Many agronomists dream of an unusual sort of pink currant. It has a high level of productivity and is unpretentious to the conditions of detention. In addition, pink berries do not contain acid, the fruits have a delicate dessert flavor. This variety is a subspecies of red currant.
Although the Dutch pink currant was bred in Holland, the origin of the variety is not known for certain. Despite the fact that the plant does not require special conditions for development and growth, it needs good care so that it bears fruit as much as possible and better. To do this, it is enough to provide the Dutch pink currant with good moisture and fertile soil. She feels great both on the sunny side and in partial shade.
Grade description
The Dutch pink currant variety is characterized by a pale pink color of berries. Despite the "pallor" in comparison with red, it is more sweet and aromatic in taste. With proper care, the fruits reach a weight of 2.5 grams, this is a large berry size. Average values range from 0.5 to 1 gram. This variety is able to grow in any region of our country, as it has good characteristics of resistance to cold.
The external description of the Dutch pink currant is as follows: the bush has average sizes for similar varieties. You can expect its growth to 1.5 meters. Branches are collected, they are not so sprawling in comparison with other varieties. On large branches, soft pink or almost transparent berries flaunt with a brush up to 14 centimeters in length. Leaves have a light green color. The pink variety begins to bear fruit already in the second year after planting.
Advantages of the Dutch Beauty
The advantage of the Dutch pink currant is that it can easily tolerate low temperatures and not freeze in the cold season. But sudden changes in temperature can adversely affect berry bushes.
What else is typical for this variety? The plant is resistant to all kinds of pests, and also does not lend itself to the influence of a number of diseases. But before a fungal disease, currants are powerless. If you notice a change in the color of the leaves with the appearance of burgundy spots on them, then this is the fungus. Such leaves need to be removed immediately from the branch, because when moisture appears they will continue to spread through the currant bush.
Fight against currant bush diseases
The only pest in front of which Dutch pink currant is powerless is aphid. Colonies are located on the bottom of the sheet. Tubercles form in these places, which can be red or yellow. To prevent this pest from settling on a currant bush, it is necessary to cultivate soil against weeds in a timely manner, remove the diseased branch from the bush entirely and irrigate the currant with boiling water if it has been attacked by aphids. But this can only be done in the warm season to exclude temperature differences. Since for her it is fatal.
Picking a crop
In the description of the Dutch pink currant variety, you can add that with good care you can collect up to 9 kilograms of delicious berries from one bush. This is a very good indicator, which distinguishes it from other varieties of currants. To do this, you need to regularly cultivate the soil, top-dress the soil in spring and water it. Then you can achieve good results. If you do not feed the plant, then the crop will have the following indicators: 3-5 kilograms from the bush.
You can pick ripe berries only in the middle of summer, this is closer to the end of July. It is believed that currants of this variety bear fruit late. But then its berries retain aroma and freshness until golden autumn.
You can taste the fruits both fresh and after heat treatment. The collected berries perfectly complement the composition of the summer fruit salad or serve as a decoration for dessert. What is noteworthy, the Dutch pink currant is rich in vitamin C, so its fresh use will positively affect your health.
And if you like homemade canning, then preserves, jams, syrups, jellies and compotes will give you a piece of summer on cold evenings and charge your body with vital energy. Interestingly, the berries after heat treatment do not retain their delicate pink color.