Currant Viksne: variety description and characteristics, planting and care with photo

Red currant is valued by Russian gardeners for its pleasant taste and the presence of useful trace elements. It contains many vitamins. However, breeders do not breed new varieties of this berry too often. The newest variety known today is Viksne currant, bred in Latvia. Viksne currant can often be found in Russian gardens.

Variety selection

The variety was bred by Latvian breeders at the Ogre fruit and vegetable station, which is engaged in the creation of new types of berries. Researchers Zvyagina and Viksne took part in the selection. The variety was obtained from the seed material of the Varshevich variety, which is characterized by an unusual fruit color.

In 1997, Viksne was entered into the state register of the Russian Federation. It can be planted in the north-west of the Russian Federation and in the Black Earth region.

Description of the hybrid

Berries can be red, light. The difference between them lies not only in color, but also in taste characteristics. Bushes with light berries do not belong to a separate subspecies. This is a normal albino.

Bushes

The branches of the bushes are sprawling, have a height of 100 to 150 centimeters. Shoots have a large thickness and brownish color. The buds are small, elongated and slightly deviated from the shoot.

Leaves include 5 blades, wavy edge, have a greenish color. The plate is straight, slightly pubescent at the bottom. The teeth are ordinary, blunt, crenate. Flowers are standard, reminiscent of a saucer of great depth. They are located on large brushes, growing up to 110-160 millimeters in length.The sepals are light, with lilac-colored stripes.

Berries

The average fruit weight is 700-900 milligrams. They are round, slightly elongated, with noticeable veins. The berries smell pleasant, stand out with a sour-sweet aftertaste. Evaluation of gardeners - 4 points. There are few seeds in the pulp. Skin of small thickness, has high strength.

If the bushes are planted in September, then by the summer season the fruits will be usable. In late spring, flowering begins, and in the middle of summer you can pick berries. Productivity - up to 10 kilograms of fruits from one bush. Usually gardeners collect about 6 kilograms of berries from one bush.

Pros and cons

Viksne has the following benefits:

• resistance to low temperature conditions. Bushes calmly endure the cold even without shelter;
• resistance to drought conditions and temperature changes;
• good yield;
• anthracnose resistance;
• taste good;
• no tendency to shed.

The cons of the variety are as follows:

• susceptibility to red gall aphid;
• reduced yield due to freezing of buds;
• deterioration of taste characteristics when irrigation rules are not followed;
• the inability to store fruits for a long time.

Variety features

Viksne is a mid-early variety with a high yield. It is resistant to cold, common diseases and pests.

Cherrycurrant

Cherry currant is universal. It can be eaten fresh, frozen and processed. Since there is a lot of pectin in the fruits, jam can be made from them. Dark red fruits are used to bring down fever, prevent inflammation.

White Wiksne

From bright berries, gardeners make homemade wine, which has a great taste. The juice from them quenches thirst, includes elements that contribute to the normalization of blood clotting. The fruits are also used to prevent heart attacks.

Culture characteristic

Berry picking is done with brushes. If you tear the fruits from the branches, their skin can be deformed. Currant can stay on the stalk for a long time without deteriorating its appearance and taste.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests

Vixne is resistant to most known diseases and pests, but is often affected by red gall aphids.

Resistant to low temperatures and drought

Currant normally tolerates dry weather (do not forget to follow the rules of watering). The sudden onset of cold will not bring much harm to the bushes.

Ripening period and yield

Berries ripen in summer. From 1 hectare it is possible to get about 17 tons of berries. This is a pretty good indicator.

Transportability and use of berries

Viksne currant is not intended for long-term storage. However, it is considered a transportable variety. The fruits can be used for cooking homemade dishes (jelly, mousse) and for medicinal purposes (prevention of cardiovascular diseases, lowering the temperature).

How to plant a variety on the plot

If you follow the key agrotechnical norms when planting bushes and properly care for them, you can harvest a large harvest of berries.

Terms of landing operations

The best time to land is September. The margin of time before the arrival of severe cold weather should be 14-21 days. During this time, the plant will be able to take root. The ambient temperature during disembarkation should not be less than 6 degrees.

Seedling selection and preparation

Planting material must be purchased from reliable suppliers. Seedlings should have normally developed roots, strong and lignified branches. Cracks may be present on the bark. In some places, peeling of the bark may be observed, this is normal.

Preparing the site

When choosing a place to plant currants, remember the following:

• The site should be open, have access to the sun's rays and protection from the cold wind. The plant can be grown in partial shade, however Viksne will never grow in full shade. The best option is to plant near the hedge;
• the earth should be slightly moist. Do not plant currants in wetlands. Groundwater should not be located closer than 0.8 meters to the surface;
• Viksne is best planted in light, sandy or loamy soil;
• landing area should be free of bumps.

Fitting technology

Before you start rooting planting material, inspect it, trim parts that are dry or damaged.

The landing algorithm is as follows:

1. Digging trenches or pits with a depth and width of 400-450 millimeters. The distance between plants should be at least 150 centimeters. If you plant bushes closer together, their growth will slow down.
2. Fill 2/3 of the holes with the mixture. The mixture includes 1 part of humus, 2 parts of peat or compost, 0.25 kilograms of superphosphate, 60 grams of potassium supplements. You can add some wood ash.
3. Watering the recess with 5 liters of water.
4. Spreading the roots of planting material.
5. Lowering seedlings into recesses at an angle of 45 degrees.
6. Falling asleep bushes with soil. It is required to deepen the root collar by 60 millimeters.
7. Light compacting of the soil near the bushes, abundant watering with water that has settled.
8. Shortening shoots. On each of them, you need to leave a maximum of 4-5 buds (150-200 millimeters from the earth's surface).

The land near the plants needs to be mulched. This will keep the moisture from evaporating quickly.

Seasonal basics

Although Viksne is an unpretentious variety in care, it still needs to be looked after. It is required to follow the rules of irrigation, top dressing and the formation of shrubs.

Regular watering

Watering currants is required every 3-4 days. In particular, bushes need irrigation when they bear fruit and bloom. Water must be poured onto the trunk circle of bushes (2-3 buckets per 1 plant).

Fertilizer bushes

Viksne is fertilized 2 times. Before the fruits begin to ripen (in the spring season or early summer), they use top dressing with nitrogen (urea, ammonium nitrate). After flowering, the plants are fertilized with bird droppings, cow dung. In the autumn season, when the soil is dug up, fertilizing with potassium and phosphorus is used. Viksne is highly sensitive to chlorine elements, therefore it is better not to use fertilizers that contain chlorine.

Shaping cut

Mature shrubs do not require constant pruning. However, every spring it is necessary to get rid of branches that are damaged or withered.

Protection from winter cold

Despite the fact that this type of currant is considered winter-hardy, young shrubs must be covered for the winter. In addition, it is required to mulch with hay or straw.If precipitation is plentiful in the winter season, you need to pour snow into the recess near the trunk and compact it.

Reviews of gardeners about culture

Next, you can see what gardeners think about Viksna currant.

Tatiana, Moscow

“I have been growing Viksne for myself and for sale for a long time. I was attracted by the versatility and unpretentiousness of this type of currant. Fruits are big, strong, practically without seeds, have a trade dress. I grow bushes with cherry berries. Once a year, around the beginning of May, I spray the plants with a special aphid control.”

Victor, St. Petersburg

«2 years ago I purchased planting material for Viksne. I liked the color of the fruit and the excellent taste. Now I make simply delicious fruit drinks and juices every year. From each bush I collect about 6 kilograms of berries. Unfortunately, last year the shrubs began to bloom very early, which caused freezing.Not all of the brushes were tied, therefore I did not collect as many fruits as we would like.”

Currant Viksne contains a large amount of vitamin and other trace elements. If you correctly organize activities for fertilizing and caring for shrubs, it will be possible to regularly harvest a large crop.

Recommended