots are used, and also in summer - with green currant cuttings. The cuttings are planted in a previously prepared place; compost and organic matter - rotted manure - must be added to the soil.

Currant cuttings in spring or autumn

Healthy woody shoots are selected for cuttings. The shoot is trimmed from 16 to 25 cm long. The upper cut of the cutting is made above the bud, 1-1.5 cm away from the top, and the lower cut is made at an angle under the bud. Before planting the cuttings, the soil must be mulched with humus or peat and watered well. The cuttings must be buried in the ground at an angle, leaving 2-3 buds on the surface for the growth of young shoots. When planted in spring, the cuttings take root very quickly, and in the fall the bush can be transplanted to the designated place. If propagation by cuttings was carried out in the fall, then before the onset of the first frost the cuttings must be covered with straw, leaves or spruce branches. It is worth considering that autumn planting of black currants is carried out in September-October, when the plant enters the dormant phase, and the red currant bush - at the end of August.

Summer cuttings of currants

Currants can be propagated by green cuttings. Suitable for cutting are flexible green branches that become lignified and do not break when bent. The height of the cutting should be 10-12 cm with 3-5 pairs of leaves, lower leaves shortened by half or removed, leaving the petioles. The lower end of the cutting must be immersed in a solution of a growth stimulator for a day, and then planted in the ground, deepening it 2-3 cm, creating a greenhouse for it. The main factor for successful rooting of cuttings is the high humidity of the greenhouse for 3 weeks, so green cuttings must be regularly watered and sprayed. Within a month, when the cutting takes root, it needs to be fed with fertilizer containing nitrogen and watering reduced. In spring, rooted bushes can be transplanted to a permanent location.

Reproduction of currants by layering

A simple and effective way to propagate currants is propagation by layering, which is done in the spring, before the bush begins to flower. This propagation method is especially suitable for red currants. Near the bush, grooves with a depth of 5 to 7 cm are prepared into which the lower healthy shoots of an adult bush are placed; they must be shortened by a third. The shoots are pinned to the ground with wire; the shoots are not covered with earth. As soon as the selected shoots take root and produce several young shoots 12-15 cm long, they are carefully sprinkled with moistened soil mixed with peat, leaving green tops above the ground. By autumn, the cuttings are ready to be transplanted to a permanent place; they are dug up and cut off from the mother branch.

Currant care

Caring for a currant bush involves pruning and regularly loosening and removing weeds near the bush, as well as watering, especially in dry weather.

Trimming

The currant bush needs rejuvenation, which is carried out by removing old, poorly fruiting or damaged shoots. Pruning is done in early spring after the shrub has overwintered or in the fall.

Fertilizing currants with fertilizers

Shrubs need fertilizing with fertilizer. When planting currants in fertilized soil, additional fertilizing does not need to be done in the first 2-3 years; it is enough to just mulch the bush in the fall. After 2-3 years, mineral fertilizers are applied in dry form in the fall, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used for feeding (30 grams per bush), and in the spring, Urea and ammonium nitrate are added in diluted form (20-25 grams per bush).
During currant flowering, the bush is fertilized with organic fertilizer: mullein or bird droppings. To improve productivity, spray the bush with “Ovary” or a solution of zinc sulfate.

Currant bushes require some care different periods season.

How to care for currants in spring:

trim old, damaged branches after wintering;
carry out preventive treatment of shrubs against pests or diseases in early spring;
It is necessary to remove the buds that are affected by the mite. If a large number of buds on a branch are damaged, it should be removed;
the bush needs mulching with manure or humus;
currants require abundant watering during the period of active growth and flowering;
it is necessary to regularly remove weeds and loosen the soil under the bushes;
feed the bush with nitrogen fertilizer.

In dry summers, currants need abundant watering, which is combined with organic fertilizers during flowering.

The soil around the bush should be clean and loose, so periodically it needs to be hilled up and weeds removed. Loosening and watering of currants continues after harvesting. At the end of September, the bush needs to be fed with organic and mineral fertilizers and make trimming. At this time, the currants are transplanted or propagated.

Harvesting is a labor-intensive and important moment in caring for currants. Harvesting should not be delayed, as ripe berries may fall off and their taste may deteriorate. Black currant berries are collected selectively as they ripen, and red and white ones are harvested with brushes.

Currant diseases and pests

Currant anthracnose - this disease affects leaves that begin to turn brown and dry out. Leaves affected by the fungus must be removed and burned, and the bush should be treated with beard liquid at the rate of 100 grams per 10 liters of water, or copper sulfate (40 grams per 10 liters of water).

Currant terry (reversion). Black currants are susceptible to this disease; it is transmitted by aphids and mites during the formation of clusters. Currant flowers become double, become small, and the leaves become deformed. To prevent the disease, the bushes must be treated with insecticides and fungicides, protecting the currants from pests.
Striped mosaic – viral disease, transmitted by mites and aphids, in which currant leaves acquire a bright pattern yellow in the form of large veins. The disease cannot be treated; it can only be prevented by treating the bushes with insecticides and fungicides.
Powdery mildew affects leaves and stems, which become covered with a white powdery coating. The affected areas should be removed and the bush should be treated with Topaz and copper sulfate (300 grams per 10 liters of water).

White spot (septoria) when the disease causes the leaves to become covered with spots brown, which over time acquire a white tint, the leaves are treated with beard liquid.

Among the main pests of currants are:

Aphid. It appears on the leaves and stems of the plant; to remove it, the bushes are sprayed with a solution of karbofos.

Currant glassworm, a butterfly caterpillar, feeds on currant branches from the inside, as a result the shoots dry out and die. To prevent the spread of glass, a mixture is added under the currant bush, which includes ash, tobacco, mustard and hot pepper (0.5 cups each). The shrub can be treated with Intavir, Iskra or Fitoferm.

Currant leaf gall midge eats young leaves; currant branches need a solution of chlorophos (20 grams) and karbofos (30 grams) per 10 liters of water.

Thanks to proper care currant bush gives high yield and is most resistant to pests and diseases. The very next year after planting the bush, it begins to bear fruit and delight the eye with beautiful clusters of appetizing, aromatic berries in black, red or white.

Currants, photo

Currant

Currant berries are extremely tasty and healthy. This plant is a long-lived garden crop, the fruits of which appear a year after planting. If you take good care of the bush, you can get fruits from the bush for 15 years.

Currants - optimal timing for planting

The optimal time for planting currants is considered to be the beginning of autumn, although they are occasionally planted in the spring. As a rule, two-year-old seedlings that have three skeletal roots are planted. Before purchasing, seedlings are carefully inspected so as not to purchase diseased or weakened specimens.

The bushes grow and develop well in a place where there is sufficient lighting and protection from the wind; the soil should be non-acidic and sufficiently drained

To get rid of excess soil acidity before planting, up to 800 g of lime is added per square meter of soil, as well as two to four kg of organic fertilizer, 150 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulfate. After this, the soil is dug up to a depth of 22 cm.

Features of autumn planting currants

The holes for seedlings are formed with dimensions of 55x55 cm, while their depth should reach up to 45 cm, and the distance between holes should be 1.5-2 m. A bucket of humus, 100 g of superphosphate, 45 g of potassium chloride are added to all holes. To prevent fertilizers from burning the roots, fertilizers should be sprinkled with soil to a depth of 7-9 cm. Dig holes and apply fertilizers 14-20 days before planting - the soil will then have time to settle.

The currants are placed in the recesses at an angle of 45 degrees, placing the root collar at a depth of five centimeters

Planting currant cuttings

The roots are carefully straightened to ensure the growth and development of additional roots and shoots from buds sprinkled with soil - then the bushes will grow powerful with beautiful branches. In addition, the root system is sprinkled with soil, then it is compacted, each bush is watered with 0.5 buckets of water, and the hole is filled with soil. A furrow is formed around the planting and filled with water, and the nearby soil is mulched with humus to prevent the formation of a crust. At the end, it is necessary to trim the shoots at a height of 10-15 cm from the soil, so that four to five buds remain. The cuttings are placed in moist soil to allow them to develop roots.

Features of planting in spring

In the spring, currants are planted before the sap flow begins, so that the buds have not yet opened. The disadvantage of planting in spring is that at the beginning of the growing season there is very little time left for planting - currants begin to grow very early, and the soil at that time may not be warm enough for rooting. If you dig a hole in the fall, this will allow the soil to settle, which will make the task much easier.

Caring for a currant bush

Currant care

Spring currant care

Spring currant care involves:

removing the buds that have been affected by the mite or the entire shoot if there are too many mites;
digging up the bush and mulching the soil using manure or humus;
periodic bush;
removing weeds and loosening the soil two to three times a week. When using mulching, you can loosen the soil less often;
pruning bushes after wintering;
processing in early spring;
When the bushes are flowering, the plants are inspected and if double inflorescences are found, they are removed.

Summer currant care

In summer, watering the bush is very important. It is necessary to keep the soil clean between the bushes and fight. Watering the bushes is combined with organic fertilizing. Treating bushes against pests and diseases should be stopped three weeks before the berries ripen.

Autumn care for currants

When the harvest is harvested, it is necessary to water the bushes and loosen the soil. Feeding the bushes with mineral and organic fertilizers is carried out in the last days of September. planted and propagated. If the autumn turns out to be dry, you need to water the bushes generously and treat them to prevent diseases and pest damage.

Treatment of currant bushes from pests and diseases

How to treat bushes

Even the most beautiful lush bushes currants can suffer from pests and diseases, so the bushes need to be treated preventively before the buds swell. For this purpose, use a 1% solution of karbofos, copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. They and the soil are also treated with nitrafen. When the growing season ends, you need to remove all fallen leaves from the area so that pests do not infest there. Treat the soil and bushes with the indicated preparations.

Watering currants

After a snowy winter in the spring, you will not have to water the bushes often, but after a winter with little snow, you will need to regularly water the currant bushes. During the formation of ovaries and the filling of the crop and in dry weather, the soil is watered warm water once every five days. To penetrate moisture to a depth of 30-40 cm, it is necessary to pour 20-30 liters of water per square meter, pouring it exclusively under the bush, avoiding drops getting on the leaves and berries. At the end of the growing season during dry autumn, winter watering of the bushes is carried out, providing moisture to the root system of currant bushes until the end of the winter period.

It is worth noting that white and red types of currants are less demanding in terms of constantly maintaining a certain level of moisture in the soil.

Top dressing for currants

When planting, the bushes receive the amount of nutrients that will be sufficient for growth and development for two years, but then the currants need to be fed regularly. Needs to be applied early in spring nitrogen fertilizers. For two-year-old bushes, 40-50 g of urea is applied, and for four-year-old bushes, they are fed twice with doses of 15-20 grams. In the autumn season, each bush is fertilized with 4-6 kilograms of organic matter.

Top dressing for currants

To improve the resistance of bushes to various diseases and lay the foundation for the future harvest, three foliar feeding bushes - 3 g of boric acid, 5 g of potassium permanganate and 35 g of copper sulfate are dissolved in separate containers and combined in 10 liters of water. Bushes are treated with this solution. This is done when the sun sets, or on a cloudy day.

Pruning currant bushes

How to prune bushes in spring

Pruning bushes stimulates their fruiting, since the plant's energy is not wasted on unnecessary shoots - weak and poorly developing. It is necessary to prune branches that are older than six years, as well as dried and diseased branches.

How to prune bushes in autumn

In the first year of life currant bush you need to trim all shoots to a distance of 10-15 cm from the ground. On the second step, cut off the zero shoots, leaving the three strongest ones. At 3-4 years of life, zero shoots are cut off, leaving about six of the most developed ones. You also need to cut off weak shoots from the middle of the bush, the top - on last year's shoots, as well as all branches that are more than six years old.

Red And white currants are pruned in the spring, without pinching the tops of the growths, and two- and three-year-old shoots are not shortened. Branches older than seven years, unnecessary young shoots and affected branches are pruned.

The structure of a currant bush

Currant propagation

This is usually done vegetatively - with the help of arcuate layering, cuttings, and rooting two-year-old branches. Red - it is better to propagate by layering.

Propagation by cuttings involves the use of two types - green and lignified

Most in an accessible way will be propagated by lignified cuttings. This can be done at any time, but I make preparations at the beginning of winter. Cuttings are cut from the middle of one-year-old shoots or from three-year-old branches, and their length should be up to 20 cm and thickness about 10 mm. Cuttings for the winter placed in the refrigerator and planted in early spring.

Rooting green cuttings are carried out in greenhouse conditions. They are taken from shoots that have developed well. The cuttings are about 10 cm long. The cuttings are placed in water, and two weeks later, after roots have formed, they are planted in bags of soil, where they grow until May. When planting, the bag is cut and planted together with the cuttings in the soil.

Reproduction of currants by layering

Reproduction by layering is the most in a simple way, which produces strong seedlings with a well-developed root system. A two-year-old branch is bent to the ground, secured with a hook and covered with soil, constantly watered and a seedling is obtained in the fall.

Currant diseases and pests

To prevent and prevent bushes, it is necessary to monitor their health and treat the bushes and the soil around them with solutions of karbofos, nitrafen, Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate in the spring (before the buds swell) and in the fall.

In addition, culture is sometimes subjected to negative influence from many, including:

pale-legged sawfly,
biennial leaf roller,
fire,
moth,
spider mite and others.

They are fighting with them chemicals and, treating bushes in autumn and early spring.

Common diseases of black currant:

Anthracnose. When the disease occurs, small brown spots appear on the leaves, which grow, and then the leaves dry out. The disease can also appear on the stalks, young shoots, and petioles.
White spotting. There are small brown spots on the leaves. Then they become white, but with a brown border. Black dots appear on the spots. When anthracnose or white leaf spot appears on black currants in April, the bushes are treated with Bordeaux mixture (1% solution) or 3% nitrafen solution. The treatment is repeated after 10 days. Then in mid-summer the bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture (1% solution). They also collect all the diseased fallen leaves and burn them, dig up the soil near the tree trunk to a depth of 10 cm, do this in spring or autumn.
Glass rust. When the disease occurs, rusty growths are visible on the leaves. The disease can be transmitted from sedge. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate all sedge. The leaves are collected and burned. Before the buds bloom, the currants are treated with 1% Bordeaux mixture.
Columnar rust. These are small rusty spots on the leaves. In the spring, even before the leaves bloom, the bushes are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture. Then the same composition is sprayed after picking the berries. It is recommended to spray the leaves with phytosporin.
Striped mosaic. When the disease occurs, a grayish-yellow pattern is visible near the veins of the leaves. The disease cannot be treated; the infected bush is destroyed.
Powdery mildew. There is a white coating on the berries and shoots. Then the color changes to brown, the berries crack. To treat the disease, cut out all diseased branches, spray the currants with a solution of 100 g of copper sulfate in a bucket of water. After 10 days, spraying is repeated. Spraying should be stopped 2 weeks before harvest.
Terryness. When terry, the outline of the leaves changes; instead of 5, they may have 3 lobes. The leaf darkens and becomes denser, the bush blooms later, the inflorescences have lilac color. To eliminate terry, the diseased bush is destroyed.

Not only people, but also various pests love to eat currants. Therefore, it is necessary to know the “enemy in person” and be able to fight it:

Currant aphid. To eliminate aphids, spray the branches with a soap solution or wash them. You can replace soap with ash, use 300 g per bucket of water. Make a solution of 3 tbsp. spoons of urea into a bucket of water, add potassium permanganate so that the solution is bright pink and treat the bushes. If there are a lot of aphids, then spray with Actellik, Karbofos, and Vofatox.
Moth, glass and leaf gall midge. When affected by the moth, the berries are entangled in cobwebs, they become reddish and dry out. If the ground is mulched with a layer of 8 cm, the moth larvae will not be able to get out and will die. To eliminate moth caterpillars, spray currants with Actellik and Metaphos. Glasswort larvae gnaw out the core of the stems, and for the winter they make their way to the roots. Leaf gall midge is detected when wrinkled leaves with small bumps are visible at the top of the branches. Early spring and in the fall, to eliminate leaf gall midges and glasswort, cut out old and diseased branches near the surface of the soil and burn them. Before the buds begin to bloom, spray the currants with “Aktara” or “Iskra” and add liquid soap.
Spider mite. In early May, red-brown or whitish leaves are visible, with cobwebs underneath. To eliminate the pest, burn the leaves affected by the mite and spray the bushes with insecticides.
Currant bud mite. These are tiny insects that crawl inside the buds and eat them. To control the pest, cut off and burn branches that show swollen buds in early spring. After flowering, treat the currants with a 1% aqueous suspension of colloidal sulfur.
Shield. They can be detected by formations on the leaves - shields that cover the pests. To eliminate early spring and late autumn, wash the branches with a stiff brush dipped in a soap solution. Sprinkle the currants with Actellik and Fitoverm.
Blackcurrant berry sawfly. Its larvae make their way inside the fruit. Damaged berries are larger and have a ribbed shape. Collect and burn the affected berries, mulch the ground, and dig up the soil in the fall.

More information can be found in the video: