Red currant has long been considered a berry of health. Its bushes can reach a height of 1.5 meters and bear fruit for decades. Flowering of this variety begins closer to the end of May. Full ripening of berries occurs in July.
Varieties of red currants
The most common types of berries with relatively high winter hardiness are Gazelle, Houghton Castle and Natalie. The first grade is medium early. Its berries are small in size with a characteristic sweet and sour taste. The second grade is a vigorous bush with thick brown shoots. Its fruits are similar in taste and size to the berries of the Gazelle. As for the Natalie variety, it is one of the latest. Its main advantage is high yield.
You can not ignore such a variety as Versailles red, which is very common in the Baltic states. Its bushes begin to bloom at the end of April. It is distinguished by its wrinkled leaves and short branch length. The fruits are sweet.
The Dutch red is also very unpretentious to weather conditions. This is a very long-lived and fruitful variety that can produce crops for 30 years.
In Russia, another type of currant, brought back to the USSR from Britain, gained great popularity. This is a variety with the big name Red Cross. An ideal place for its cultivation is the north of Kazakhstan. Berries of this variety weigh up to 1 g and taste like black currants. The bushes are sprawling and medium-sized.
Planting soil
Best for redcurrants are well-lit, open areas. If this condition is not met, then later the berries will turn pale and lose their sweetness. Also, this variety prefers sandy, loose or loamy soils. In the event that the soil was heavily waterlogged in the spring or the place itself is low, it is recommended to plant currants in low beds. The acidity of the soil should be neutral or weak.
Planting red currants in autumn is to a depth of 35 cm. It is important that the hole is at least 50 cm in diameter. To fertilize the soil using compost or rotted manure. However, gardeners recommend adding 50 g of superphosphate and potassium chloride (per 10 l of liquid) to the mixture. It will be useful to fertilize the soil in the hole with diluted wood ash.
Seedlings preparation
The optimal planting dates for red currants are the first half of September. However, first you need to prepare seedlings at home. Cut lignified cuttings recommended at the end of August. The seedling should have 3-4 strong buds. The tip and base of the branch are cut off, and the middle will be used as a future sprout. Its length should not exceed 30 cm. The distance from the lowest kidney to the edge is about 15 cm.
Install seedlings in pots (boxes) should be upright. The ground should be loose and slightly moist. Pots with future shoots are placed in a well-lit place. After two weeks, the root system will appear in the cuttings, and they can be transferred to the ground. The planting time of red currant directly depends on the growth of shoots in the room. It takes 10 days to mature the root system, therefore it is recommended to harvest them in advance - at the end of summer.
Planting red currants
At the first stage, you should choose a place open to the light and fertilize it. Once the root system of young shoots is strengthened, they can be planted in the ground. Experienced gardeners advise you to do this procedure in the first three weeks of September, although the period depends on the climate. If the air temperature is above +20 ° C and the sun is constantly shining, and frosts only come closer to February, then the autumn planting of red currants is allowed until mid-October.
The main nuance in this simple matter is that the roots of the cuttings have time to get well established in the ground, otherwise they will not be able to survive in the winter. It is also important that the hole for the seedlings is appropriate. Practice shows that its depth and width should be at least 50 cm. Two-thirds of the hole is filled with mineral fertilizers and organic additives. The top layer must necessarily be
fertile soil. Red currant will be planted in it in the fall.
At the stage of preparation of shoots, they have already formed thin roots, but additional shoots are necessary for the final strengthening in the soil. The scheme for planting red currants is as follows: cuttings are inserted into pre-fertilized soil at an angle of 45 degrees, then they are covered with earth and manure. It is worth paying attention to the color of the bark. If it is green or blackish, then the plant is infected or dries, so it must be immediately removed from the pit.
2-week-old seedlings should not have leaves. If they appear, then they should be cut so that all the juice and nutrients enter only the roots. Before the onset of the first frosts, the plant must sit firmly in the ground.
Propagation by cuttings
It is immediately worth noting that red currant refers to this kind of manipulation much more moody than black. Only young one- or two-year-old bushes are suitable for reproduction. Planting redcurrant cuttings made in the first half of September. The length of the sprout should be about 25 cm. It is important that by the time the cuttings are cut, the bush does not begin to dry out and is not infected.
Sprouts are stored in the refrigerator for some time, wrapped in plastic or covered with moist sand. Planting red currants in autumn allows it to firmly establish its roots in the ground before the onset of frost and strong winds. However, some gardeners prefer to propagate the plant back in April. The disadvantage of this planting is that the sprouts can dry quickly, since in summer the climate is hot and not suitable for the ripening of young shoots in the ground.
Before propagation, the cuttings must accumulate moisture. It is also important to refresh the bottom cut just before landing (obliquely). In addition, it is recommended to make several shallow cuts at the base of the handle, from which young roots will subsequently appear. Planted to a depth of 20-30 cm. For the winter, you can fill the beds with a layer of straw or sawdust.
Young sprout care
The first 3 years, red currants should be fertilized plentifully, since the kidneys constantly need minerals. At this time, the root system is formed, which will subsequently hold the bush for decades. Care for young shoots requires not only mineral fertilizers, but also organic ones. It is also necessary to remove weeds from the soil in a timely manner, which take away all moisture from the currant and cover its roots with light. Important are the props, which keep the branches at a level under the weight of the berries. In winter, it is necessary to tie the branches to the ground so that they do not break under the snowdrifts.
Pruning young bushes
Planting red currants in autumn means removing unnecessary branches in the same period of time. According to gardeners, pruning should be carried out in the next 3-5 years after planting. The ideal time for cleaning the bush from thickening is the end of October.
Dry and infected branches are removed to the base. Young shoots are cut so that 2-3 strong buds remain on them. On one basis there should not be more than 2 young shoots.
A section with a diameter of 8 mm or more must be lubricated with a special solution so that fungus does not form on the stump.
Why do we need red currants?
The berries of this plant are primarily useful for their vitamins A, B, C, E, H and PP. Also, the composition of red currant includes beta-carotene, ash, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and many other mineral components. Its berries do not contain a large amount of fat, so they are considered dietary. Calories in 100 g - only 39 cal. Most of all in redcurrant carbohydrates and provitamin A.
The berries of this plant are useful for atherosclerosis, anemia, diabetes, malfunctioning of the intestines and other common diseases.