Currant shrub: description
Black currant (Ribes nigrum) is one of the most common types of shrubs of the Currant genus, belonging to the Gooseberry family. In their natural habitat, such shrubs live in Eurasia and the North American continent. The culture is found almost everywhere, grown both by ordinary gardeners and for the needs of industry.
Due to the taste and beneficial properties of berries, blackcurrant is considered one of the most common berry crops in temperate climates. Size, taste, ripening time and yield depend mainly on the variety chosen.
What does blackcurrant look like? Blackcurrant bushes grow to a height of 1-1.5 m, form fibrous roots, located at a depth of about 25 cm. The leaves are lobed, rather hard, cut, with clearly visible veins exude a characteristic pleasant aroma.
During the flowering period (at the end of spring), drooping inflorescences from 5 to 10 pink bells are formed on the bushes. After flowering, shiny dark blue, almost black fruits with a pleasant smell and taste are tied on the branches. The size of the berry can reach 1 cm.
Other varieties of this plant do not have a similar smell. Blackcurrant berries contain 4 times more vitamin C.
Note! The fruiting period of blackcurrant bushes lasts 12-15 years, but the maximum number of berries is removed from them for about 5-7 years of cultivation. They do not need pollinators to form ovaries. However, the largest and most delicious berries are obtained by planting several varieties of currants at once.
Blackcurrant is not friendly with mixed crops, so it should be planted with other varieties of currants, including white and red.
How to care for blackcurrant?
Growing blackcurrants is not too difficult, but only proper care of the plants can guarantee their health and a regular, abundant fruit harvest.
Blackcurrant can be grown in almost any garden. However, it is important to pay attention to its correct location. Like the red and white, it needs a partially shaded spot, but most varieties tolerate direct sunlight well. Since flowers are sensitive to cold, drafts should be avoided.
The soil. Currant does not have too high requirements for the soil, it grows best on slightly acidic or neutral. It can be grown in any soil, but in the case of less fertile soils, it is worth feeding with organic fertilizers, such as compost or manure. Due to poor drainage, cultivation on clayey, heavy soil is only possible with improved soil.
Currants are planted in spring (March/April) or autumn (October/November). A bush planted in September or in the first half of October will have time to take root before the onset of frost, and in the spring it will begin to develop with renewed vigor. They try to carry out spring planting early, before the buds swell on the bushes. Bushes from pots can be planted in the summer.
When planting black currants, a distance between bushes of 1 to 1.5 meters should be observed, as individual plants can become very sprawling.
In a large hole, which should be at least 1.5 times the size of the root ball, pour water and plant a bush, placing it at a slight angle. The roots of the seedling are straightened, and covered with earth, gradually compacting. At the same time, the root neck is deepened by about 4-5 cm. Such a planting will contribute to a more active formation of roots and young branches. Water again after planting.
Spring planting is carried out early, but for this the earth must warm up to at least 8-9 degrees. Since autumn, a place has been prepared for spring planting. The selected place is dug up, embedding humus in the soil.
Autumn planting. A place for landing is prepared in 2-3 weeks. Planting holes are 2/3 filled with a mixture of soil with rotted compost. It is recommended to add a handful of ash. During this time, the earth should have time to settle. Planting is carried out according to the same principle, the stems are cut, leaving only 2-3 buds on each shoot. Currant is frost-resistant and does not require shelter.
Watering. Blackcurrant is a very moisture-loving crop. Constantly moist soil is important because of the shallow roots. During the hot summer months, it is very important to regularly water the shrubs, as they are very sensitive to drought and otherwise crop loss is possible.
It is necessary to remember about its abundant watering so that water gets to the deepest roots. Surface watering will not nourish the plant, and it will produce less fruit.
The jet of water must be directed directly at the soil. Spraying the entire bush is unnecessary and even harmful, the leaves can burn due to too much difference in air temperature and water from the hose.
After watering, be sure to loosen. If the soil near the bushes is mulched, then such procedures will have to be done much less frequently. A layer of mulch made from bark, grass clippings, or fresh compost prevents moisture from evaporating from the soil and, depending on the mulch material, provides additional nutrients.
First of all, it is necessary to protect newly planted and young bushes from drought. In adult shrubs, the greatest need for moisture falls on the period of growth of shoots and the formation of berries. It takes place in June.
Note! In the period from August to September, it is necessary to moisten the plant well, otherwise the yield of the bush for the next year is reduced.
Blackcurrant nutrition. Since blackcurrants begin their vegetative growth very early, it is important to fertilize in early February.
If the currant planting pit was initially well filled with the necessary fertilizers, then in the first two years you can not feed the plants, as it has enough nutrients. Starting from the third year after planting, fertilizers will need to be applied to the soil. During the period of active growth (until the beginning of June), natural fertilizer is applied to the base of the bushes.
Black currants have the highest requirement for calcium, nitrogen and potassium, followed by phosphorus and magnesium. Zinc and boron greatly increase disease resistance. However, every year mineral fertilizers make up for the deficiency of magnesium in the soil.
When and how to prune blackcurrants
Annual pruning is critical. Regular removal of broken, diseased, old, as well as particularly disturbing and cross-growing shoots is an important care. It is best to do this immediately after harvest so that the plant can channel its energy into other shoots. Side shoots that lie on the ground should be removed completely.
Another feature of blackcurrant compared to red and white is that all shoots older than four years are completely removed. Best of all, currants bear fruit on one- and two-year-old shoots, and on older shoots they practically do not produce a crop at all.
Shoots four years old and older should be pruned every year. Young shoots with a smooth surface are clearly distinguished from the darker, rougher old ones.
Although early spring is considered the best time for pruning blackcurrants, due to the rapid awakening of the kidneys, it is not always possible to carry out this procedure on time.
At the end of the season, you can simply remove damaged branches from them. In other cases, formative pruning is postponed until autumn, after the currant sheds all the leaves. Dry branches can be removed from the bushes at any time of the year.
Additional Information! If the currant is not cut off at all, it is difficult to put it in order, then all the shoots are shortened by about 20 cm just above the ground. Currants will start new growth, but from now on, you should take care of pruning.
Mulching maintains moisture and reduces weed growth, and protects plant roots from frost in winter. Bark, sawdust or compost can be used as mulch.
Propagation of black currant
It can be propagated in many ways: green or woody cuttings, layering or division of adult bushes. It is possible to grow currants from seeds, but it takes too much time, and the resulting bushes may differ from the parent and not inherit the characteristics of the variety.
The simplest, and therefore the most common method of propagating currants is cuttings. It turns out a new plant of exactly the same variety with all its characteristics.
The lower shoots are bent so that they are placed in the ground at one point, where they are attached with wire brackets. The top of the shoot is above the ground. Roots form at the site of the shoot, which is in the ground. After a while, a separate plant is formed. An independent plant, can be separated from the parent.
The division of overgrown currant bushes is carried out in spring or autumn, combining them with a transplant. Each resulting division must have its own roots and developed branches. During rooting, the bushes will need a sufficient amount of moisture. Berries will appear on them next season, when the plants finally come out of division.
Blackcurrant diseases
Blackcurrant is very hardy and rarely gets sick. A typical currant disease is a fungal disease in which the leaves fall off early. Infected leaves should be removed and disposed of so that the fungus cannot spread again. For a viral infection, pruning the affected parts of the plant can also help.
With the appearance of the first leaves, currants are treated with a 1% solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid. The use of fungicides helps protect plantings from fungal diseases such as septoria and rust.
In addition to diseases, pest infestations can also occur. In blackcurrant, the main pests are aphids, scale insects, spider mites.
Aphids are especially dangerous for blackcurrants, as they suck juices out of them and the plant may die. If aphids appear on the plant, you can spray the plant with milk. If this does not help, use special tools available in garden stores.
Various home remedies can help here. An effective nettle decoction or a 3% mixture of mild soap and water sprayed on pests with a spray bottle.
The appearance of pests can be prevented in advance by appropriate treatments. In early spring, shoots are poured with water up to 80 degrees. You can pollinate the shoots and around the roots with wood ash.
In autumn, when the bushes shed their leaves, they are collected and destroyed. The bushes themselves are again treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture or copper sulphate.
