Blackcurrant for the Urals: the best varieties and characteristics, planting and care with photos
Despite the relatively young age - 500 years, the currant has long won a leading position in cultivation. In the conditions of the Ural temperature fluctuations, it can be quite problematic to achieve a high yield of a plant. Therefore, it is worth getting acquainted with the best varieties of blackcurrant, which are adapted to the temperature conditions of the Urals.
Features of the region
Ural is characterized by harsh climatic conditions. Average temperatures in winter can reach from -20 to -40 degrees Celsius. In summer, the air can warm up to +35 degrees.In addition, winter temperature drops are often accompanied by strong winds. Therefore, the choice of currant seedlings should be based on its frost resistance.
It is also important to select cultivated varieties with different flowering periods. Late spring and frequent frosts can damage the color and ovary of the currant, which, in turn, will affect the yield.
Blackcurrant varieties
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, a significant number of new blackcurrant varieties have been developed that are adapted to the climate of the Urals.
Rainbow
Maturation: mid-late. Features of the bush: tall, erect, compact. Fruits: large, black, with a slight sheen. Weight: up to 3 grams. Productivity: more than 3 kilograms. Susceptibility to damage: not susceptible to fungal infection.
The ripening of berries occurs simultaneously, they do not crumble even when overripe. Stores well and will withstand shipping.
Oriana
Aging: Early. Features of the bush: tall, with strong shoots. Fruits: large, have sweet and sour taste. Weight: 1.5-2.5 grams. Susceptibility to defeat: resistant to many diseases. The shoots remain upright even when loaded with crops.
Gross
Maturation: mid-late. Features of the bush: strongly branched, with thick convex leaves. Fruits: rich black color, with a slight sheen and delicate skin. Weight: up to 7 grams. Productivity: about 4 kilograms. Propensity to defeat: protected from infection.
Exotic
Aging: Early. Features of the bush: slow-growing. Fruits: similar to large cherries. Weight: 5-6 grams. Productivity: 3.5 kilograms. Susceptibility to damage: not able to resist fungus, resistant to bud mite.
Gulliver
Aging: Early. Features of the bush: vigorous, weakly branched, with strong shoots and dense foliage. Fruits: large, from 9 to 17 berries are formed on the brush, which have a slight sourness. Weight: up to 3 grams. Productivity: about 3 kilograms. Susceptibility to attack: resistant to powdery mildew, rust and bud mites.
Treasure
Aging: medium. Features of the bush: small size. Fruits: large. Weight: 5 grams. Susceptibility to damage: the variety is moderately susceptible to bud mites and powdery mildew. Under the load of fruits, the shoots bend to the very ground, so the bush needs support.
Strong
Aging: later. Features of the bush: branched, undersized.Fruits: plum-shaped, with a sour refreshing taste. Weight: 6-7 grams, diameter - about 3 centimeters. Productivity: up to 12 tons of fruits from 1 hectare of plantings. Susceptibility to damage: resistant to many types of diseases.
Lazy
Ripening: later, ripe berries appear in early August. Features of the bush: tall, branched, with thick leaves. Fruits: large, with a pronounced taste and aroma, black-brown in color. Weight: 2.5-3.1 grams. Productivity: about 4 kilograms. Susceptibility to defeat: unable to resist powdery mildew.
Sevchanka
Aging: Early. Features of the bush: medium-sized, compact. Fruits: large, with dense skin, do not crumble when overripe, well stored after harvest. Weight: 3 grams. Productivity: 3.5 kilograms.Susceptibility to attack: protected from rust, powdery mildew and pests.
Nara
Aging: Early. Features of the bush: weakly branched, tall, with slightly curved shoots. It has wrinkled convex leaves. Fruits: round, sweet and sour, with greenish flesh. Weight: 1.5 to 3.5 grams. Productivity: 10-14 kilograms. Tendency to defeat: has strong immunity. The variety withstands temperature changes up to 35 degrees.
Red currant for the Urals
Redcurrant varieties are also adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of the Urals and Siberia. Various species of this plant are cultivated in this territory, both of local origin and imported from other regions.
Ural pink
Aging: medium. Features of the shrub: tall, but compact.Fruits: large, have a pink color and have a delicate dessert taste and pronounced aroma. Weight: 1.1-1.2 grams. Productivity: 10 kilograms. Susceptibility to attack: resistant to fungal diseases, but susceptible to aphids.
Ural beauty
Aging: Early. Features of the bush: low, branched. Fruits: formed on long racemes, have a delicate sweetish taste. Weight: not less than 1.5 grams. Productivity: up to 15 kilograms. Propensity to diseases and pests: has strong immunity.
Ural gem
Aging: medium. Weight: 07-0.8 grams. Productivity: depends on weather conditions. Tendency to defeat: has strong immunity.
Beloved
Aging: medium. Features of the bush: small size, strong erect shoots. Fruits: have a sweet and sour pleasant taste. Weight: 0.6-0.8 grams. Productivity: 3-4 kilograms. Susceptibility to damage: prone to leaf spot.
Dawn
Aging: medium. Features of the bush: medium-sized, weakly branched. Fruits: round, red, covered with thin skin. Weight: 1 gram. Productivity: average. Tendency to defeat: has strong immunity.
Jonker van Tets
Aging: medium. Features of the bush: tall, with spreading branches. Fruits: have bright red color, sweetish taste. Weight: up to 0.7 grams. Productivity: up to 6 kilograms. Tendency to Defeat: Resistant to powdery mildew attacks.
Dutch Rose
Maturation: mid-late. Features of the bush: height about 1.5 meters, not branched. Fruits: rounded, have a pale pink color. Weight: 0.9 to 1.1 grams. Productivity: from 4.5 to 9 kilograms of berries. Yields largely depend on care and weather conditions.
During heat treatment, the berries lose their color, so it is better to use them fresh.
The best varieties of white currants
This type of currant is not inferior in usefulness to its black and red counterparts.
Versailles
Ageing: end of July. Features of the bush: branched, requires a garter. Fruits: sweet in taste. Weight: up to 0.8 grams. Productivity: up to 3 kilograms. Susceptibility to attack: genetic immunity to powdery mildew and bud mite.
White Fairy
Aging: Early. Features of the bush: medium size and compact. Fruits: without pronounced aroma, sweet and sour. Weight: 0.6-0.8 grams. Productivity: up to 6 kilograms. The variety is also called Diamond.
Dutch White
Aging: medium early. Fruits: creamy, slightly flattened and medium in size. Weight: about 0.7 grams. Productivity: up to 4 kilograms. Tendency to defeat: has strong immunity. Easily propagated by cuttings.
Ural White
Ripation: mid-summer. Features of the bush: low, dense, medium-branched. Fruits: diamond-transparent, sweet taste prevails. Weight: 0.5 to 1 gram. Productivity: 5-6 kilograms. Tendency to defeat: strong immunity to diseases.
Specificity of planting currants in the Urals
Proper planting of seedlings guarantees 50% success in growing currants and getting a good harvest. When planting a plant, important rules should be considered and observed:
- Landing in the ground is best done in the spring. So the currant will have time to get stronger and prepare for the winter. Spring planting in the Urals is most often carried out in May, when the soil warms up to 20 centimeters deep.
- The soil must be prepared 20 days before planting. It is necessary to clear the ground of foliage and grass, as well as fertilize. To fertilize the soil, you will need to add superphosphate to rock s alt and lime (1: 1). Its amount should be no more than ½ of the amount of s alt. 1 bucket of this composition is enough to fertilize 1 square meter of soil.
- Before planting, the roots of the seedling must be soaked in water. The day before transferring the plant to the ground, the seedlings must be placed in warm water.
- While planting, water the plant only with warm water.
- When planting, take into account the location and proximity of other plants. Best of all, currants will feel near the fence or in the shade of a tree. When choosing neighbors for a shrub, preference should be given to perennial flowers, carrots, potatoes or greens. Features of care for these cultures are identical. But the neighborhood with cabbage should be excluded, since it is moisture-loving. Excess moisture can lead to rotting of the root system and the death of currants.
It should also be taken into account that it is impossible to plant different varieties of currants side by side. When pollinated, they may lose their original qualities, which will lead to a decrease in yield.
Further care for the Ural currant
Caring for a young currant bush involves watering, loosening and mulching. In the Urals, these procedures have their own characteristics:
- watering is carried out once a week, the root system must receive at least 3 liters of warm settled water;
- from the first warm days, mulch is laid out around the bush - hay, manure or compost, which helps to retain moisture in the soil;
- loosening is carried out the next day after watering, its depth should be 15-20 centimeters.
You should not neglect loosening, as light soil provides the necessary amount of oxygen to the root system.
In caring for currants in the Urals, it is important to take into account the climatic features of this region. Since spring comes late here, it is better to transfer plants to autumn time. The list of spring things should include spraying the plant to prevent infection, and pruning remains mandatory.
From the second year after planting, fertilizing the plant should also be included in the spring work. After wintering, the currant bush becomes weakened, and fertilization helps to restore strength and increase productivity.
The productivity of currants depends on the right variety, compliance with planting rules and systematic care. In the harsh climate of the Urals, the choice of varieties should be approached with special attention. Specially grown for this region, plants delight with high yields and resistance to temperature changes.
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