Close acquaintance with Yadrenaya currant
Black currant (Ribes nigrum) - the most useful of the cultivated representatives of the genus, has a specific strong aroma, rich taste. One of the best Russian varieties is considered to be bred by the N.I. Lisavenko, adopted by the State Register in 2000, large-fruited currant Yadrenaya. It was obtained by crossing the cultivar Lyubimitsa Altai with the form Bentorp x Dikovinka, the authorship belongs to L.N.Zabelina. The variety is recommended for cultivation in Western Siberia and the Volga-Vyatka region.
Currant Yadrenaya: variety description
Vigorous currant shoots age and lose productivity faster than other varieties. Anti-aging pruning will have to be done every season.
Leaves are dark green, shiny, smooth, palmate-lobed, with 5 pronounced pointed tops. The surface of the plates is dense, wrinkled, with noticeable bulges and clear veins. The petioles are pinkish, of medium thickness and length; they are attached to the branches at an angle of about 45 °.
The root system, for the most part, is located in the upper layers of the soil at a depth of 10-40 cm.Separate thick shoots go into the ground up to 2.5 m.To the sides, the root system extends 50-60 cm.In old bushes, it can go beyond the projection of the crown by 1 m.
Brushes are long, abundantly cover young shoots. Each contains 6 to 12 loosely spaced greenish-cream flowers, sepals with pink streaks. The peduncles are pubescent, thick, long, firmly attached to the berries, break off without damaging the pulp.
Fruiting and productivity
Vigorous black currant ripens in medium terms and forms very large berries. According to the State Register, their weight reaches 2.5-5.5 g. Gardening companies that sell planting material indicate weight up to 7, and sometimes 8 g in advertising brochures. This can hardly be true, even with perfect care.
The average weight of a cherry is 5-8 g; inside there is a dense, therefore heavy, stone. If we assume that the weight of a currant can reach 7-8 g, then its diameter should be with a good cherry, but this is not the case.
In the variety Vigorous, the weight of the berries depends on the age of the branch and the care of the bush. With intensive cultivation and annual pruning, the fruits really reach the size of a cherry. The maximum is 2 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. The shape of the berries is round or plum-like, the skin is thick, the surface is black, with a low sheen, there are many seeds. The pulp is firm, the taste is good, with a predominance of acid.
Sugars in berries of currant Vigorous up to 9%. Their share increases when fruits ripen in the sun, decreases - if the summer is cool and cloudy, and the bushes are thickened.
The yield depends on agricultural technology and the growing region. On industrial plantations, from 6 to 12 tons are harvested from one hectare, from a bush - about 4-6 kg. This is a very good result.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Advantages of vigorous currant:
- very large berries;
- early maturity;
- high productivity;
- high content of nutrients;
- resistance to frost, major diseases and pests of black currant;
- self-pollination;
- tight fit possible;
- evenness of berries on one plant.
Disadvantages of the Yadrenaya variety:
- sour taste;
- the bush is aging rapidly;
- poor keeping quality;
- drought tolerance.
How vigorous currants are grown
Black currant grows well in most of Russia. Prefers moist, well-structured, fertile loams with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. The plot should be level or with a slight slope, protected from strong winds, sunny, but little shading is possible during part of the day. Hollows where water and cold air stagnate are not suitable for planting crops.
In one place, Vigorous black currant grows for 10-12 years. Then the productivity decreases, the berries become smaller, the bush begins to hurt more often.
Planting and breeding
Vigorous black currant is planted in an open place, along the fence, between large fruit trees. Suitable dates:
- in the south - at the end of the season, no later than a month before frost;
- in the Middle Lane - in spring or autumn;
- Siberia, Trans-Urals - at the beginning of the growing season.
Container plants can be planted at any time except during the hottest summer months.
The site is dug up, the roots of weeds are selected. Unlike other varieties, Yadrenaya currants can be planted at a distance of 1 m between plants. The rows should be spaced 2 m apart.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Digging holes 40x40 cm.
- 6-10 kg of humus, 40 g of potassium sulfate, 200 g are mixed with the upper, fertile layer of earth superphosphate.
- Form a small mound.
- A seedling is placed on top so that the root collar is 5 cm below ground level.
- The roots are spread around the hill. They should not bend up.
- The planting hole is covered with a fertile mixture.
- Tamp down lightly. A seedling is tied up.
- A trunk circle is formed.
- Watering.
- Mulch with peat, humus, in extreme cases - dry soil.
Seedlings take root best of all:
- 1-year-olds 15-20 cm high, with the same root length, 1-2 shoots;
- 2-3-year-olds, 30-40 cm in size, with lower processes 20-25 cm each, 3-4 branches.
Propagate black currant Vigorous easily healthy woody cuttings in late summer or early autumn. You can divide the old bush, but it will be less productive, more often sick and affected by pests.
Care basics
Black currant is demanding watering. Especially a lot of water is needed during flowering and berry formation. Mandatory autumn moisture charging before the dormant period, when the temperature drops to 5 ° C. This will help the plant to winter better.
Top dressing is done with mineral and organic fertilizers. Introduce under the bush:
- in spring, it is possible on non-melted snow, 40-50 g of nitrogen;
- during the period of mass flowering - a complete mineral complex with trace elements;
- after harvesting, they give phosphorus and potassium - this helps the wood to ripen better, increases frost resistance;
- mulch the bushes with a mixture of humus and ash before winter.
Weeds are pulled out under the black currants and the soil is loosened. It is useful to mulch the trunk circles with peat, humus, and on alkaline soils with pine bark (with watering, it slightly increases acidity).
Unlike other varieties, in order to increase yields and facilitate maintenance, it is recommended to cut out all branches of Yadrenaya every spring, except for annuals. The overall yield will not be affected - the remaining shoots will be loaded with large berries. They are easier to collect, the market value rises - the more fruits, the better they are bought up.
Vigorous - early ripening variety of black currant. Bushes that do not have time to fully take root bloom profusely; in the first year after planting, all brushes must be cut off as early as possible so as not to weaken the plant.
Pests and diseases
The Yadrenaya variety is highly resistant to the kidney mite and hazel-grouse - a dangerous viral disease common in Russia, especially in Siberia, the Trans-Urals, and the Far East. Resistance to other diseases and pests is average.
Preventive treatments must be done without fail. To avoid or reduce the frequency of eradication spraying with pesticides, it is recommended to repopulate the bushes at the beginning of the season with beneficial microorganisms - trichoderma or hay stick (Fitosporin).
Black currant is an intermediate host in the spread of some pine diseases. Pinus strobus (Veimutova) suffers especially strongly, the death of plantations of which reaches 80%. Therefore, in the United States, a ban on planting black currants was in effect for a long time, it was replaced by varieties that are less tasty and healthy golden. The restriction was lifted only in 2003, and even then not in all states.
Yadrenaya is one of the best modern Russian varieties of black currant. Large-fruited, productive and tasty, it grows well in cool regions, rarely gets sick or is affected by a kidney mite, but is picky about watering, the branches age early and need annual pruning.