What are the best varieties of currants?

Currant is a tasty and very healthy berry, unpretentious in cultivation and distribution. It is not difficult to cultivate currants, and in order to collect stable good yields on time, you need to choose the right variety that suits you.

Let's look at the possibilities of modern breeding and get acquainted with the varieties that are offered by breeding institutes. Here are the characteristics of various varieties of currants with photos and descriptions.

Black currant varieties with large berries

Large varieties of currants attract high yields. Often the berries of these varieties form clusters similar to grapes. In return, they require high-quality cultivation, fertilization, watering, attention and care.

Most large-fruited varieties do not form large enough berries without watering, give reduced yields.

Also, due to the large size, the question arises about the safety of the whole berry. The strength and density of the peel must withstand the pressure of the juice when pouring the berries, as well as ensure keeping quality during transportation and storage.

For the cultivation of large-fruited bushes, agricultural technology is important. The soil under the bushes for the season significantly consumes the supply of nutrients for growing crops.

Also, it is important for large-fruited varieties - that the growth of pagon branches does not lag behind fruiting.

In order for the yields to be stable and annual, timely replacement of the branches of the bush is necessary. Currants bear fruit well on those shoots, the annual growth of which is at least 25 cm. Therefore, branches with a weak growth, the age of which exceeds 4-5 years, must be cut off.

The selection of large-fruited varieties should also take into account the time of maturation of the variety and harvest. Early - bear fruit at the beginning of July. Medium - after the middle of the month, late - in August.

And now, according to the list of varieties and their description, let's see which variety of black currant is the largest and sweetest?

On a note: all varieties described below are winter hardy. They tolerate frosts and prolonged cold weather well, cope with spring return frosts. Therefore, we will not further indicate the characteristics of winter hardiness for each variety separately.

Variety Variety - mid-season black currant

A variety with large berries weighing up to 6 g. Berries are collected in clusters of 8-10 pieces.Thus, the weight of one brush can reach 60 g. And 20 good brushes can make up more than 1 kilogram of the crop.

The yield indicator is 6 kg of berries per bush per year. Their taste is sweet with sourness (they contain 9% sugar and only 3.5% acid - for comparison, in sweet varieties of sugars there is almost the same amount - from 10%), the peel is dense. Bushes grow up to 1.5 m in height.

Yadrenaya is a well-deserved record holder among varieties of large black currants. She needs annual rejuvenation. The branches are severely depleted during the fruiting season, therefore, they require cutting and replacement with new pagons.

What you need to know the disadvantages: the different size of the berries, their size may vary. Another drawback is that the bush is aging and requires replacement after a few years. The number of years of good fruiting depends on the quality of the care. With good soil and sufficient watering, the bushes can retain their yield for 6-7 years.

Black pearl or Pearl - medium-early large-fruited

Another record holder who received the title of "Masterpiece of Russian selection". Bred to VNIIS Michurin. Fruits with berries weighing up to 6 g. Taste is sweet with a slight sourness (contains 9.5% sugars). Yields up to 5 kg of berries from each bush.

The name of the variety is associated with the characteristic "pearl" luster. The dense rind ensures keeping quality and the so-called "dry" pull-off. Berries of the Black Pearl are perfectly transported.

The shrub of the variety is distinguished by vertically growing branches, the height of the bushes is up to 1.3 m.Without snow cover, without damage to the future harvest, it tolerates frosts down to -42 ° C. At the same time, it tolerates heat and sun up to +40 without shading.

The advantages of the variety are a good harvest in any year, resistance to mites.

The disadvantage of the variety is that the variety tastes sour, not always resistant to pests, fungal diseases.

Selechenskaya-2 - early fruiting

The weight of the berries reaches a maximum of 6 g, they have a sweet and sour taste (7% sugar in the berries) and a dense peel (provides the so-called dry separation and keeping quality). Strong aroma.

There are 10-15 berries per cluster. Very tall dense bushes - up to 2 m, yield up to 5 kg of berries per fruiting season.

Advantages: resistance to both cold and heat and lack of moisture. Not affected by dew.

Disadvantages - the variety requires good care, fertilized soil, and sufficient nutrients. Poorly resistant to pests.

Black boomer - early harvest from Kharkov

The weight of the berries is large, up to 7 g. Collected in a bunch resembling grapes, up to 10 berries in each bunch. The bush is upright and compact, yields up to 4 kg of berry harvest per year.

Advantages: uniformity of ripening and uniformity of berries. Do not crumble after ripening. Stable fruiting every year. Resistance to fungal and other diseases.

Disadvantages: with heavy rains and a lot of moisture, the berries may crack. Pick-off is not always dry.

Big Ben - early variety, super yielding

Another variety, the name of which speaks for itself.

Average weight of berries - up to 4 g. The yield of one bush can reach 10 kg (with good care). The taste is sweet and slightly sour, with sweetness prevailing over acid.

Advantages: after ripening, the berries do not crumble. Resistant to frost and powdery mildew.

Disadvantages: exactingness to care - obligatory pruning, fertilization, watering.

Pygmy - medium early

Berries weight up to 8 g, up to 10 pieces per brush. Even over time, with the aging of the branches, the berries retain their large size. The taste is very sweet, it contains 9.5% sugars. The bushes grow up to 2 m high, but the branches are compact, so they do not take up much space.

The variety produces up to 7 kg of berries from a bush per season.

Advantages: the variety is capable of self-pollination and high yields. The bushes are resistant to powdery mildew. Their winter hardiness is determined by thick stems and a large supply of nutrients, it is -35 ° C.

Disadvantages: low resistance to tick and septoria infection.

Raisin - early variety

The name of the bush is due to the fact that after ripening the berries do not crumble from the bush, remain on the branches, wither and turn into a kind of raisins. This is the exclusive properties of the raisin variety.

Berries differ in average weight - up to 4 g, in a brush there can be 10-12 sweet berries, in which up to 9% of sugars. Productivity - average, 3.5 kg per bush. The direction of growth of pagons is upward. Thanks to this feature, bushes can be planted denser than usual.

Ripening period - early. The taste is sweet.

Advantages: winter hardiness and resistance to heat, fungal infections, ticks.

Disadvantages: poor rooting, bushes of this variety are more difficult to propagate by cuttings, unlike most traditional black currant varieties.

Gulliver - early maturing

The weight of Gulliver berries reaches 5 g. Considering that there can be 20 berries in the bunch of this variety, the weight of the bunch turns out to be weighty - up to 100 g. The taste of berries is rich, with a well-felt sourness. Sugar in berries 6.5%. The bush is tall and leafy, yields up to 2 kg per year.

Advantages: the variety is resistant to very severe cold and long spring frosts. Resistant to kidney mites.

Disadvantages: picky about light, bears fruit well in open sunny places when watering. Lack of water is reflected in a decrease in the amount of the crop.

Summer resident - early ripening variety

The size of the berries is large enough - up to 5g, very sweet, contain 9.3% sugars. The total yield of the bush is average, up to 1.5 kg of berries per year. The bush is undersized, withstands frosts down to -35 ° C.

Advantages: high self-fertility (more than 70%, in most varieties - about 50%, and this is considered a good indicator).

Disadvantages: due to the short stature, the branches during the ripening of the crop can bend low to the ground and touch the ground. Therefore, props and timely harvesting are needed. Berries not picked in time quickly crumble. The fruits ripen unevenly.

Titania is a mid-season variety

Despite the name, the variety bears fruit with medium-sized berries. The weight of each berry does not exceed 4 g. However, with a large number of berries in the bunch (up to 25 pieces), the yield of the variety is quite high - 4 kg per bush per fruiting season.

The taste is traditional sweet and sour (there are not so many sugars, only 6.5%). Another feature of the variety is that the berries ripen in batches within 3 weeks. Which is convenient for home assembly and inconvenient for a mechanized one.

The advantages of the variety: resistance to cold climates and diseases, tolerates frosts down to -24 ° C without loss of yield, does not choke when harvested.

Disadvantage: the variety requires good care - fertilizers, watering, pruning, timely replacement of bushes.

Dobrynya is a mid-season variety

A fairly large variety with a weight of each berry up to 7 g. Each cluster contains 8-10 berries. Up to 3 kg of harvest is harvested from each bush. Sweet and sour taste with an average sugar content of 7%, dense peel provides transportability and shelf life.

The height of the bush is up to 1.7 m with a compact, non-spreading crown. This makes the variety popular for summer cottages in small, confined areas.

Advantages: high winter hardiness, not afraid of long and severe frosts, resistance to adverse factors - drought, powdery mildew, without loss of yield.

Disadvantages: different sizes of berries, exactingness to care, low resistance to fungal diseases.

Bagheera - mid-season

Berries weighing up to 7 g, 7 pieces per brush. Very sweet, contains 12% sugar. The bushes are tall, reaching 2 m. With good care, 4.5 kg of berries are harvested from each bush.

Advantages: the variety is equally adapted to cold and heat, frost and drought, suitable for growing in a harsh continental climate. And also resistant to pests.

Sweet black currant varieties

Sweet currant varieties contain more than 10% sugars. However, they also contain vitamin C (ascorbic acid).The amount of vitamin C determines the sourness of the variety - whether it will feel strong, or weak, barely noticeable.

As a rule, sweet blackcurrant varieties have almost no sour taste. Therefore, they represent a tasty prey for wasps. For such varieties to ripen, natural protection is needed - a dense peel on the berry. Otherwise, the crop will be stably destroyed by wasps.

The sweetest varieties of black currants contain more than 12% sugars. Their taste resembles grapes, and the sweetness is provided by the name of the varieties - dessert. For information on the characteristics of black currants (different varieties: super large, sweet and fruitful) - see below on the description and photo.

Black currant is the sweetest - Green haze

A short bush, the berries of which contain up to 13% sugars. Ascorbic acid in them - 200 mg per 100 g.

The size of the berries is medium, up to 2.5 g. High yield of the bush - up to 7 kg of berries per season.

Disadvantage: poorly resistant to ticks.

Nina is an early sweet variety

The variety, in the berries of which up to 11% sugars and up to 270 mg 100 g of vitamin C. Berries up to 4 g, bushes stably bear fruit up to 4 kg over the summer. They are demanding for watering, in which they grow berries twice as large - up to 8 g each. Moreover, all berries are the same size. Easily propagated by cuttings.

Disadvantage: poor transport stability.

Bagheera is a mid-season sweet variety

A variety in which up to 12% sugar and up to 190 mg 100 g of ascorbic acid. The characteristics of the variety are given above, we will repeat them. Berries weighing up to 7, bush yield up to 4.5 kg. Ripen at once, suitable for farming.

Disadvantage: low resistance to dew and pests.

Constellation - early ripening variety

The weight of the berries is small, reaching 1.5-2 g, the sweet taste is provided by 11% of sugar in the pulp. The total yield is also average - about 2.5-3 kg per bush.

The bushes are medium-sized and slightly spreading. Branches are of medium thickness.

Advantages: the ability to bear fruit even without watering. Bushes give 3 kg of berries, even in the "worst" for growing, dry seasons. Also important: self-fertility, winter hardiness, resistance to pests and diseases.

Disadvantages: poor resistance to kidney mites.

Early varieties of black currant

Ripe berries are yielded in early July, and in the southern regions - in the middle and second half of June. For early varieties, spring frost resistance is important. They wake up early (at least April), bloom (usually in May) and more than other medium and late varieties suffer from recurrent frosts or spring cold snaps.

The early maturing varieties Dachnitsa and Selechinskaya were described above. Here are the characteristics of other varieties.

Maria Kievskaya

Berries up to 4 g, sweet and sour. Used for processing and freezing. Medium-sized spreading bushes.

Advantages: resistance to one of the common diseases of shrubs - rust, resistance to powdery mildew.

Nestor Kozin

Berry up to 4 g, sweet. The height of the bush is up to 1.5 m.

Advantages: resistant to frost, heat, powdery mildew.

Exotic

Berries up to 3 g with a sweet and sour taste. They grow on medium-sized bushes with a yield of 1.5-2 kg per year.

Advantages: bushes are not prone to thickening.

Advantages: resistance to the appearance of powdery mildew, resistance to winter cold. The keeping quality of the berries after picking.

Disadvantages: relatively low yield - up to 1 kg per bush.

Perun

Berries weight up to 2 g. Collected in a brush of 10-14 berries. Harvest from a bush - up to 2 kg. The taste is sweet with a slight sourness, 9.5% sugars, and a very strong aroma.

Advantages: resistance to winter and return frosts, to heat.

Disadvantage: it suffers greatly from powdery mildew, requires a garter of branches on a trellis.

Medium black currant varieties

Medium varieties ripen in late June and early July. Medium late - the second decade of July. They are popular due to the content of a large amount of nutrients.Among the representatives of mid-season varieties are the bestsellers Yadrenaya, Dobrynya, Izyumnaya.

Here are a few mid-season varieties.

Dubrovskaya

A variety that combines a high yield per bush (up to 3 kg) and its small compact size. Therefore, it is ideal for small summer cottages. The weight of the berry on the bush reaches 2.5 g, the taste of the berries is sweet and sour (they contain 7% sugars).

Advantages: resistant to cold weather, mites and terry.

Disadvantages: the bushes are prone to thickening, often affected by powdery mildew.

Crane

Berries of medium size (up to 1.5 g each), quite sweet in taste (contain up to 10.5% sugars). Sprawling bushes, yield up to 4 kg per year.

Advantages: the berry is dense, transportable, suitable for mechanized harvesting.

Venus

Berries up to 6 g, in a brush up to 10 berries, contain about 7% sugars - sweet and sour taste. Collect up to 5 kg from the bush. Good winter hardiness and drought resistance. Grows well and bears fruit in partial shade.

Advantages of the variety: begins to bear fruit early and extends the fruiting time to August.

Disadvantage: low resistance to mites, septoria and hazel grouse. Poor transport stability.

Late varieties of black currant

Ripen in early August. Often they are affected by fungi, pests due to prolonged aging. Therefore, for late varieties, resistance to diseases, pests, resistance to heat, and lack of water in the soil are important.

For a long time of ripening, throughout the season, the bushes are exposed to various "misfortunes". They must successfully survive the lack of moisture, release new pagons and grow a consistently high berry yield.

Also important: for a long ripening, the berries need a dense peel. It shouldn't crack. Such berries are excellent for transportation, they are not damaged during mechanized picking. It is also convenient to freeze them. Here are the characteristics of popular late-ripening varieties.

Bummer - late-ripening variety

Berries up to 3 g, sweet (more than 9% sugar), collected in medium-sized clusters, 8-10 berries each. The yield indicator is average - 2.2 kg of ripe berries from a currant bush per season. The bushes themselves are tall, dense, medium spreading.

Features of agricultural technology - suitable for mechanized assembly.

Advantages: frost resistance and resistance to pests, fungal diseases, except for dew.

Disadvantages: instability to powdery mildew, gradual ripening, unstable yield.

Arcadia

A variety with fairly large sweet and sour berries, the weight of which reaches 5 g. The yield per bush is average and is 2.5 kg. The bush is 1-1.2 m with curved branches.

The variety has a disadvantage, traditional for low bushes: under the weight of the crop, the branches fall to the ground.

Vologda

Yield leader among late varieties. Yields 5 kg of berries from a bush, the weight of which is more than 2.2 g. Berries grow in clusters of 40 for easy harvesting. Sprawling bush, withstands cold up to -35 and heat up to +45.

Disadvantage: Prone to rust, uneven maturation, requires garter.

Altai Late

Produces berries of medium size - up to 1.2 g in weight, collected in 10-14 pieces per cluster. The sweetness of the taste is provided by 8% sugars.

The variety is resistant to various fungi and pests, except for powdery mildew.

Tatyana's Day

Sufficiently sweet (9.5% sugar) and medium-sized (up to 1.5 g) berries. Up to 3 kg of harvest ripens on the bush. Suitable for mechanized assembly.

Disadvantage: not resistant to spider mites and powdery mildew.

Throughout Russia, black currant grows near every house. Undemanding to the composition of the soil, accustomed to harsh winters, it yields even in the subarctic zone... This garden culture bears fruit even in Yakutia and the Khibiny, reached Sakhalin in the east and Krasnodar Territory in the south.

She inherited such a universal adaptation to the whims of the weather from a wild ancestor - the forest currant.There are a lot of varieties and varieties, so it is very difficult for a novice gardener (and not only) to make a choice.

Choosing varieties for central Russia

Early variety of black currant Exotic

What are the differences between the varieties:

1. By appointment,
2. Ripening terms,
3. The size of the berries,
4. Productivity,
5. The taste of berries
6. Resistance to diseases and pests,
7. Winter hardiness ...

It is very easy to understand the purpose of the variety:

• berries are tasty on their own - this is a dessert variety,
• thin-skinned, but too sour - boil jam or grind with sugar;
• berries with a dense strong skin are frozen,
• universal (understandable).

In order not to be mistaken, it is necessary to choose only zoned varieties.... Only on such bushes can you get a high yield stably and without much effort.

Ripening terms, size of berries, their taste may differ not only from the region of cultivation, but even from watering or soil composition. Already at a distance of more than 200 kilometers, the characteristics of the variety can change significantly.

If you live in the middle lane, you should take a closer look at these varieties:

Curiosity, Selechinskaya, Exotic, Openwork, Summer resident, Orlovia, Exotic

Black pearl, Loyalty, Perun, Green haze, Zusha

Kipiana, Vigorous, Venus, Mermaid

Among the fruit-bearing ones, the Selechinskaya, because he combined the best qualities of his ancestors - wild currant and gooseberry.

Most varieties have an Achilles heel - they cannot grow without abundant watering. But Selechenskaya calmly copes with both summer drought and frosty winters, which makes its choice suitable for any region of Russia.

An early variety of black currant Selechenskaya

To all this, also add five kilograms from a bush of large berries the size of a cherry... There are no special advantages in varieties intermediate between early and late ones. They give fewer berries, and this is not because the varieties are not good enough.

It's just that the period of their fruiting falls on the period of summer heat and dry wind.

The main purpose of these varieties is to fill a niche in front of the later, most productive varieties.

Ripening of late varieties of berries lasts from late July to. the end of autumn. Wherein the Kipiana variety has a yield of up to 5 kg and is resistant to powdery mildew and is not afraid of kidney mites.

Late black currant Kipiana

Vibrant yields late, but these berries can compete even with grapes in size - even 8 grams... There is a known case when an experienced gardener had a berry reached the size of a metal ruble!

Late variety of black currant Yadrenaya

The Viper bush usually yields almost 4 kilograms of berries.... The popularity of the variety is also due to its resistance to pests and fungal diseases.

Currant for Siberia

Siberia is known not only for its harsh winters, but also for its hot dry summers. These stressful weather conditions are easily tolerated by the zoned Siberian varieties:

Lama, Nika, Gift to Kuzior

Altayanka, Agatha, Galinka, Rita, Spherical, Fun, Prestige, Ksyusha

Mila, Harmony

New varieties successfully withstand not only frost, but also arid heat. They are able to withstand major fungal diseases and insect pests.

In terms of early maturity, the specified varieties also set records: the first harvest from the currant bush of the new Nika variety reaches 1.2 kilograms.

Nick's early blackcurrant variety

Berries of Siberian currant Large-fruited Litvinova even reach 6 grams!

Blackcurrant Large-fruited Litvinova

What are the largest-fruited varieties?

Undoubtedly, varieties of unusually large berries will become the leaders of the list.

Vigorous	medium late variety for universal use berries from 3 to 8 grams non-uniform, yield 3-6 kilograms per bush, non-uniform fruits, aging quickly
Dobrynya	universal purpose, bears fruit in the second half of July, berries up to 7 grams are also irregular, almost five kilograms can be removed from the bush
Selechenskaya-2	universal variety, bears fruit in early July. Berry picking - up to 5 kilograms per bush

The best large-fruited varieties: Vigorous, Selechenskaya, Globus, Pygmy.

When choosing a super-large-fruited variety, one should not forget that usually such plants require additional feeding and watering, especially in dry summers and if they are planted on sandy soils.

The most resistant varieties

They practically do not get sick, which means - the harvest is ecologically cleanest among the varieties:

• drought tolerant - Dobrynya, Gulliver, Izumnaya;
• disease resistant - Sibylla, Gross, Gamma, Gulliver, Sevchanka, Globus, Muravushka;
• frost-resistant - Sibylla, Venus, Romance, Globe, Pearl, Rhapsody, Vigorous;
• pest resistant - Orlovia, Kipiana, Grazia, Gamma.

Gourmets also have plenty to choose from

If the score is higher than 4.5 points, the variety is assigned to the dessert category: Centaur, Perun, Selechenskaya, Selechenskaya-2, Nadia, Venus, Oryol waltz, Slastena, Beaumond, Nestor Kozin, Tisel, Uralskaya sweet, Raisin, Black eye.

The Izumnaya variety has an interesting feature: after ripening, the berries do not crumble from the stalk, but gradually "rave", hence the name of the variety.

Black currant Raisin

Best-tasting early varieties - Pearl, Black Boomer, Raisin, Legend.

Currant Black Boomer

Lazy person - late variety with very large berries up to 6 grams.

Blackcurrant Lazy

What's new for residents of the Moscow region?

The weather in the Moscow region is characterized by relatively mild winters and rather warm, humid summers. This is the climate that black currants like. However, the soil composition differs even in the districts of the Moscow region.

It is necessary to select varieties not according to yield or taste, but exclusively, adapted to the specifics of the soil composition of the region.

The most famous varieties among summer residents: Veloy, Memory Lisavenko, Sudarushka, Dobrynya, Yadrenaya.

To feast on berries all season, you must choose from the following varieties:

Sevchanka, Nara, Moscow black, Dar Smolyaninova, Golubichka, Selechenskaya, Selechenskaya-2

Dobrynya, Green haze, Darkie, Oryol serenade, Daughter, Izmailovskaya, Paulinka, Perun

Vologda, Lazy, Veloy

It should be noted that late varieties for the Moscow region are far from the best choice. Summer residents simply may not have time to take advantage of all the best qualities of the same, for example, Lazy - the berries may not ripen.

The Yadrenaya variety, as already noted, was highly appreciated by summer residents for many literally unique qualities:

• high yield,
• very large plum berries,
• compact bush,
• self-fertility,
• winter hardiness,
• early maturity.

Even if you are overwhelmed by the size and flavor of the berries, there are still some characteristics you need to figure out.

What characteristics should you pay attention to first of all:

• self-fertility (no additional pollinator required),
• susceptibility to diseases and pests,
• resistance to spring frosts and other weather factors.

If you plant several varieties nearby (even self-fertile ones), there will be much more berries.

Therefore, stress-resistant Gulliver will not create problems with weather whims, and Smolyaninova's gift will delight you with an early harvest even without chemical treatments for pests and diseases.

Black currant gulliver

Another gift for fans of ecological products - variety Orlovskaya serenada, which is practically not afraid of kidney mites , and from fungal diseases - powdery mildew.

Black currant Oryol serenade

The Selechenskaya-2 variety with its increased ecological plasticity, will not be afraid of a lack of water and unsuitable soils... As a result, the summer resident will receive from the bush his required 5 kilograms of berries the size of a cherry.

Conclusion

It is very difficult to choose the right variety of black currant bush., but there is a correct solution to this problem for an ordinary summer resident. This is to acquire zoned modern varieties of different ripening periods. Their high yield, unpretentiousness, harmonious taste have already found confirmation in personal plots throughout the country.

Black currant berries contain a huge amount of vitamins. The bushes of the plant are found on every personal plot, the berry is rightfully popular. There are so many varieties of it that for each climatic region a suitable one is selected according to its characteristics. Let's try to figure out together what is the best variety: black currant - 15 varieties - large-fruited, high-yielding.

Each of the varieties has special characteristics. And only comparing them, it becomes possible to dwell on the right choice, determining one or another berry variety for cultivation in your garden. It takes into account the timing of ripening, differences in taste, the thickness of the berry skins, resistance to the hot season, the ability to endure frosty winters, resistance to diseases and harmful parasites.

Today, more than two hundred varieties are known that are suitable for cultivation in different regions of Russia. Choosing the most suitable variety for growing is always difficult, because there are quite a few of them. In this case, it is recommended to plant three to four species, differing in terms of ripening. This will allow you to increase the period of fruiting and determine which species is more tasty in its qualities and feels better in your garden.

Distinctive features of currant varieties

The first impression suggests that all shrubs of black currant species are similar. But this is only the first impression. In fact, there are a huge number of varieties known, and breeders continue to breed new varieties. The main way to cross is selected large-berry varieties, this helps to grow bountiful yields that are easy to harvest.

But the success of the harvest depends not only on this. The gardener's actions should be distinguished by the absence of errors in them. The choice of varieties must be correct, the placement of the bushes on the site must meet the requirements, the care must be organized as necessary. If the conditions are met, the currant will gratefully respond to the care shown with an excellent harvest.

Early

A large number of varieties of black currant are known, ripening early. The following are considered promising:

• Selechinskaya 2 - the variety differs significantly from the usual currant berries, combining the best differences between wild currants and gooseberries. Its bushes tolerate the dry period without any problems. The berries of this early variety are distinguished by their versatility, their yields are enviably high and amount to four to five kilograms from each bush. The size of the berries is large, rounded in shape. The color is black, shiny. The mass of one is from three to five and a half grams, the taste is amazing. Each hundred grams of the product contains 161 mg of vitamin C. This variety is capable of developing well in any region of Russia. Berry bushes are distinguished by strong straight branches, they do not need tying.

• A summer resident is more suitable for the European regions of Russia than others. This type of currant is distinguished by high yield indicators, large-sized berries (from two to three and a half grams), and short ripening periods. The bushes are so stunted in size that with bountiful harvests, the branches adhere to the surface of the earth. The berries have good taste, without the characteristic sourness. Their ripening is uneven, which makes it possible to harvest for a long period.The cultivar is known for its resistance to powdery mildew and anthracnose, as well as rust and kidney mites.

• Exotic - refers to varieties with large berries, fully ripens in the middle lane. The cultivar was developed by crossing Blueberry Seedling and Bradthorpe. The berry weighs up to three grams, its taste is sour-sweet, the skin is shiny. Berries, when separated from the branches, remain dry, collected quickly and easily, and can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. The bush gives a high yield, is characterized by medium growth and straight branches, not too thick. The foliage is large, the axis of the berry brush is straight. Up to ten berries are tied on it. It resists powdery mildew, but is affected by anthracnose. The variety tolerates winter cold well. The yield is not very high - one bush gives up to a kilogram of berries, which differ in manufacturability.

• Maria Kievskaya - gives stable yields of medium volumes. The bushes are resistant to columnar rust and powdery mildew. Their forms are of medium height and slight spreading. Berries weigh up to four grams, sweet and sour, used for processing or freezing.

• Nestor Kozin is another early variety. The berries are quite large (from three to four grams), sweet in taste. Compact bushes reach one and a half meters. This variety produces good yields from the second season of development. The plant perfectly resists anthracnose and powdery mildew, perfectly tolerates frosty winters and dry seasons.

• Perun - this variety has a pleasant aroma, it is considered a dessert. The berries weigh about two grams and contain a large amount of sugar. Medium-sized crops, up to one and a half kilograms per bush. The plant perfectly tolerates return frosts, does not suffer from dry seasons. The main disadvantage of this species is that it is considered overly susceptible to powdery mildew.

Average

Gardeners prefer to grow these varieties because of the large size of the berries and the timing of their ripening:

• Dubrovskaya - perfectly tolerates the winter season, resists kidney mites and anthracnose, does not lend itself to terry. The yield reaches three kilograms from each bush, which is distinguished by its low growth and compact size. The berries are medium in size.

• Dobrynya - perfectly tolerates the dry period and spring frosts. Does not lend itself to powdery mildew, well resists anthracnose and mites. The bush is weak and erect, but differs in large berries, yields yields of up to two and a half kilograms.

• Raisin is a dessert variety with an average ripening period. Berries of different sizes, from medium to large, their average weight is about three grams, their aroma is refreshing, in one hundred grams of the product the content of vitamin C reaches one hundred and seventy grams. The plant has a high yield, resists powdery mildew, spring frost and winter cold. Berries are considered one of the sweetest among the other varieties of currants. They do not wither on the branches, do not crumble when ripe.

• Yadrenaya is another representative of medium-ripening varieties. The berries are one-dimensional, rather large (about five grams), plum-shaped. The taste is somewhat refreshing, sourish. The yield is high, reaching twelve tons per hectare. Bushes perfectly tolerate frost, resist various pests, powdery mildew and rust. The main disadvantage is the very rapid aging of the bushes, which occurs due to a decrease in the growth of young shoots. The variety is more suitable for Western Siberia. Growing it in the middle lane leads to a decrease in yield and size of berries.

Late

• Venus - the weight of the berries reaches six grams, the skin is thin. The taste is excellent. The berry is sweet, suitable for fresh consumption and for processing. The productivity of the variety is high, and its resistance to the winter period is good.The variety perfectly tolerates powdery mildew, resists harmful parasites, does not die in the dry season. Bushes of medium height, strong and spreading. Fruiting occurs early.

• Vologda is a vigorous currant bush that winters well, resists powdery mildew and bud mites, but is susceptible to rust. The yield of large-sized berries is about four kilograms per bush, their ripening is uneven.

• Katyusha - hibernates without problems, resistant to anthracnose and powdery mildew, susceptible to kidney mites. The bush is tall, the spreading is weak. The berries are large in shape, their skin is dense.

• Mermaid - begins to bear fruit early, perfectly tolerates winter cold. The yield reaches three and a half kilograms. A vigorous bush has medium spreading and large berries. The plant resists powdery mildew and kidney mites, septoria and anthracnose.

• Bagheera - average yields of this variety reach twelve tons of berries per hectare of medium size, sweet and sour taste. The variety perfectly tolerates winter cold, does not lend itself to powdery mildew and kidney mites. The main difference between Bagira berries is their excellent transportability and the ability to use mechanized technologies during cultivation.

Features of different varieties

• Varieties with berries that have a dessert flavor are recommended for eating. If the skin is thin, then the berries are better suited for rubbing with sugar. Thicker-skinned people tolerate freezing well, retaining their qualities.
• If you have problems with watering, opt for breeding drought-resistant varieties. The types of currants are divided according to the content of vitamin C in berries, the resistance of plants to recurrent spring frosts. It is very important to take into account the unpretentiousness of the plants - resistance to winter cold, diseases and pests.
• The individual conditions of each site, the climate and the organization of care can affect the taste of berries, yield and other parameters.
• The results of long-term observations of the studied varieties have proved that almost all of them are able to withstand winter conditions. Occasionally freezing of shoots can be observed in the most severe cold weather.
• As a rule, black currants begin their growing season from mid-April or early May. From its beginning to the onset of flowering, it takes from two weeks to one month.
  The plant blooms from the second half of May. At the same time, the earlier varieties bloom several days faster than the middle and late ones. The flowering period lasts three to four weeks.
  Black currant bears fruit on mixed shoots, the annual growth of which is up to twenty-five centimeters. One of the main indicators of the value of a variety is the weight of the berries, their sweetness and aroma.

Plant care

1. Black currant loves lighted areas, but can grow in shaded areas. It is recommended to place plantings along the southwest walls of buildings.
2. The plant is hygrophilous. For this reason, watering is recommended during the dry season in early June, July and mid-August. Irrigation method - sprinkling.
3. Black currant bushes do not tolerate excessively humid places. Groundwater should be no closer than one and a half meters from currant roots. In the third year of growth, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers in the form of humus or compost under each bush. Their rate is half a bucket per bush. For the same purpose, superphosphates and potassium sulfate are used. Nitrogen-containing substances are used annually. Eighty grams of saltpeter is applied under the bush.
   The root system of the currant is located close to the surface of the ground, so we recommend loosening it with great care.
4. Currants are planted until the buds bloom, with the beginning of spring. But the autumn period is better suited for this procedure.Landing is carried out according to the scheme of two meters by one and a half. Reproduction of currants is carried out by cuttings and layering. For planting, they are prepared in half a meter in size, it is recommended to bury the seedling ten centimeters, maintaining a slight slope. Planting is completed by cutting off the shoots to the second or third bud.
5. During the growth period, the bush should consist of fifteen to twenty branches, differing in different ages. Cutting currant bushes is recommended in early spring, before the buds begin to bloom. The same procedure is performed in the fall, after the fall of the foliage is completed. In this case, thinning of the bushes is carried out by removing five-year-old branches, which are characterized by weak growth.

Useful qualities of berries

• They are considered beneficial to the body. Berries are used by traditional medicine as therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
  Black currant prevents cancer, has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.
• For elderly people, the use of currant berries is recommended in order to prevent the weakening of mental abilities.
• Currant berries prevent the manifestation of diabetes. For this purpose, they are introduced into the diet in order to strengthen and improve the body during the period of various diseases.
• Currant fruit helps in the treatment of kidney stones, liver and respiratory organs. The content of vitamin C in them is an important factor for the proper functioning of the body.

Black currant is a useful plant. Berry bushes are easy to grow. It remains only to choose varieties that will feel great in the garden. The beneficial properties of this amazing berry are preserved in it under all known processing methods and storage conditions.

Currants are a favorite garden berry. In our country, it is grown everywhere. This culture has gained popularity due to its taste, nutritional and healing properties. Breeders have bred thousands of varieties of different currant colors. Each of them has its own characteristics.

Currant varieties

Currants, like other crops, come in different varieties. Each of them has its own specific shape, size, color of berries, pulp consistency, taste, aroma and much more.

Currant varieties differ from one another in the size of the fruit clusters and the density of the berries on them. And different ripening periods allow to increase the period of fresh berries consumption.

Red and white currants

Usually currants of these two flowers are considered as one crop, since the berries differ only in color. Red currants were known as early as the 5th century. It was grown by the Dutch for beauty. First of all, its decorative qualities were appreciated, the berries were of no interest. The red currant has become very popular in Europe. In Russia, they got acquainted with this culture only in the 15th century.

White currant became known much later. At the beginning of the last century, it was considered one of the varieties of red currant with an atypical berry color for this species. These two varieties do not have a pronounced aroma, but differ in taste and useful properties. The best varieties of white and red currants are unpretentious to growing conditions, but they feel better on loamy and sandy loam soils. These are very light-loving plants, undemanding to moisture. It should be remembered that with a lack of lighting, the berries lose their taste and color. The culture is resistant to disease and damage.

With proper care, these two varieties of currant produce high yields. Bushes covered with red and white berries look very beautiful. Fruit formations of white and red currants are more durable than black ones, the berries are evenly distributed over the bush, they are less thickened by shoots. The plant can bear fruit for 15-20 years, growing without transplanting to another place.

Red currant: varieties

1. "Varshevich" is distinguished by the originality of the color of the fruit. They have a pronounced dark purple color. It is a self-fertile variety that ripens late. On a large, powerful bush, many fruits of a round or slightly compressed shape are formed. Medium-sized berries with juicy purple flesh have a sour taste and form a long cluster. Ripe fruits remain on the branches for a long time. For its high yield, unusual fruit color and decorative effect of the bush, this variety of currants is popular with gardeners. Fresh berries are used less often, more often they are processed.
2. "Nenaglyadnaya" is a variety that has an average ripening period. The bush is characterized by small size, medium branching and thick, straight stems. The rounded berries are bright and medium in size. There are many of them on the brushes, and they are evenly distributed. The fruits of sweet and sour taste have a universal purpose. This variety is not afraid of severe frosts, it has a high yield and is not affected by powdery mildew.
3. A typical representative of a medium-ripe variety of currants, the photo of which you see above, is "Svetlitsa". The bush is medium in size, compact and erect shoots. The rounded berries are not large in size, but very juicy and tasty. This variety, despite its small berries, gives high yields and is not susceptible to fungal diseases.

Large-fruited red currant

1. "Chulkovskaya" red currant belongs to an old variety, which even today attracts the attention of amateurs and specialists of this type of culture by its early ripening and taste of the fruit. The red currant variety differs in the small size of the bush. The best varieties include Chulkovskaya currants. Long brushes are strewn with large red berries, round or pear-shaped. They are distinguished by tender, juicy pulp and sweetish taste. Ripe berries, without crumbling, remain on the branches for a long time. This sweet variety of currant consumed fresh or processed.
2. Variety "Jonker van tete" has a medium-early ripening period. This Dutch currant variety was bred in early 1941. In our country, it gained popularity in the nineties of the last century for its excellent taste and resistance to disease and damage. This variety gives high yields and is resistant to low temperatures. Differs in a powerful, large, dense bush of red currant varieties. The best varieties include this particular species. On long or medium-sized clusters, you can count up to ten very large, bright berries. The shape of the fruits is round or pear-shaped, they are covered with a dense, elastic skin. The pulp is juicy and very tasty. Therefore, this currant is so fond of eating fresh.
3. The large-fruited currant of the "Uralskaya krasavitsa" variety is one of the best varieties of domestic selection. Differs in low spreading bushes and disease resistance. Therefore, the leaves are preserved until the first frost. The culture belongs to the early ripening period. The disadvantage is that the yield increases gradually, in direct proportion to the long-term growth of wood. The berries are distinguished by their large size, excellent taste and pleasant aroma.

White currant: varieties

1. "Jumping" is a type of white currant and has an average ripening period. The bushes of the plant are distinguished by average growth vigor, branches are spreading, with a bountiful harvest they sag and fall. On clusters of medium length, there are usually many not very large berries of a light pink color, round in shape. Sweet and sour fruits have a universal purpose. Ripe berries remain on the tassels for a long time, do not crumble. At this time, they intensively acquire taste. White currant of the "jumping" variety is ideal for freezing. This variety bears abundant fruit and has an excellent taste.
2. "Dutch" white currant belongs to an old variety, but recently it has been persistently replaced by other, more promising species. Although many gardeners believe that in vain. The bushes of this plant are not very spreading, compact, which allows them to maximize the use of the area of ​​the site when planting them. This variety of currant bears fruit better in moist, fertile soil, resistant to low temperatures. The berries are medium in size and have a rounded, slightly compressed shape. Their skin is transparent. Seeds and veins on the surface are clearly visible. The pulp is juicy and delicious. Ripe berries do not crumble, they are harvested in one step. This currant is good fresh. But its processing will not affect the taste.
3. The versailles white currant is well known to gardeners who breed it on their plots. It is attractive for its high yields and tasty, large-sized berries. Its bushes are compact and medium in size. This currant gives high yields, growing on fertile soils. It tolerates frost well. By the time of ripening, it belongs to the middle varieties. Large berries are light cream in color and rounded. In the process of growth, they hardly change in size. Their skin is transparent, seeds and veins are visible through it. The pulp is very juicy, sugar and acid are harmoniously combined in it, which gives the fruit a refreshing taste. The berry is especially good when fresh. In addition, jams, compotes, juices, syrups, jams and much more are made from it.

Red currant: benefits

Red currant berries are rich in potassium, iron, succinic and malic acids. They contain pectin and carotene. The use of berries helps to remove excess fluid from the body, serves as a prevention of heart and vascular diseases.

Red currant fruits are used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. They eliminate nausea and stimulate appetite. They are used as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, hematopoietic, laxative and tonic. The use of malic and succinic acids contained in berries energizes the body. Therefore, it is recommended to use them for elderly people. Red currant juice maintains the tone of the body at the proper level.

Red currant harm

The benefits of red currants are obvious and indisputable. But with some diseases, it can be harmful. In this case, it must be excluded from the diet. Drinking juice is categorically contraindicated for people suffering from stomach ulcers, hepatitis, gastritis and low blood clotting.

Black currant

The name of this type of culture comes from the word "currant", which translated from Old Russian means "persistent smell" characteristic of this species. The black currant is to the liking of gardeners, and its delicious berries have long been loved by children and adults. Description of currant varieties provides a wide choice of crops. After all, this plant is characterized by resistance to low temperatures and fungal diseases. Black currant is a fast-growing, high-yielding crop with annual fruiting. It does not have great requirements for growing conditions. And its berries have excellent taste and healing properties.

Black currant: varieties

1. "Little Prince" is an early variety. It features a low bush and its convenient shape, which simplifies harvesting. It is resistant to all diseases, severe frosts and prolonged drought. Bears fruit regularly and abundantly. The berries on the tassels are densely arranged and ripen at the same time. This makes them easier to collect. Brushes are small in size, there are paired and single. The berries are juicy, bright black in color, covered with a thin delicate skin. Lovers of sweet and sour fruits will love them.
2. "Openwork" black currant is a highly self-fertile variety. It is frost resistant.He is not afraid of abrupt weather changes. The intense heat does not oppress him. It bears fruit regularly and has a consistently average yield. This culture is resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose disease. But sometimes it is affected by kidney mites. Curved thick tassels are short to medium in size. The rounded berries are large, shiny and have a sweet, sour taste. If you choose which varieties of currants are better, you can stop there.
3. "Bagheera" refers to a late variety and is distinguished by high frost resistance and abundant harvests. There is a slight freezing of shoots if frost and thaw often alternate. This variety is not damaged by terry and anthracnose, but powdery mildew can sometimes harm the plant. Fruits are evenly distributed on thin small branches. The berries are the same size and have a distinct black color. The shiny, thin skin is very tough. The fruits have a delicate aroma and sweet taste.

Large-fruited black currant

1. "Exotic" is the largest-fruited variety of black currant. Differs in high yield and early ripening. The bush is powerful, vigorous, erect branches, strong. Do not bend from the weight of large berries, which form a brush evenly. The fruits are juicy and have a pleasant sweetish taste. The best varieties of black currant are represented by this type of culture.
2. "Aleander" refers to varieties of large-fruited black currant. Differs in a tall, spreading bush and branches lying under it. The leaves are dark green, strong and slightly wrinkled. The plant is resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose, but prone to damage by bud mites. The culture of this variety of currants tolerates the harsh winter months, but drought is not a comfortable condition for its growth and abundant fruiting. There are many large berries on long, thick, arched clusters. They have a pleasant taste and fragrant aroma.
3. "Selechenskaya-2" is one of the best varieties of black currant. Tall, compact bushes have many strong branches that do not need a garter. This variety is not afraid of fungal and tick-borne diseases. Very rarely, it is affected by a kidney mite. This is a versatile variety that tolerates severe frosts and prolonged heat. Strong, curved clusters have many very large gooseberry-like berries. The fruits are covered with a firm, thick skin. They are not torn during harvest. The berries are tasty, sweet, and have a peculiar delicate aroma.

Useful properties of black currant

The description of the varieties of currants will not be complete, if not to say about their benefits. Black currant is the healthiest berry in existence. It is called the pantry of substances necessary for a person. It has an excellent taste and is appreciated for its high healing properties. The berry contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, carotene and biotin, which is called the vitamin of youth.

Black currant has long been widely used in folk medicine. The content of iron, potassium and magnesium allows the use of fruits and leaves for anemia, vascular and heart diseases. Black currant is rich in pectins, phytoncides, essential and tannins.

The berry of this variety of currants lowers cholesterol levels, treats eczema and skin diseases, helps with depression and stress. Ulcers and gastritis are treated with flowers and young leaves of black currant, and rheumatism and kidneys are treated with berries. Currently, there are thousands of recipes for various diseases based on black currant.

Diseases of the currant

Currants, like other plants, are affected by diseases and damaged by pests. If you plant the best varieties of currants on your site, you can avoid infection with many infectious diseases. But you need to know the most common ones.

1. Anthracnose is a disease of leaves, their petioles, stalks and fruits.It affects plants starting in May. It is characterized by the appearance of small brown spots, which grow over time. The leaves begin to turn yellow, curl and fall off. Shoots slow down growth and do not have time to ripen. To prevent disease in early spring and late autumn, you should dig up the ground around the bush. And before the buds bloom, spray with a solution of vitriol. You can apply Bordeaux liquid. It is sprayed four times during the growing season: during the budding period, at the end of flowering, half a month after flowering, after harvesting.
2. Terry is a viral disease and therefore can spread quickly. Carriers are bed bugs, kidney mites and aphids. This disease is characterized by a change in the shape and color of leaves and flowers. The plant stops bearing fruit. To combat the disease, branches are cut or the entire bush is removed. The main thing is to fight the spread of the disease.

Currant pests

1. The kidney mite is very small and can only be seen through a magnifying glass or loupe. It damages the buds of the plant, which acquire a spherical shape and do not release leaves and flowers. The tick waits out the winter in its buds. It spreads through planting material, birds and insects. Effective means of combating this pest have not yet been invented. But the fight must be waged. For this, the plant is sprayed several times: before bud break, two weeks after it and before flowering. There are a lot of solutions for spraying. In any store, they are presented in a large assortment.
2. The sawfly has a good appetite. He eats all the leaves. Its larvae are in cocoons, which are buried in the ground under a plant bush. Here the pest waits out the winter. The fight against it consists in digging in autumn and spraying in several stages: when buds open, buds are formed, at the end of flowering. To prevent the pest from multiplying, its larvae are periodically shaken off and burned.