Red currant Natalie: variety description and characteristics, planting and care with photo

The garden in the country has always been considered the pride of the owner. There are plants that not only bring a good harvest, but also decorate the land. The popular red currant variety in the Russian Federation - Natalie - is just that. At the end of ripening, red fruits hang on currant bushes, delight the owner, delight guests, neighbors.

Description and characteristics of currant Natalie

The bushes are slightly sprawling, have an average height. Shoots that are not woody stand out in medium thickness, green in color, with a slight red tint in the upper part. Shoot growth is direct. The shoots, which are lignified, have a gray-brown color. No pubescence.

Resistant to diseases and pests

The Natalie red currant variety is very disease resistant. The most common pests for this variety are the gooseberry sawfly and leaf aphids. In July-August, the plant may be affected by powdery mildew.

Drought resistance and frost resistance

Currant tolerates cold well, but drought and excess moisture can harm it. It is recommended to plant it in loamy soil. From fertilizers, it is worth using organic matter, for example, humus additives. It is better not to plant currants in acidic soils.

Ripening period and yield

The variety, according to its scientific description, is considered mid-season. From one bush it is possible to collect about 3.5 kilograms of fruit. Usually ripening is completed in the middle of summer.

Transportability

Natalie is considered a transportable variety. However, the transportation of fruits must be carried out by packaging the berries in small containers.

Suitable region and climate

18 years ago Natalie was included in the state register of breeding achievements. Currants can be grown in any regions of the Russian Federation, except for the Northern, Lower Volga regions, and the Far East. The variety is classified as a temperate crop.

History of selection

The variety was bred to VSTIS by crossing varieties of red currant. The variety was created by V.M. Litvinova and N.K. Smolyaninov.

Main pros and cons

Pros of Natalie's redcurrant:

• frost-resistant (tolerates frosts down to minus thirty degrees);
• fruits for a long time (from a bush you can pick berries up to 10 years);
• fruits that are ripe are not subject to shedding;
• fruits have good taste;
• transportable;
• can be stored for a long time;
• resistant to diseases, pests.

The main disadvantage of the variety is that after the fifth or sixth year of life, the bush may become too sprawling. Under the weight of the fruit, the shoots bend strongly, which is why it is necessary to install props.

Growing Rules

Currants can be grown in almost any soil that is enriched with useful additives. It is not recommended to plant seedlings in acidic, alkaline, too dry soils.

Select site

It is recommended to land on flat areas. In addition, currants can be planted in the upper/middle parts of the hills. The site must have good lighting. The best place is a path along the fence, which will protect the seedlings from wind gusts.

Choosing he althy planting material

You need to choose seedlings that meet the following criteria:

• there are several well-developed shoots from 30 centimeters long;
• has at least 2 kidneys;
• rhizomes yellow, with hairs, keratinized;
• many lateral roots.

Soil preparation

You need to dig a trench or separate recesses (the distance between the pits is from one to one and a half meters). The depth of the pits should be from 10 to 20 centimeters. The excavated earth must be mixed with the following additives (the number of additives per square is indicated):

• organics (wood ash) - from 3 to 4 kilograms;
• granulated superphosphate - from 100 to 150 grams;
• potassium sulfate - from 20 to 30 grams.

You need to thoroughly mix the additives into the soil. If the rhizomes come into contact with fertilizers, they can get burned, which is why the seedling will not take root well.

Boarding process

The landing algorithm is as follows:

1. Immersion of planting material in the hole, careful spreading of the roots.
2. Location of planting material at an angle. This will ensure the formation of additional rhizomes and allow the development of buds that are at the level of the root neck.
3. Lightly tamp the soil as the soil is backfilled.
4. Backfilling of planting material up to half.
5. Water the seedling (half a bucket of water for 1 bush).
6. Full filling of planting material.
7. Water the seedling (from 10 to 15 liters of water per bush).
8. Mulching the soil near the planting material. This will prevent the soil from drying out and forming a crust. Mulching can be done with organic matter - silt, manure, sawdust.

Features of variety care

According to gardeners, redcurrant bushes bring a big harvest if they are properly looked after. The plant needs regular watering and feeding. Bushes are pruned for the winter (for their proper formation).

Irrigation

To activate the growth of currant shoots after the winter season, before the buds have blossomed, the plant is irrigated with water at a temperature of eighty degrees. Redcurrant, like blackcurrant, is highly sensitive to lack of moisture, especially in March. If you do not irrigate the plants in a dry spring, the ovaries can crumble, and the fruits that remain can be crushed.

One square needs 25 liters of water. Water is poured into furrows, which are made along a circle with a diameter of 60 centimeters (the center of the circle is a bush).

Feeding

In the middle of spring, 10 grams of urea is added to the soil, to a depth of 30 centimeters. It provides saturation of the bushes with nitrogen elements that stimulate growth. At the beginning of summer, the land needs to be fertilized with organic additives. For 5 liters of water, add 0.3 liters of litter or cow dung. The solution is poured under the root of the plants.

In the middle of summer, plants are processed leaf by leaf. It is necessary to use a complex additive (5 liters of water is mixed with 2 grams of boric acid and 5 grams of manganese sulfate).

Cutting

Pruning of bushes is carried out in the spring and autumn seasons. Pruning helps rejuvenate plants and improve yields. Once every 5 years, extra branches are pruned, which thicken the bush. About 17 shoots remain. All dry and frozen branches need to be pruned, this will allow new branches to grow.

Reproduction

Seedlings can be obtained independently. In the spring season, strong shoots are selected and added dropwise, leaving the upper part outside. In the autumn season, when the rooting of the cuttings occurs, they are separated from the "native" bush and planted in another place.

Protection from winter cold

The variety is not afraid of the cold, however, when it comes to growing Natalie's currant in the Far East, it is necessary to build a shelter. The best option is mulch. The land on which the currant grows is covered with a manure-silt layer (manure and silt are mixed in equal proportions, the mixture should resemble fatty sour cream in consistency).

The height of the layer should be 4 centimeters, the coverage radius should be approximately 0.7 meters. During the winter cold, the soil covered with mulch will not let heat through, saturating the earth with useful elements and protecting the bush from pests.

Possible diseases and pests, control and prevention

Natalie's redcurrant is susceptible to these pests and diseases:

1. Powdery mildew. Topaz remedy is used after the flowering of the bush and fourteen days before harvest.
2. Gall aphid. The problem is solved using a solution of Karbofos.
3. Gooseberry sawfly. Spark is used. It is mixed with water in a ratio of one to ten. One and a half liters of solution are poured under the bush.

Harvesting and storage of crops

In July, the currant begins to actively bear fruit. Berries that are harvested are very resistant to transportation. They can be stored in the refrigerator or cellar for about 30 days. Fruits can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months. For transportation, use small plastic containers.

Natalie is classified as a table variety. During processing, the berries do not lose their properties. They can be used to make drinks, dressings, add to pastries.

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