Why currants do not bear fruit: what are the reasons and what to do about it

Currant is an unpretentious crop, loved by many for its pleasant taste and aroma. It is easy to grow even for beginner gardeners. The only negative, sometimes manifested when breeding currants, is a decline in fruiting or its complete cessation. Let's see why black, red or white currants do not bear fruit, and what solutions to this problem exist.

Table of yield norms by variety and bush age

If you have recently started growing currants in your area, and you cannot determine by eye whether the crop is good or not, the yield table below will come to your aid.

2 to 12Early5.5 Lazy (Black)2 to 12Late2.5 Exotic (black) Natalie (red) Mid-ripening3.5Red Lake (red) From 3 to 13Mid-ripening4Bayana (white ) 2 to 12Late3.5Smolyaninovskaya (white) From 3 to 14Mid-ripening4

Variety name	Age (years)	Ripening terms	Yield kg/bush
Little Prince (black)
3 to 12	Early	4,5
2 to 14

Pay attention! The yield of currants grown in greenhouse conditions, with proper care, differs from the yield of ground currants by 0.5-2.5 kilograms from the average.

How to understand that there is a poor harvest on currants

It is possible to determine the quality of a crop harvested from one bush by eye and by weight. The first method is available only to experienced summer residents who have been growing this crop for more than a year. The second one can be used by anyone. For this you need:

• pick berries from one bush;
• weigh them;
• compare the result with the average for representatives of this variety.

Usually, the result of 1-1.5 kilograms of berries collected from one bush is considered bad. If your figures are close to this, then you are not taking good care of the plant.

What causes the lack of fruit

There are many reasons why crop yields drop sharply or disappear altogether. Here is a list of the main ones:

• climatic conditions are not suitable for this variety;
• bushes planted in the wrong place;
• landings are in the shade;
• wrong soil composition;
• increased soil acidity;
• lack of water;
• Fertilizer dose calculated incorrectly;
• no natural pollinators in the area;
• the bush is too old to bear fruit.

Each of these reasons can significantly reduce the quality of the crop, and needs to be considered separately.

Unsuitable climatic conditions

The first factor influencing the formation and growth of berries is the right climate. The fact is that different varieties of currants have different preferences for climatic zones. Some do well in warm regions, others like cooler regions.

When buying currants for breeding, pay attention to this factor, otherwise, instead of juicy, tasty berries, you will get ordinary barren flowers. Such a waste of money and time will not be to the taste of any summer resident.

Wrong place to grow shrubs

The landing site plays a huge role in the development and formation of this culture. The optimal ratio of light and shade, humidity, soil quality - from all these indicators, in the aggregate, the future harvest is formed. Many of the novice gardeners mistakenly assume that since the currant is an unpretentious plant, it is not required to take care of it, and you can plant it at random. The retribution for such thoughts comes in the form of bare branches, instead of copious amounts of berries on them.

Too shady area

Currant prefers a balance between sunlight and shade. An excess of one or another factor, first of all, affects their size and taste.Bushes growing on the sunny side form sweet but small berries. Berries grown in shaded areas are larger, but when eaten, a bright sour note is felt. Excessive solar activity or a thick shadow at the landing site negatively affects the development of the bush itself.

Unsuitable ground condition

Properly selected soil composition at the planting site is the key to the successful development of any horticultural crop. Currant is no exception, and each of its varieties is demanding on the soil. Dense soil that is not irrigated properly will cause the absence of ovaries, the appearance of which directly affects the volume of berries harvested at the end of the season.

In order not to face such a problem, the ground around the bush is periodically loosened and irrigated abundantly, preventing drying out.

Soil acidity

Before planting currant seedlings, soil with high acidity is treated with lime.This must be done at least 1 year before planting. If everything is done correctly, then the acidity of the soil for the year will come to the optimal indicator. Do not neglect this factor, because in the future, because of it, all the work may go down the drain.

Moisture deficiency

Irrigation is equally detrimental to all crops. If currant plantings are deficient in moisture, this will be expressed in:

• slowing growth;
• lack of ovaries on the branches;
• dying off of green mass;
• reducing the number of fruits.

Don't be lazy to water the ground around the bush if you haven't done it for a long time. However, you should not give a lot of moisture either. Due to excessive water, the roots will begin to rot, which will lead to the death of the seedlings. Keep a balance.

Lack or excess of fertilizers

For some gardeners, the shocking news is that too much fertilizer is not good for the crop. Currant belongs to those species that prefer rare, but diverse top dressing. The reason that the currant has completely ceased to bear fruit may be:

• using the same type of fertilizer for an extended period of time;
• excessive amount of mineral fertilizers in the soil;
• poor soil composition due to lack of top dressing.

Lack of pollination and pollinators

Most varieties are self-pollinating crops that do not depend on external factors. However, there are some bushes that cannot pollinate on their own. If the currant does not bloom, honey flowers are planted on the site. They serve as natural mediators in this process, helping in the pollination process.

Pay attention! Experienced gardeners recommend planting currant bushes of the same species in one area, which begin to bloom at different times. This will increase the fruiting period and yield.

Old age bush

The life cycle of a crop has its limitations, and the older the bush, the fewer berries it brings, since berries are not tied on old branches. Scientists have deduced the following dependence of the number of berries on the age of the bush:

• the first berries begin to form on bushes aged 2 to 4 years;
• further, within 4 years, the blackcurrant has a peak yield. For white and red varieties, the peak age is 5-6 years;
• the next 5-6 years there is a decline.

Maximum fruiting age for blackcurrant is 12 years, other varieties - 15 years. After this period, the old seedlings are removed and a new plantation is laid.

Diseases and pests of currants that impair fruiting

Negative dynamics during harvesting can be observed due to the disease of the bush or pests parasitizing on it. These include:

• bud mite;
• butterfly glass case;
• forest ants;
• terry or reverse;
• common ant invasion.

At the first sign of their appearance, urgent measures must be taken, otherwise the bush will not produce a crop or die altogether.

Bud mites

A parasite whose favorite delicacy is currant buds. The main sign of its appearance is the unnatural size of the kidneys. Such specimens should be plucked from the branch and burned. The neglected bushes cannot be cured and, in order to avoid the spread of the parasite, they are dug up, after which they are destroyed in the fire. Garlic planted next to a plantation can provide protection against a tick.

Glass Butterfly

A dangerous parasite that is hard to spot visually. The first signs of its appearance include:

• death of ovaries;
• leaves begin to fall from branches.

A butterfly lives inside shoots, making artificial tunnels there. The juice circulating inside the shoots serves as food for the glass case. Affected parts must be cut off and destroyed as soon as possible. If it was not possible to identify problems in time, the bush is cut to the very root.

Forest Ants

The wood ants eat the flowers of the plant, causing it to stop bearing fruit. Damaged flowers are discarded and do not participate in the pollination process. One colony is capable of destroying several bushes, therefore, when it is found, the anthill is destroyed. For this, proven folk remedies or special preparations sold in stores are used.

Reversion or Terry

Viral disease, the carrier of which is considered to be a kidney tick. Signs of disease:

• leaves become lethargic and thin;
• changing the color of the leaves from green to dark green or purple. The surface of the sheet is coated;
• he althy leaves emit a pleasant aroma that is absent from affected counterparts.

The disease spreads quickly, and to eliminate it, the entire bush is burned at once.

Invasion of ants

Ordinary ants, like their forest counterparts, pose a great threat to the plantation. When an anthill appears in the immediate vicinity of the landing zone, it should be destroyed. Otherwise, the flowers will be eaten and the berries will not be able to form.

How to restore fruiting

Restore fruiting in the following ways:

• ensure timely watering;
• remove damaged parts;
• plant other varieties nearby;
• properly fertilize the soil and form a bush.

Effective ways to increase yields

To increase the number of berries that form on branches, it is recommended:

• mulch the soil around the bushes, especially in autumn;
• the soil is periodically loosened, breaking up large clods of earth;
• water the plantation as the soil dries. Watering is especially important 2-3 weeks before and after picking berries;
• remove old, dry branches that stop growing;
• cross different varieties of currants, getting more stable combinations.

How to protect currant bushes from not yielding

To protect currants from non-yielding, you must follow the recommendations above. With proper and timely care, the currant will thank the owner with a large harvest. And remember the main rule - currant loves moderation in everything.

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