Currant Gulliver: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and care with a photo

One of the most unpretentious fruit bushes to care for is the blackcurrant of the Gulliver variety. Its too high, which is unusual for currants, the bushes are able to grow over vast areas. In addition to the gigantic size of the bush, the currant has giant berries, for which it got its name - Gulliver.

Description and characteristics of currant Gulliver

Blackcurrant Gulliver has the following characteristics that contribute to the best agricultural practices of the crop.

Suitable climate

Taking into account the fact that the currant requires shelter for the winter at -28 degrees and below, it means that it is demanding for warm winters or a large thickness of snow, which must be taken into account when choosing a landing site. The spring cold is well tolerated by the variety, without loss of the future crop.

In the summer, currants tolerate heat well, while it is necessary to ensure timely and regular watering, as the earthen clod dries around the bush.

Resistant to diseases and pests

Gulliver is a blackcurrant variety that is considered moderately resistant to pests and diseases. Diseases and insects characteristic of currants may appear on the bushes from time to time.

Origin story

For the first time, the variety was bred in the Bryansk Research Institute by breeders Zueva and Astakhov, and registered in the register of fruit and berry crops in 2000. Most in demand in the Volga region and in the North-West region.

Reproduction

The variety propagates, like other types of blackcurrant, by lateral offspring from the root system, but it is better to buy a ready-made seedling in a nursery or from trusted amateur gardeners. This technique will help preserve varietal characteristics.

Pros and cons of the variety

Each variety has its advantages and disadvantages. The benefits are:

1. Currant variety Gulliver is very productive. From one bush, fertility is achieved up to 6 kg. But this is not the limit, with the right agricultural technology, this figure can be increased.
2. The berries are very large and tasty, with some sourness. Great for home canning. Sizes reach a five-ruble coin. One berry weighs about 4 grams on average.
3. You can start collecting in July. The fruits ripen together and do not crumble if the bush grows in the shade or in bright light.
4. Does not require cross-pollination, but if it is provided, the yield will increase significantly.
5. Fecundity has not declined for several years.
6. Deemed to be resistant to low winter temperatures and high summer temperatures.
7. Resistant to powdery mildew, rust and bud mites.

Among the shortcomings is strong growth, which is why the bushes need a lot of space.

The nuances of planting currants

First, it is worth considering every step of planting blackcurrant Gulliver.

Date of planting

Currant seedlings with open roots are planted both in spring and autumn. The choice depends on the capabilities of the gardener. In the spring - this is April, May, if the earth has already thawed and managed to warm up. In autumn - in September or October. In this case, the young seedling has time to take root, its roots grow and adapt to winter frosts. If winters are assumed to be warm and late, then the dates are shifted by about a month. Consider regional climate.

If the seedling is pre-grown in a container, its roots have already adapted to the soil, you can plant it at any time, but before the first frost.

Choosing a seat

Currant loves good light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, this nuance should be taken into account when choosing a site. Also, there should be no strong winds and nearby groundwater, swampy places.

Grows very well on slopes, where snow can linger in winter, which will protect it from low temperatures.

It is necessary to plant bushes at intervals of 1.5-2 meters. If the plants are planted very close, then fruiting will begin much faster, but the yields will be poor, the size of the berries will be small.

Site preparation

This is one of the main stages in the cultivation of currants. Future productivity depends on its correctness. Clearing the land of perennial weeds that will not oppress the plant, and fertilizing quite effectively affect the life of currants in the future:

1. At the selected site, they dig up the soil, as usual, by the size of a bayonet shovel. They sort out the earth from weeds and their roots.
2. Mark the location of the bushes, taking into account the possibilities of the plant and the garden plot.
3. Dig a planting hole 30-40 cm deep and 50-60 cm in different directions.
4. Fertilizers are poured at the bottom of the hole so that they cover ¾ of the hole, mix them with a small amount of earth. As fertilizer, you need to take 10 liters of compost, 200 g of superphosphate, 60 g of potash compounds or wood ash.

The wells can be prepared in advance, or just before planting.

Selecting planting material

It is important to remember that the selected seedling must bring a large harvest, which means it must meet the following requirements:

1. Must be one or two years old. Old bushes, even if they are small, may not take root or will be very sick.
2. Roots should not be dry at the time of purchase and after delivery home. To do this, they are wrapped in a wet rag.
3. Choose the he althiest shoot that will grow quickly.
4. If the bush is in a container, look around it externally. It should have swollen buds or blossoming leaves of a bright green color.

If the seedling is faded and not credible, it should be discarded and another one chosen.

Planting instructions

On examination, the roots should be sufficiently formed, if there are dried ones, then they are cut off. The seedling must have at least four roots up to 20 cm long. The number of branches is up to three pieces on one young sprout.

The seedling is deepened into the ground to the length of the root system, while leaving the root neck above the surface.

Before you place the currant in the hole, pour ½ bucket of water into it.The plant is added dropwise with the remaining soil, compacted and watered abundantly. After planting, the surface of the soil is mulched with peat so that the moisture does not evaporate too quickly and the earth does not crack from the sun. Mulch can be loosened along with the ground, with care near the bush.

Rules for plant care

All the rules for caring for blackcurrants are similar. Basically there are no differences. What is included in these rules.

Water and fertilize

Currant Gulliver is a moisture-loving variety, especially if the weather is windy and dry. Water in the evening so that the bush is saturated with water until it dries. Two 10-liter buckets of water are enough for one medium-sized bush.

Important! Make sure that moisture does not fall on the plant at the time of flowering and fruiting. This will reduce product quality.

Regular feeding, like nothing else, increases productivity.In the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, in the fall - phosphorus and potassium. During active growth, organic matter is added. The application area should be wider than the crown of the shrub. In the year of planting, a one-time addition of a complex of fertilizers to the hole is enough.

Cutting

Pruning is an important agricultural technique for currants. Spend it in spring or autumn. Cut out shoots that are five years old or more. They also remove dry, broken from snow and winds, diseased branches.

Important! The purpose of pruning is to sanitaryly clean the bush, and also so that the crown does not thicken and the berries do not shrink.

Shelter for the winter

Another important procedure for the preservation of the Gulliver variety in your area. Although the currant endures frosts down to -30 degrees, it is better to protect it from freezing in advance:

1. Install items for snow retention.
2. Wrap branches and trunks with any rags.
3. Cover with a blanket, spruce branches, old boxes, wooden crates.

This is possible when the size of the currant is not large. When the plant is very large, only snow will save it.

Protection from diseases and pests

Fortunately, the Gulliver currant is resistant to the bud mite, the most dangerous enemy of the entire berry plant. But it can be attacked by other diseases and pests:

• aphid;
• fire fires;
• gallits;
• glass case.

To protect your plantings, it is necessary to take preventive measures: in the fall, remove fallen leaves and dig up the soil. The leaves are burned to kill insect larvae, which overwinter well and begin development in the spring.In spring, currant bushes are treated with solutions of insecticides and fungicides.

Harvesting and storage of crops

Berries are picked in the morning and evening, such fruits will be stored longer. From the sun they become lethargic. Harvesting begins as the skin of the currant turns black. If it rained, then you should wait until the fruits dry. Moisture is unfavorable for further preservation.

Long-term storage of fresh berries is impossible, but in the freezer they can lie up to a year. In addition, excellent compotes, preserves, jams and other preparations are prepared from currants, which are very tasty and he althy.

Gulliver currant is loved by gardeners for its gigantic size, low shedding from the bush, friendly ripening and high yield. But if the rules of care are not taken seriously, then this will not work.

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