The distribution of red currants in Russia is relatively not wide. Although she has many advantages. It has increased drought tolerance and tolerates spring frosts (unlike black currants). Almost not affected by diseases and pests (powdery mildew, terry, kidney mite). Redcurrant, the planting and care of which is not difficult, can produce high stable yields of 25 years. The berries are delicious and beautiful.
Bushes of red currant deciduous, perennial, up to two meters high. Upwardly directed branches grow old slowly, restrained for a long time.
Flowers are collected in a brush of 5-35 pcs. The whole berry branch ripens in a week, starting from the base and ending with the top. The fruits are red. Less commonly are colorless, yellowish, brown. Ripe berries hang on a branch for a long time, which is why their taste does not deteriorate.
Fruit-bearing branches are 4–6 years old. Consequently, the shoots can be shortened only in the fall. Shrub vegetation begins in early May, which allows you to get away from frost. The growth of shoots ends in August-September, and they manage to prepare for the cold.
Photophilous redcurrant, planting and care of which includes the choice of an open area, should be protected from the wind from the north. In lowered forms of relief it is better to place it on ridges or mounds, 25-30 cm high with a distance between bushes up to one and a half meters.
This culture tolerates any soil, but prefers sandy loam or loam with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction and a subsurface groundwater not exceeding 1.5 meters.
Redcurrant is quite unpretentious, planting and care of which involves an ordinary scheme of its placement in the garden. Pits for this are prepared with a depth of 30–40 cm and a diameter of 40–50 cm with the addition of one bucket of humus, half a glass of superphosphate, two tablespoons of potassium. You can dig seedlings (optimal age 1-2 years) by 7-10 cm. Planting should be done at the end of September or in the spring, before buds open. If in autumn, then watering is required to a minimum, in spring - two to three times. It is advisable to mulch the soil.
Redcurrant, planting and care of which also requires the formation of a bush, gives the first crop in the second year. Pruning achieves the required number of branches of different ages. On one bush there should be 10 fruiting shoots and 4 sprouts of renewal. Pruning is carried out in the spring, at the beginning of the growing season.
Before deciding on a planting, it would be nice to know how redcurrant is useful. Eating berries in a fresh and processed form improves intestinal motility, increases appetite. It is used as a diaphoretic, antipyretic and laxative. Juice has a restorative and refreshing property.
Very useful fresh red currants. Billets from it are also not inferior in healing and taste. They make jam from berries, make jams, compotes, twist with sugar, just freeze it. Use in various sauces, gravy, syrups, pickles. Squeeze the juice, boil it for greater concentration and enjoy the summer aromas in the winter.