Blackcurrant Incomparable

Some fruit and berry varieties have names that accurately describe this subspecies. In this article, we will consider the incomparable black currant.

Blackcurrant Incomparable - description

This subspecies of such a fruit and berry culture as currants rightfully belongs to one of the best varieties, both for private cultivation and on an industrial scale. This plant is fast-growing and high-yielding, which can perfectly adapt to different weather conditions. This culture is quite unpretentious in care and is endowed with excellent taste characteristics of the fruit.

The bush of this subspecies of currant has an average height, a fairly dense crown, but at the same time it is quite compact. The shoots of this shrub are straight and shiny. They have a yellow-green color and an anthocyanin bloom. The leaves of this bush have a slightly wrinkled structure, dense. The brushes are elongated, reaching 14 centimeters. On each brush there are, on average, 8-13 berries, sweet in taste with a slight sourness. The subspecies belongs to plants with a medium early ripening period, as well as with an average self-fertility.

This subspecies appeared at the All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Fruit Plants in the Tambov Region, thanks to breeders led by I. Tolmachev, by hybridization and closely related subspecies Zelenoplodnaya and 94/3 (resulting from the selection of varieties Primorsky Champion and Sanders). In 1986, the subspecies entered the state trials of varieties, and in 1995 it was entered into the State Register and zoned for the Central Black Earth Region.

At the end of the description, I would like to note an interesting fact: when comparing the aromas of red and black currant, the second wins due to the huge content of essential oils in it. That is why its leaves are used as an additive to various dishes and homemade preparations.

Blackcurrant Incomparable - characteristics

This subspecies of currants at the time of ripening is considered a mid-early variety, the fruits begin to ripen at the very beginning of the summer season almost simultaneously. Berries are large in size, each can reach a weight of 1.2 grams, while a case of reaching a maximum weight of 7.5 grams is known. These fruits are round in shape. The surface of such a berry is covered with a thin, but at the same time dense skin of a black shade and matte structure. The cup also has a round shape, it is open, and tends to fall off when it matures.

The yield indicator of this variety averages 3.7 kilograms per plant, or, if considered on an industrial scale, 12.5 tons per hectare. This culture begins to produce the most abundant harvest 5-6 years after planting. During the tasting, the fruits of this subspecies were highly appreciated, they received an assessment of 4.8 points out of five possible. The taste of these berries is sweet, with a small amount of acidity; in short, it can be called refreshing.

These fruits are excellent to use both fresh and processed (as compotes, jam, preserves, and also actively used in confectionery).

The nutritional value of these fruits is 44 kcal per 100 grams of product. These berries contain: 1 gram of protein, 7.3 grams of carbohydrates, 0.4 grams of fat.The chemical composition of these fruits contains: ascorbic acid 200 milligrams per 100 grams of product (222 percent of the daily value), potassium 350 grams (14 percent of the daily value), magnesium 31 grams (7.8 percent of the daily value), Vitamin 6, 5 percent (0.13 milligrams), Vitamin H 4.8 percent (2.4 milligrams), Vitamin E 4.7 percent (0.7 milligrams), Vitamin B4 2.5 percent (12.3 milligrams), Vitamin B2 2.2 percent (0.04 milligrams), phosphorus 4.1 percent (33 milligrams), all values ​​are from the daily value.

Blackcurrant Incomparable: Advantages and Disadvantages

Also, like any other variety of currants, this subspecies has its positive and negative qualities, despite all its superiority. The advantages of this plant include:

• - Good level of frost resistance and resistance to humid air.
• - A high level of early maturity, the shrub begins its fruiting period already in the second or third year after disembarkation.
• - A good indicator of productivity.
• - Immunity to diseases of a fungal nature, as well as to the attack of a kidney mite.
• - Unpretentious care.
• - Valuable biochemical content of fruits.
• - Excellent taste and juiciness of the fruit, therefore, as a result, there is a great demand in enterprises.

The disadvantages of the variety include the following points:

• - Occasionally it happens that with the arrival of the spring period, the buds are damaged due to the drop in air temperature, which ultimately leads to a sharp decrease in the yield of this crop.
• - Various diseases from neighboring infected areas are often transferred to this plant with the wind and pests.
• - Low level of endurance to the dry season, due to the rather hot weather, this plant is capable of shedding foliage and fruits, which is why at this time this culture requires abundant enough and frequent watering.

Blackcurrant Incomparable: Growing and Care

Now let's take a closer look at the features of planting and movement for this subspecies of black currant. The rhizome of this culture consists of fibrous branched roots, rather shallow, at about a depth of 15-35 centimeters. The stems of the shrub of different ages are at different levels, due to which the bush can bear fruit for up to 15 years. This subspecies is considered self-fertile, so it does not need pollinators for fruiting.

Site selection and disembarkation

Blackcurrant Incomparable loves to grow and bear fruit perfectly in good light. This light requirement means that the landing site must be open to sunlight. It will be best if there are no trees near the shrub that can shade the shrub. Also, the site for future growth must be completely protected from strong and cold winds. It is worth noting that such a berry culture as black currant is considered a fairly moisture-loving plant, therefore its root system is located close to the soil surface. That is why the wild bush of this culture can often be seen growing on the banks of reservoirs and in swampy forests.

It should be noted that, although this culture loves moisture, but in the garden it does not tolerate stagnant water, it begins to give poor growth at the same time, is completely covered with lichens and is aging rapidly.

Blackcurrant Incomparable is bad for saline, acidic and podzolic soils. The best option for planting would be clay soils, but not dense ones. Although other soils are possible, provided that these soils are sufficiently well fertilized with organic fertilizers, as well as moistened. The optimal soil acidity index for growing this crop is 6-6.5.

The best period for the procedure for planting this variety of currants is the autumn season, until about the second half of October.Experienced gardeners try not to plant this plant in the spring period of the year, because the buds wake up quite early in the culture and stress can happen to it.

The plan for planting should be drawn up in advance, so as not to transplant this bush afterwards. The best distance left between shrubs when planting several specimens at once is considered one and a half meters, while for honey in rows this distance should be equal to two meters. If a seedling of this subspecies is planted near a fence or fence, then the distance from it should be one meter, not less. With such a planting scheme, this berry culture will bear fruit perfectly and very rarely get sick.

When planting a seedling of this subspecies, the following sequence of actions is required:

• - The planting hole should be dug out taking into account the rhizome of this seedling, it should have a size of 60 by 60 centimeters, and the depth should be the same, 60 centimeters.
• - At the bottom of the planting hole, it is required to pour a layer of mineral fertilizers and organic matter. To do this, you need to mix two buckets of compost, humus and peat, about half a kilogram of superphosphate and the same amount of wood ash.
• - The bark neck of the plant should be deepened when planting by 8-10 centimeters, so that a large number of basal buds are in the ground. If you do not do this, then unproductive and short-lived shrub shrub will be formed.
• - The planted seedling needs to be watered abundantly, regardless of the level of soil moisture.
• - Trimming is required at a height of 20-25 centimeters from the surface of the soil, while leaving 4-5 buds. This helps to stimulate the growth of strong zero shoots at the bottom of the shrub, future carriers of fruits.
• - Around this shrub, it is required to apply a layer of mulch, which is organic fertilizers such as humus, sawdust and peat.

Care features

This fruit and berry crop needs to be watered about 4-5 times in one season. And during hot and dry weather in the summer season, the irrigation procedure is performed once every 7 days. With a lack of moisture in the soil, the fruits of this subspecies will be small in size, and the growth of shoots will slow down quite a lot. Watering for this shrub is done at the root, and with settled water and in a volume of 8-10 liters for each plant. It will be better to make the watering procedure in the evening, after sunset.

As it has been repeatedly noted, the incomparable black currant produces beautiful large fruits only on a living land rich in organic fertilizers. Therefore, it is imperative to loosen the soil and mulch it around the shrub with peat, rotted manure, humus. The weed of grasses obtained during weeding is also suitable for mulching, moreover, it can attract earthworms that loosen the soil, contribute to its moisture, as well as saturation with nitrogen, make the soil quite fertile. It should be noted that the layer of mulch should be at least 6-7 centimeters.

Blackcurrant Incomparable needs feeding with phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. At the same time, nitrogen is considered quite necessary at the time of budding in early spring. With a sufficient amount of it, the size of the fruits and the yield will increase as well. Nitrogen dry fertilizers are perfect, such as urea (50 grams per plant), ammonium nitrate (60 grams per plant). These fertilizers are distributed evenly around the bush and sprinkled with a layer of mulch.

Another feeding and processing of this plant is carried out in this way:

• - On the sleeping kidneys. The plant is treated with boiling water or DNOC from a watering can against a whole complex of harmful insects.
• - During bud break. While loosening the soil, ammonium nitrate should be added, one matchbox for each plant.
• - During the growth of shoots.The bush is sprayed with Topaz for powdery mildew disease.
• - The flowering period is best during the budding period. Shrubs are treated with boric acid or iron chelate, in a ratio of 10 grams per 10 liters of water.
• - The end of the flowering period. Shrubs are fed with bird droppings (1:15), or mullein (1: 5), and under watering.
• - During the growth and filling of fruits. At this time, constant watering and treatment of the plant from stress (from heat) with the drug Immunocytophyte are carried out.
• - During the ripening period of the crop. Immediately after harvesting ripe fruits, it is required to cut out the shoots that have been affected by the glass, as well as spraying the plant with Topaz and Fufanon preparations.
• - The period of the end of the growth of shoots. Shrubs are fed with potassium sulfate and superphosphate, two matchboxes for each plant.
• - The period of leaf fall. At this moment, the cutting of the ends of the stems, which were affected by the disease powdery mildew, is carried out, as well as the removal of those shoots that have suffered from the bud mite and glass.

First of all, potassium affects the sugar content in fruits, as well as the yield. Therefore, starting from the third year after planting, in the autumn period, this plant is fed with potassium sulfate (about 50 grams for each shrub). Phosphorus is no less important and needed for this shrub. It is brought in in the autumn period of the year, before digging up the soil, in the amount of 35 grams per plant in the form of double superphosphate. In combination with organic matter, mineral fertilizers give an excellent result in terms of the level and quality of yield.

Experienced gardeners and gardeners, in order to increase yields, recommend feeding with potato peel infusion during flowering. To do this, one liter can of dried potato peel is poured into 10 liters of boiling liquid, and after cooling down, pour the bush with this infusion (three liters per plant).

Diseases and pests

Blackcurrant Incomparable has good immunity to diseases of a fungal nature, but the likelihood of being affected by common and dangerous diseases is still there. The most famous, common and dangerous diseases for this berry culture are rust, gray rot, anthracnose, septoria, powdery mildew. If you notice a loose bloom of white tint on the leaves of your young bush, which gradually spreads to the fruits themselves, then this means that your culture has been affected by the disease American powdery mildew. To combat this ailment, copper sulfate is used in a ratio of 300 grams per 10 liters of liquid. Spraying of the crop is carried out in early spring before bud break. During the growing season, before and after flowering, the plant is treated 4 times with a solution of soda ash and soap (50 grams of soda and soap per 10 liters of liquid). Septoria disease manifests itself as whitened leaves, on which small dark spots appear. This disease also has a name - white spot. In this case, the culture is treated with copper sulfate, in a ratio of 40 grams of substance per 10 liters of liquid. When a shrub is affected by anthracnose, firstly, spots of a yellow-green hue are formed on the leaves, shoots and fruits, and after a brown color. To combat this disease, spraying with copper sulfate (100 grams per 10 liters of liquid) is used, and then pour with clean water. Before bud break, nitrafen is used, in a ratio of 300 grams per 10 liters of liquid). Gray rot disease manifests itself as the appearance of brown spots on the edges of the leaves, and during wet weather, a gray coating forms on them. To combat, the culture should be treated with an infusion of wood ash, in a ratio of three kilograms per 10 liters of liquid.Moreover, this must be done before the flowering period and at its end, and even after the harvest of ripe fruits. Also, soda ash and soap will be an excellent remedy at the same time. If bumps or dots of an orange tint are found on the foliage of this shrub, it means that the plant has been affected by a rust disease. To combat this ailment, the drug Fitosporin is used, acting according to the instructions. It's a pity, but this culture is often attacked by a kidney mite. Basically, this pest has its distribution with seedlings, and also with rain, wind and other insects. This pest infects the buds of the plant, as a result of which leaves and flowers cease to form. Plus, this pest is a carrier of a viral disease - terry, which cannot be treated. The result of this disease is a change in the leaves, which become three-lobed and asymmetric. The flowers dry up, and the fruits, respectively, are absent. Therefore, it is very important to buy seedlings only from trusted sellers, without signs of damage and disease. To fight this pest, you should initially remove the stems and buds inhabited by it, and burn it. Before the flowering period and immediately after its end, the culture should be treated with a 50 percent solution of karbofos. The same method will be quite effective in the fight against spider mites. A pest such as currant kidney moth affects the buds of the plant and populates green fruits with its larvae. It is required to loosen the soil before the flowering period in order to prevent the larvae from pupating. During the swelling of the kidneys, the drug nitrafen is used (solution of 300 grams per 10 liters of liquid). Such a preparation in the same proportions is perfect for combating the pest of gooseberry shoot aphids, which often attack the bushes of this berry culture.

The procedure for pruning and shaping a bush

Each stem of this shrub bears excellent fruit for about three to five years. The bush should contain from 12 to 14 stems of various ages with strong growths from the previous season. 3-4 root shoots, the strongest and healthiest, should be left annually. During the procedure for forming a bush, you should not thicken its center, especially if it has a fairly wide base. Therefore, you should leave a distance between its basal shoots of about 10-15 centimeters. In the next pruning procedure, weakened stems should be removed that are 4 to 6 years old, as well as dried ones lying on the soil surface, with signs of damage by various diseases and insects. Every year it is required to deepen the root collar of the plant in order for the shrub to have a shape, because the buds sprinkled in the spring will then give rather strong zero shoots. With timely pruning of old stems, your shrub will always be young. After 9-10 years after planting, the yield of this crop decreases, so already very old bushes are dug up and new ones are planted instead. The pruning procedure is required either in early spring or in the fall. Do not be sorry, but you should dig out shrubs that have been infected with terry and kidney mites. They can no longer be saved, you just need to remove and burn them so as not to infect other crops.

Wintering

Measures to prepare this fruit and berry crop for the winter period include the treatment of shrubs in the autumn from fungal diseases, as well as the pruning procedure, which we mentioned above. You also need to dig up the soil near the plant, but only very carefully and not deeply, so as not to harm the root system of the bush by accident. After that, you need to apply a layer of mulch, which will be perfect: sawdust, hay, dry grass. This will help keep the roots warm.

With the arrival of the first frost, it is best to wrap this shrub with twine, while carefully pulling the stems up. The first snow that falls (with a layer of 10 centimeters) is required to sprinkle the base of the bush and compact it a little. Then, when the winter period is in full swing, this shrub should be covered with snow entirely, this will help it survive the frosty season and subsequently produce excellent harvests.

Harvesting and storage

Before collecting these fruits, determine the temperature at which these fruits ripened: in dry and hot weather, they ripen rather faster than in rainy and cloudy weather. Taste these berries and inspect for the uniformity of the color of the berries in the fruit brush. You should also take into account the age of the bush: at a young age of the plant, the data is more even and best illuminated due to the small number of stems, therefore, the harvest on such shrubs ripens much faster than on mature bushes.

It is better not to delay the removal of these fruits, because overripe berries of this subspecies have a tendency to crumble, crack and lose their elasticity, which has a rather negative effect on subsequent transportability, as well as storage. In very hot weather, it is also not worth picking these fruits, as this contributes to the deterioration of their qualities. It will be best collected in the morning hours or in the evening. It is recommended to collect these berries in dry and clean containers, in which they will be stored in the future, because it is not worth pouring these berries after picking, they can wrinkle and crack.

Fresh fruits of this subspecies of currants can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 15 days, but you should know that you need to wash these berries only before consumption. And if they are wet, then dry them thoroughly before storing them. As for the freezing of these fruits, on the contrary, before this procedure, they should first be washed well, then dried and placed in the freezer, where they can maintain all their characteristics for up to one year.

Conclusion

To keep this currant bush in a healthy and fruitful state, you need to constantly take care of it, take preventive measures to protect it from various diseases and harmful insects. Only then will your plant annually give you a bountiful, healthy, tasty harvest of ripe berries.