Currant Vologda: variety description and characteristics, cultivation and care with photo

Blackcurrant variety Vologda is another of the most undemanding, as well as large-fruited varieties of Russian selection. The history of this instance goes back to the 90s. Then the variety got into the State Register. Vologda belongs to frost-resistant species with a late ripening period. Thanks to these features, he became popular. The variety is widely distributed on the territory of the middle Volga, the Far East and the North-West of Russia.

Characteristics and description of currant Vologda

The height of the bush reaches up to 1.5 meters.These are not too large indicators, but the plant is very spreading to the sides, which means that currant plantings do not like tightness and require a lot of free space. The foliage on the shoots is dark green in color, in autumn it becomes red-brown, and the shoots are bent, arching. Currant blooms in May, the flowers are small, yellow-green, collected in racemose inflorescences.

The first harvest can be taken at the end of July. Clusters of the Vologda currant are quite long, from 8 to 10 cm, on which there are up to 14 large berries. The skin on the berries is very dense, the mass reaches up to 2 grams, at the top of the brush there are specimens weighing up to 3 grams. The taste of the fruit is more sour than sweet. This fact is due to the presence of a small amount of sugars and an abundance of ascorbic acid. Currants do not ripen together. The ripening period continues until the end of August.

Vologda is notable for weak fruit shedding, but in the sun the berries can burst and become soft.

The variety is self-pollinating, but if you plant several currant bushes on the site, the yield will be much higher. The crop can be harvested in the second year of life.

Advantages and disadvantages of Vologda

The description of Vologda blackcurrant indicates its merits, such as:

1. Good survival rate when planted in autumn.
2. Fruiting begins in the second year.
3. Resistant to low winter temperatures.
4. The berries are large and do not crumble.
5. Resistant to powdery mildew, bud mites and other specific diseases.
6. Rich in ascorbic acid in fruits.
7. Easily tolerates any weather and climatic conditions of growth.

The disadvantages of currants are an extended period, as well as untimely ripening of berries on the brush. In addition, when overripe, the berries burst and acquire a sour taste, begin to ferment and become moldy. Shrubs require a lot of space to grow.

Features of cultivation

Like other varieties, Vologda currant has certain planting rules.

Date of planting

Planting culture should start from the end of September to the end of October. These are the optimal terms, at this time the mother bush is already shedding foliage, accumulating nutrients for wintering. The same thing happens in lateral offspring. If such seedlings are transplanted, they will quickly adapt to the onset of the first cold weather.

An interesting fact is that the root system of the blackcurrant of the Vologda variety does not enter a dormant state, which means that it develops in winter. Therefore, new plantings quickly take root and can give the first results next year.

Vologda can also be planted in spring, but they do it in April, after the snow has melted and the upper layers of the soil have thawed. This planting time option may not be suitable for many growing regions as the weather is still unstable in April and there is still a threat of frost.

Preparing the beds

The bed is placed on a site with good lighting, protected from through winds and the scorching sun. Usually, currant plantations can be observed along high fences in a summer cottage.

To prepare the soil for planting currants, it is important to do the following:

1. Carefully dig up the earth on the site, pluck from the roots of weeds, level it.
2. With increased acidity of the soil, lime is applied at the rate of ½ kg per 1 m2^2.
3. Lime is mixed with soil with a rake.
4. Make holes. The dimensions of the hole should be: up to 40 cm deep, up to 50 cm wide.

Important! The site should be located away from the close occurrence of groundwater.

Seedling selection

It is better to plant two-year-old seedlings. They must be strong with a well-developed root system. Shoots rooted in separate glasses are perfect. They will more easily endure stress during transplantation, and they will also quickly be accepted and will not get sick.

A purchased seedling should have two or more main lignified roots and smaller lateral ones. Single shoot seedlings are also not suitable for fruitful planting and future plant growth.

Advice! The roots should be yellow, if the color is dark, then the seedling was not stored correctly, was subjected to freezing or decay. If the seedling has blossomed, then the leaves should be bright green, without visible damage, and the height of the shoots should be at least 35 cm.

Distance between bushes

For one adult blackcurrant bush, a distance of 1.5 meters from the neighboring bush is required. If it is decided to place the currant along the fence, then 1.5 meters should also be retreated from it.

When the bushes are arranged in rows in the garden, about 2.5 meters are left between the rows so that it is easy to move along the strip, for example, with a wheelbarrow during garbage collection or with a watering can.

Process Technology

Pour half a bucket of compost and rotted humus into a prepared hole. Organics can be replaced with mineral fertilizers: up to 200 g of superphosphate, up to 50 g of potassium sulfate or phosphorus and about 20 g of potassium. A bucket of water is poured into the hole, allowed to soak a little. A young seedling is lowered into the hole.

Important! Set the seedling at an angle of 45 degrees so that the bush gains strength faster. In this position, additional buds will form faster on the basal neck.

The roots are well straightened and sprinkled with soil, then trample the soil around the bush. It is necessary to tamp very well, so that later the earth does not crack, and emptiness does not appear in the roots. A small trench is made around the seedling, into which mulch is poured to keep moisture in the ground and prevent its evaporation.

Nuances of variety care

Timely implementation of agricultural techniques, as well as their correctness, allow the blackcurrant of the Vologda variety to start growing faster, gain strength and give an excellent harvest.

Feeding

This is the main technique for growing any fruit and berry crop. Future productivity indicators directly depend on it. What fertilizers are needed for currants and when they are applied, you should know in advance.

Fertilizers applied during the planting process are enough for two years of active seedling growth. Starting from the third year, currants begin to be fed:

1. In the fall, when the currant sheds its foliage, organic matter is introduced. The area under the bush is covered with humus, and then dug up together with the top layer of soil.
2. In addition to organic matter, mineral fertilizers are also applied in autumn: potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen in the amounts indicated in the instructions specifically for currants. Dig along with organics.
3. During the formation of the ovary, potassium-phosphorus is added, this is superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
4. Nitrogen top dressing is carried out three times a year: during the first sap flow, during flowering and after picking berries.

Proper application of organic and mineral fertilizers contributes to the good development of the bush in the spring, the nutrition of the root system, the laying of new buds in the fall.

Irrigation

Water is an important procedure for currant bushes:

1. The first irrigation is carried out after the awakening of the plant, but before the appearance of the kidneys. Pour hot water (70 degrees) with baking soda dissolved in it. This will destroy viruses, eggs and larvae of harmful insects.
2. Further moistening is carried out as the earth dries. Here you need to take into account the weather conditions. Each bush requires up to 60 liters of water.
3. Water currants during flowering, during drought, after dropping leaves.
4. During fruit ripening, irrigation is reduced.

Important! You can’t water Vologda currants from a hose with a direct stream under a bush, this erodes the root system.

Tillage

This includes timely weed removal, loosening and mulching. Weeds can be weeded by hand or with a small, shallow hoe so as not to damage the upper part of the roots. In addition to eliminating weeds, the top layer of the earth becomes loose.

Loosening is also carried out after watering, after fertilization and after mulching. For mulch, you can take straw, fresh sawdust, chopped grass, peat, pine needles.

Shelter for the winter

Currant Vologda does not require special shelter, as it is a winter-hardy variety. But if the winter is not snowy, protection should be installed on the territory of the berry plant to collect snow. High snow cover will perfectly cover the plant from icy winds.

Cutting

This procedure is carried out annually. Pruning is needed for the growth of new fruit shoots, as well as for branching the bush. Currants are cut several times during the season:

1. During the planting of young currants. Existing shoots are shortened by almost half, which makes it possible to develop additional strong branches.
2. Berries appear on branches at the age of 1 year. At the same time, many new shoots appear on the bush every year. Therefore, branches that had fruits last year are subject to pruning.
3. In the spring, dried branches broken from snow, damaged by rodents and diseases, are removed on currants.

During pruning, pay attention to the condition of the shoots. If the buds on the shoot are swollen, then, most likely, a tick is operating, such shoots must be removed and burned. If the old branches are he althy, and flower buds are laid on them and there are a lot of them, then it is better to leave this shoot.Young growth is often very fragile and underdeveloped, it is also cut out so that it does not pull on nutrients.

Diseases and pests

Currant Vologda is a disease-resistant plant. But no one canceled preventive measures. Currants are attacked by the following diseases and pests:

Treatment timeControl measuresPreventionAnthracnoseBrown spots on foliageBefore bud break100 g of Bordeaux liquid per 10 l of water Treat the soil under currants with a solution of copper sulfateGlass rustAppearance yellow thickenings on foliage, flowers and berries Treatment with fungicidesCurrant terrynessThe currant loses its specific smell, the leaves and flowers become smallerIn the spring before the buds appear The affected areas of the bush are cut or uprooted by the entire bushTimely weeding and pruning Sprayed with Karbofos solution Sprinkled with infusion of onion peel, garlic and pine needles Mugwort and pine needles are laid out on the soil under the bush

Pest/disease	Signs of defeat
		Wildfire	Berries covered with I cobweb	Before and after flowering
Autumn insecticide treatment and digging the soil under the currant		Glass case	Leaves eaten	After the buds open

Collection and storage

Currants are harvested as they ripen, the collection ends at the end of August. Berries should be picked in the morning hours, when the sun has not come into force. Such a crop will feel better and endure any movement over long distances.

There are a lot of ways to store Vologda currants: frozen, canned (compotes, preserves, jams). In any form, currants are suitable for culinary purposes.

Smorodina Vologda has existed in Russia since 1995. Over a fairly long period of time, she was able to become the favorite of many gardeners. When growing this variety, you don’t have to pay attention to shortcomings, since large-fruitedness and abundance of the crop are above all.

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