The best varieties of black and red currants for the Leningrad region
Blackcurrant is a garden first aid kit. The berries are famous for their rich vitamin composition and beneficial properties, protect against flu and colds, and strengthen the immune system. When growing blackcurrants, the main thing is to choose a suitable place for planting and periodically water the bushes. The plant takes root in any region. Let's consider a description of the best varieties of blackcurrant for the Leningrad region and learn the secrets of their cultivation.
The best varieties of blackcurrant for the Leningrad region
In the Leningrad region, loamy, podzolic and marshy soils predominate, therefore It is recommended to plant varieties that are resistant to humidity. For planting currants, choose dry and well-warmed soil by the sun. A suitable place for shrubs is a corner of a plot or bed along fences. The distance between bushes should be at least 1.5 m.
The sweetest
Jams, jams, compotes, and homemade marshmallows are prepared from sweet fruits. Gardeners who don’t like to spend time cooking simply grind the berries with sugar and get a tasty addition to tea.
Poetry
The bushes are medium-sized with straight and shiny green shoots. The leaves are medium-sized, yellow-green. The berries are round in shape, weigh 1.2-1.5 g, black, shiny, no pubescence. Poetry has a high sugar content, so the berries taste sweet and pleasant. The tasting rating of the variety is 4.8 points. Poetry is resistant to frost and powdery mildew, the ripening period is average.Productivity is from 2 to 4 kg of fruits per bush over the summer. After ripening, black currants do not fall off and retain their taste and shape.
Alexandrina
Alexandrina's bushes are medium-sized and compact, so they are suitable for planting hedges. The shoots are strong, of medium thickness, the leaves are rich green. The berries are dense, round, average weight - 1 g. The taste is sweet with a slight sourness, harmonious. The ripening period of Alexandrina is medium-late. Advantages include frost resistance, immunity to insects and diseases. The berries are universal in use; due to their dense structure, they are transportable and keep well.
Belarusian sweet
Currants are early fruiting and begin to bear fruit in the second year after planting. The ripening period is average, the harvest is harvested in the second ten days of July. The bushes are vigorous and dense, the yellow-green leaves are corrugated. The berries are round-oval, black, average weight - 1.5 g. The tear is dry, the skin is dense. Belarusian sweet has a sugary taste, ideal for fresh consumption and processing. Productivity is 3.7 kg per bush, self-fertility reaches 60%. Currants are unpretentious to grow, making them popular among amateur gardeners.
Interesting! To increase the yield of black currants, it is recommended to plant several different varieties next to each other. It is also important to maintain a distance of 1-2 m between bushes, and when planting along a fence, leave a distance of 1.2 m.
With large berries
Large-fruited currants grown for sale and personal use. The weight of berries is affected by weather conditions and fertilizers — potassium salt and nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied under the bushes.To ensure that the berries grow healthy and large, gardeners annually thin out the bushes and remove dry shoots.
Selechenskaya
Currant Selechenskaya resistant to spring frosts, rarely affected by powdery mildew and bud mites. Medium-sized bushes are picky about the planting site, so the soil is fertilized in advance with organic matter and debris and weeds are removed. The leaves are green, dull and wrinkled. The weight of the round berries reaches 3.3 g, the color is black and shiny. The currants ripen smoothly and do not fall off or crack. The peel is dense, the peel is dry. The pulp is tasty, sweet, with a berry aroma. Selechenskaya tasting score is 4.7 points.
Bagheera
The variety is mid-late and self-fertile, characterized by stable high yields — over the summer, one plant produces up to 4 kg of harvest. Drought and frost resistance are high, and it is rarely affected by diseases. The shoots are straight, light brown, the leaves are large. The berries are one-dimensional, round or flat-round in shape, weight varies from 1.5 to 2.3 g. The color is black, shiny, the skin is medium thick, the pulp is juicy and tender. The taste is harmonious, Bagheera’s tasting score is 4.8 points. Currants do not fall off after ripening and are transportable. Suitable for processing and fresh consumption.
Minx
Super early variety - fruits ripen in June. The purpose is universal, immunity to diseases is strong. The bushes are slightly spreading with thin and straight shoots, the leaves are wrinkled and convex. The weight of the berry is about 1.5 g, the shape is round, the peel is black, dense, without pubescence. The taste is sweet and sour, tasting score - 4.8 points. Minx is winter-hardy and tolerates spring frosts. Productivity - 3-4 kg per summer. The purpose of black currant is universal.
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Guide to planting currants in autumn
Early
Early ripening varieties ripen by the end of June and are resistant to spring frosts, diseases and pests. To increase productivity, summer residents apply organic and mineral fertilizers and carry out preventive measures - spraying the bushes with fungicides or a solution of Bordeaux mixture.
Nara
The bushes are medium-sized, the shoots are olive-colored, thin and curved. The leaves are large, wrinkled, dark green. The weight of the berry is 1.3 g, round shape, black color. Dessert taste, sweet and sour, with a pleasant aroma. The Nara variety is resistant to powdery mildew and blight, and is not damaged by bud mites. Fruiting lasts 2-3 weeks, the berries do not fall off. Early fruiting currants are harvested 2-3 years after planting.
A little prince
The bush is medium spreading, the shoots are gray and pubescent. The leaves are green, the plates are smooth and shiny. The berries are round, weigh about 1.5 g, and are black in color. The taste is sweet and sour, the Little Prince’s tasting score is 4.8 points.. Currants are not affected by powdery mildew and anthracnose, are drought-resistant, and do not require special skills to grow. To increase productivity, it is recommended to feed the bushes with organic matter - manure, litter solution, peat or vermicompost.
Izyumnaya
The bushes are compressed, do not take up much space on the site, the shoots are thin, brown-olive in color. The leaves are matte and large, dark green. The black berries are round, weigh about 2 g, and have a medium-thick skin. The pulp is juicy and fleshy, there are few seeds, the taste is sweet with a refreshing aroma. Raisin is resistant to diseases at the level of standard varieties, but tolerates frost well. It is universal in application - the crop is used for processing or eaten fresh. Fruiting is extended, yield is up to 3.5 kg of berries per bush. Raisin is fast-growing and unpretentious in cultivation.
Interesting! The blackcurrant bush consists of shoots of different ages, due to which the plant bears fruit from 12 to 15 years. It is believed that the maximum fruiting of black currant occurs in the 6th year.
Mid-season
Mid-season blackcurrant is harvested in July. Berries are used for transportation, sale, storage, and processing. Blackcurrant leaves are also suitable for use - they dried and brew aromatic natural tea.
Binar
Self-fertile variety. The bushes are powerful, tall, upright. The shoots are thick and strong, the leaves are concave, the fruit clusters are medium. The weight of the berry is 1.5 g, the shape is round-oval, the color is black. The peel is strong, smooth, and the peel is dry. The variety is productive - every year summer residents collect up to 4 kg of berries from a bush.
The taste is sweet and sour, the pulp is juicy with a medium aroma. The berries are used to make jam or confiture, and fresh fruits are used to decorate dishes or prepare baked goods. When overripe, currants fall off, so it is not recommended to keep the fruits on the bushes.
Pilot Alexander Mamkin
Early-growing universal variety. The bushes are dense, vigorous, compact. The shoots are thick, the leaves are matte and drooping. The brushes are medium, one can hold from 5 to 8 berries. The weight of the berry is about 1.2 g, the shape is round, the color is black. The fruits are one-dimensional, without pubescence, smooth. The flavor is dry, the taste is delicate and sweet. Fruiting is extended, summer residents harvest 2-3 times.One bush produces up to 3 kg of currants annually. The variety is resistant to anthracnose and rust, and is rarely damaged by pests.
Petersburg woman
The variety is winter-hardy, resistant to frost, fungal and viral diseases. Strong immunity ensures a yield of up to 3 kg per bush annually. The bushes are vigorous and compact, the shoots are shiny and upright. The berries are oval-round, weight about 1 g, black in color. The skin is dense, the flesh is sweet and sour, soft and tender. Tasting rating of Petersburg - 4.7 points. The variety is valued for its commercial qualities and keeping quality; the currants do not spoil or crack, and retain their taste and appearance. The purpose is universal - the berries are used fresh, dried, or frozen.
Late
To get a rich harvest of late currants, it is important to regularly water and fertilize the bushes. Otherwise, they will not have enough strength to develop throughout the summer. The berries are collected in August and used for preparing winter preparations and preservation. Part of the fruit freeze or dried.
Nezhdanchik
The bushes are medium-sized and semi-spreading, the recommended distance between plantings is 2 m. The shoots are straight and strong, with slight pubescence, the fruit cluster is small. The berries are smooth and black, weigh about 1 g, the flesh is elastic. Nezhdanchik’s taste is sweet and sour, harmonious, and the aroma is average. The variety is drought- and frost-resistant, immunity to diseases is above average. Currants are undemanding to growing conditions and bear fruit consistently on neutral soils. Productivity - 3.3 kg of berries per summer.
Katyusha
Katyusha currant bushes are medium-sized, the shoots are straight, light brown. Fruit clusters are long, flowers are medium in size.The leaves are wrinkled, yellowish-green. The berries are rounded pear-shaped, weight - 1.3 g, the skin is durable. The green stalk is long, there are few seeds in Katyusha. The taste is classic sweet and sour, with a light berry aroma, tasting score - 4.2 points. Currants are transportable and are slightly damaged by leaf rollers and spider mites. Tolerates drought and frost, yield is 3.1 kg per plant over the summer.
Izmailovskaya
Early-growing and winter-hardy variety. Izmailovskaya currant is resistant to spider mite attacks, anthracnose and powdery mildew, but is affected by doubleness. The bushes are medium-sized, spreading and dense. The shoots are brown, shiny, the leaves are large, rich green. The berries are round, black, with a tough skin. The average fruit weight is 1.1 g, yield is up to 3.1 kg per bush. The pulp is tasty, sweet, dry. Izmailovskaya is suitable for all types of processing.
Interesting! In the summer, once every 2 weeks, gardeners water the bushes with a diluted infusion of manure or grass. Lack of moisture leads to slower fruit growth. It is recommended to water the currants in the evening, loosening the soil before doing so.
The best varieties of red currant for the Leningrad region
Red currants are valued for their original sour taste and pleasant pulp.. It is smaller in size than black, the average weight of the berry is 0.3 g. One of the popular varieties of red currant for the Leningrad region is Natalie. It has an average ripening period and is unpretentious in care. The bushes are wide and powerful, spreading, with thick shoots. The berries are round, weigh up to 0.6 g, and have a rich red color. The pulp is very tasty and tender, suitable for all types of processing. Natalie's currant is winter-hardy and is rarely affected by powdery mildew.
Also gardeners an early ripening red currant variety Shchedraya is isolated. The bushes are medium-sized, the shoots are straight, the leaves are round and dark green. The clusters are short, the berries are drop-shaped, weigh about 0.5 g. The color is light red, the pulp is moderately sour, the taste is refreshing. The skin is thin, the peel is semi-dry. Jelly, wine, and juices are made from currants. Generous yield is about 2 kg per plant. The variety is early-bearing, resistant to shedding and cracking of berries.
Conclusion
The best varieties of blackcurrant for the North-West are Bagira, Nara, Peterburzhenka, Shalunya, Izmailovskaya, Izyumnaya. The plants are unpretentious in cultivation, bear fruit consistently, are self- and early-bearing. Of the red currant varieties, gardeners choose Shchedruya and Natali; they are distinguished by their harmonious taste and attractive presentation. Juices and jellies, marmalade and compotes are prepared from the berries. Fragrant currant leaves are used for preservation or preparation of herbal infusions and teas.