Redcurrant "Sugar": characteristics and agricultural technology
Currant is one of the most popular berry crops. She is very fond of growing gardeners and gardeners from all over the world. Moreover, with the help of currant bushes, you can decorate the landscape design of the garden in a very unusual way. To date, many varieties of currants have been bred, however, one of the most popular is the red currant variety called "Sugar".
This name speaks for itself. By growing this plant, you can get delicious berries at home. However, before you buy varietal currants for cultivation, you should learn about it all the pros, cons, features and advice of professionals.
Main characteristic
In order to understand what a variety of a particular currant looks like, it is very important to consider in detail not only the features and characteristics of the bushes, but also the fruits themselves.
Variety "Sugar" refers to tall shrubs that can reach 2 meters in height. Currant twigs are upright with wide fruit tassels reaching 10 cm in length. The leaves have five lobes, their edges are toothed.
In spring, light brown buds can be observed on the bushes. When flowering on currants, miniature flowers of a light green color, sometimes with a hint of yellow, appear. On one brush, as a rule, about 20 berries grow.
They are most often consumed fresh, but they are often preserved and currant jam is made from them. Jams are rarely prepared, since this variety does not have the highest freezing rates. A particularly popular thing for housewives today is freezing berries and vegetables, which later retain all their beneficial substances.
The berries of the variety have the usual rounded shape for currants, while they are covered with a thin red skin, the flesh is also red with light veins. The weight of one berry does not exceed a gram. Berries cannot be called too light, since there are varieties with a weight several times less.
Peculiarities
Before you purchase this variety for planting in your garden, you should find out some of its features and important distinguishing features that make the "Sugar" currant very popular among many professional gardeners and amateurs.
- Variety "Sugar" has a natural resistance to a wide variety of plant diseases, including fungal and bacterial infections. Moreover, it is this currant that is least hunted by pests and insects.
- Caring for currants does not take much effort. If it is correct and regular, you can be completely sure that the harvest will be plentiful.
- Currant of this variety gives an excellent harvest. So, from one bush per season, you can collect up to four kilograms of delicious sugar berries. From year to year, bushes can bear fruit, while not reducing the amount of yield up to twenty-five years. With regular fertilization of the soil and its special processing, the amount of the harvested crop can be increased several times and about 6-7 kg can be collected from one bush.
- An important point in the cultivation of currants of this variety is its self-pollination, which reaches good marks.Even if there are few insects in your garden, you should not be afraid for the harvest.
Advantages and disadvantages
Currant variety "Sugar" is very popular, as has many advantages.
- Long-term storage of currants is a big advantage. So, when picking berries with bunches, you can be sure that they will retain their attractive appearance for a long time. In addition, they are not afraid of long transportation.
- Delicious berries begin to ripen in late June or early July. That is why this variety belongs to the early ripening.
- The advantage of the variety is its resistance to a wide variety of temperature extremes and adverse external factors. Currant bushes can winter well without any further damage to the berries. Moreover, they will not be afraid of regular droughts. That is why this variety can be grown even in arid regions of our country.
The disadvantages include the average size of the berries and sometimes a small amount of the crop.
Especially if you compare this variety with other varieties.
Selection of seedlings
In order for currant bushes to grow strong and healthy, it is very important to choose the right seedlings for future planting. It is this issue that should be approached with all responsibility.
When choosing currants, some points should be considered.
- The roots of seedlings should be well developed, you should not choose options with too long and overdried roots, since such plants are unlikely to take root in the ground.
- Plant leaves should not be damaged in any way, it is very important to inspect seedlings for pests or diseases.The huge number of torn leaves on them should also alert, which may also indicate that sellers are trying to hide the attack of pests or the presence of a disease on plants.
- The twigs should be healthy in appearance, with a slight peeling of the bark, but no specks or outgrowths should be visible on it.
It is best to purchase any plants only in specialized stores and nurseries, as well as from trusted gardeners who are engaged in private practice. Buying in the right place significantly reduces the risk of acquiring a low-quality or diseased seedling. When ordering seedlings from another city, it is very important to take care of their reliable transportation.
Landing and care
Red currant varieties "Sugar" are best planted on light and sandy loamy soils. It is highly not recommended to plant seedlings in clay areas, as they can grow and develop poorly on them. It is better not to plant currants in places where there is groundwater.
For red currants, the best place to plant will be a quiet place with plenty of sunlight during the daytime. Most often, currant bushes are planted next to buildings or fences, since it is in such places that the plants are protected from wind and other adverse precipitation.
Variety "Sugar" can be planted in different seasons. Shrubs take root well in spring and autumn. However, many experts prefer the second landing option. Planting in the fall should be carried out no later than mid-September, so that the rooting of plants takes place without any problems and complications.
Before planting bushes, it is very important for them to properly prepare the area and make markings.
In the future, the bushes are best planted at an optimal distance from each other, it is allowed to retreat up to 1.5 meters.
Consider the phased process of planting currants.
- At the first stage, holes should be dug, the depth should be no more than 40 cm. If you plan to plant several bushes at once, then it is best to make a trench.
- For soil subsidence, it is recommended to leave the pits for a period of a week, and only after this time has passed, plant plants in them.
- Fertilizers should be laid out at the bottom of the pits. If the earth is oxidized, then you can add a little chalk to it.
- Immediately before planting, plant holes should be moistened with water.
- Seedlings must be planted carefully, keeping them level and straightening the root system. The root neck should be planted to a depth of no more than five centimeters. This planting option will be an excellent solution if the gardener wants his berry crops to develop correctly and under optimal conditions.
- After planting, you need to dig in the holes, trampling the area at the roots of the red currant. Holes should be formed around the bushes for more convenient watering of plants.
- For accelerated growth of plants and the formation of a full-fledged root system, they need to be watered regularly. However, pouring water under the bushes is also wrong. Seedlings may rot.
- After planting the plants on them, the shoots should be cut off by about 1/3 of the length. This is done so that in the year of planting the plant shows excellent growth.
Next, consider some of the points of seasonal care for the red currant "Sugar".Caring for berry crops includes a set of agrotechnical and preventive measures to combat possible diseases and pests.
Very much attention should be paid to watering the crop, since this variety of currant loves moisture very much. Regular watering is especially needed during the ripening of the berries, because with insufficient water, the ovaries can fall off.
A set of agrotechnical measures will help ensure a good harvest in the summer, which includes cleaning weeds next to currant bushes, hilling them, and, if necessary, mulching the soil. All of the above activities must be carried out in the spring season, and then - as needed and overgrowing of the bushes.
It is equally important to feed the plants with appropriate fertilizers. With their help, you can not only accelerate the growth of shoots, but also increase the fruiting time of currants. Experts recommend that you always prune unnecessary twigs and weakened shoots in the spring. And finally, in order to protect currants in the winter season, it is very important to take care of tying and sheltering them, especially if they germinate in a cold climate. In temperate gardeners, this variety is not always covered, as it is considered frost-resistant. For shelter, you can use polyethylene, special fabrics and agrofibre.
Expert advice
The variety of currant "Sugar" is great for growing in summer cottages, as it is not afraid of temperature changes, and also tolerates breaks without watering. For the full development of the bushes, it is very important to treat them in time from caterpillars and other pests. For this, it is not necessary to use strong insecticides. As a preventive measure, infusions and decoctions of herbs, such as wormwood and chamomile, are suitable.Common laundry soap is often added to them, which not only retains the solution on plants, but also has antibacterial properties. But if someone has already settled on the bushes, then, of course, herbs cannot be dispensed with here. You'll have to choose a stronger one.
Be careful with chemical insecticides that should not be used during harvest. Moreover, they have a cumulative effect. They should not be used too often. When spraying bushes with chemical and biological insect repellents, it is very important to observe safety measures, work in a protective suit, mask and gloves. Cross-pollination should be created to obtain the best yield.
To do this, one or more currant bushes of another variety should be planted next to the Sugar currant variety.
Reviews
On the Internet, you can find a variety of reviews about the currant varieties "Sugar". Most amateurs and professionals are satisfied with growing an unpretentious plant that gives an excellent harvest the very next year. However, many also note the fact that the currant has a kind of sourness, and is not as cloying as many gardeners claim.
You will learn more about the Sugar currant variety from the following video.