Crop rotation rules in the garden: what can be planted next to blackcurrants

Crop rotation is an important component of proper cultivation of cultivated plants. It is necessary not only for annuals, but also for shrubs and trees. Following recommendations for the selection of preceding and neighboring crops improves productivity. We'll tell you what you can plant next to blackcurrants.

Rules for crop rotation when growing blackcurrants

Each type of plant has characteristic diseases and dangerous pests. Nutrient requirements also vary. All these factors are taken into account when drawing up recommendations for crop rotation.

Basic rules prohibit:

• plant after plants of the same family;
• grow after plants that have common pests;
• use a site where crops demanding the same microelements grew.

The best predecessors saturate the soil with organic matter and improve soil quality.

Important! You can return currants to the area where they grew after 6 years.

Why is it important to follow them?

During growth, plants absorb microelements from the soil. The nutritional value of the soil is replenished by applying fertilizers. But if the same substances are removed while others remain untouched, an imbalance occurs that interferes with the normal development of plants.

Insect larvae and pathogens accumulate in the soil, creating unfavorable conditions for growing crops.

Impact on growth and yield

Rotating crops reduces the risk of plant infection, which leads to better yields. Sufficient amounts of nutrients also have a positive effect.

What is the best place to plant black currants next to?

Plant compatibility is determined by the following factors:

• competitiveness;
• size of the root system;
• the presence of common pathogens.

Competition for sunlight, moisture and nutrients slows plant development and reduces yields. Low crops are considered good neighbors.

The spread of roots in the same layer of nutrient soil reduces the amount of available microelements. It is better to plant plants with a shallow root system next to currants.

Neighbors should not be affected by the same diseases and insects. This rule is especially important in relation to the moth, a dangerous pest.

Strawberry compatibility

The shallow root system of strawberries will not harm currants in any way. There are few common pests, so this neighborhood can be called successful. When planting, it is necessary to take into account that strawberries are a sun-loving plant. Currants can shade it.

With honeysuckle

In this case, the possibility of proximity depends on the currant variety and size honeysuckle. If the currants are taller, you can plant the crops nearby. Low-growing varieties will be shaded by honeysuckle. They have no common diseases.

With raspberries

Not the best neighborhood, as the raspberries send out layering, interfering with the growth of currants. Besides, plants suffer from similar diseases.

With cherry

Bad neighborhood. Cherry will shade the currants, and its root shoots will reduce the amount of nutrients in the soil.

With an apple tree

The high crown of an apple tree can shade neighboring crops, reducing their yield. The exception is the southern regions. In this case, the apple tree is planted so that its shadow falls on the currants in the middle of the day, protecting the leaves and berries from sunburn.

With vegetables and herbs

Good neighborhood, except for high grades tomatoes and cucumbers. Currants can be used as a canopy crop to protect vegetables from pests.

Bad neighborhood for a plant

Intense lighting is very important for black currants. Trees and tall bushes will oppress her. The plum root system spreads horizontally, worsening the conditions for the growth of black currants.

Common infectious diseases in neighboring plants pose a threat of loss of a large part of the crop. In particularly difficult cases, plant death may occur.

Important! Some plants are more attractive to insects than currants. Close proximity to them impairs pollination and reduces productivity.

Why you can’t plant black and red currants next to each other

All types of currants are affected by the same diseases, so close proximity of these crops is undesirable. If there is no other possibility, preventive spraying and protection from insects are necessary.

Planting pollinator varieties nearby

Most currant varieties are self-pollinating, but the presence of pollinating varieties nearby improves yield by up to 20%. When choosing a suitable variety, you need to pay attention to the flowering time. The early ones are not suitable for the late ones, since by the time the latter bloom, they already have ovaries.

The best and worst predecessors

Soils after black fallow and plowed green manure are best suited for growing berry crops.

Suitable predecessors of this plant saturate the soil with microelements, fight pests, and do not emit substances toxic to the plant. Currants grow best after:

• sunflower;
• cereals;
• corn.

These plants aerate the soil, creating suitable conditions for growing currants.

The worst precursors reduce the nutritional value of the soil and contribute to the saturation of the soil with pathogens. For currants it is:

• gooseberry;
• raspberries.

Gooseberries have many diseases in common with currants and remove nutrients necessary for them from the soil. Raspberries clog the soil with shoots that will have to be dug up over several years. If they grow inside the bush, removing them will be problematic.

At what distance to plant black currants?

To determine the required distance, the characteristics of the variety are taken into account. The height of their branches can vary significantly. Some varieties grow compactly, the shoots are located almost vertically. In others, the angle between the branch and the soil does not exceed 30°. Tall and spreading varieties require more space than compact ones.

Properly planted plants do not shade each other; the distance between them should be sufficient for harvesting.

Important! To save space, varieties with high branches are grown on trellises. In this case, the bushes are planted at a distance of 0.5 m. The gap between the trellises is made at least 0.7 m. Low-growing varieties are planted at a distance of 0.5 m. The row spacing is from 1 m. Tall varieties are planted at a distance of at least 1 m.

Should I plant two bushes side by side?

Seedlings planted in the same hole begin to compete with each other for the necessary resources. Too close proximity of the roots creates a deficiency of microelements.One of the competing shoots will have to be removed. As a result, the yield will not increase and may even decrease.

It is not worth planting two bushes side by side, this is a waste of planting material.

Reference. An exception can be made for very weak seedlings. If both are accepted, the weaker one is removed.

Conclusion

Compliance with crop rotation is the most important factor affecting productivity. Carefully following its rules and gardeners’ recommendations significantly increases the volume of collected berries. Blackcurrant is no exception. If you take into account the requirements of crop rotation, the bushes produce a rich, high-quality harvest.