Blackcurrant Tender

Black currant is rightfully one of the most common plants that can only be found in the beds of our country. And, of course, such a popular culture has a huge number of varieties, and choosing the variety that suits you is incredibly difficult to get confused or even lost. Which one is better? In this article, we will try to answer this incredibly important question, and you may be able to find exactly the variety of black currant that you have been looking for all this time. Gentle black currant certainly has a number of undeniable advantages, as well as disadvantages, which we will now consider.

Breeding history

Black currant Tender was obtained at the Pavlovsk research and experimental station, where a huge number of varieties and other crops were bred.

Currant Tender is a hybrid plant, which means that it has two or more mother plants that have transferred their positive qualities to it.

The study was led by professional and well-trained breeders who, after several unsuccessful attempts, were able to develop exactly the variety they hoped for, after which it was included in the state register and became widespread in the Northwest region.

Black currant Delicate: variety description and characteristics

In order to take good care of absolutely any plant, you must have the most complete understanding of it, and therefore we present you with a detailed description of this variety.

Bush

The currant variety Tender is distinguished by the rather large dimensions of its bushes, but far from the most spreading crown. We can say that the bushes grow upward more than in breadth, which, however, is pretty good. After all, unlike the size of your garden, its height is not limited.

Escapes

The shoots of the Delicate currant variety are rather thick and strong. They also have a very smooth bark, tinged with a dirty green hue. The shoots below are much darker, since sunlight does not get there and there is no need for chlorophyll.

Older shoots that have already acquired a lignified bark have a brownish-brown or burgundy tint. Most often they are straight processes, but they can also bend. They also show a slight pubescence, which is most pronounced at the top of the branch.

Kidney

Shoot buds rarely gather in groups and are mostly found singly. Unlike the bushes on which they grow, the buds themselves are small in size. You could even say that they are quite small.

In shape, they are ovoid formations, pointed at the ends. On the inside, which faces the shoot, the buds are almost completely flat, but on the back, they are convex.

Leaves

Currant Tender leaves have a structure consisting of five lobes. In terms of size, they do not deviate from the average values. The color changes as each individual leaf grows: from bright salad to rather dark green.

Also, which is very pleasant, the leaves have a soft texture, and therefore working with the bush is a pleasure, even when you are not wearing gloves.

However, the leaves are not smooth at all. A huge number of folds and tubules are formed on them, through which nutrients flow. The pubescence is rather rare and barely noticeable. It is mainly observed in the area of ​​attachment of the leaf to the petiole.

As for the shape of the leaves, they are slightly curved, and the leaf plate relative to the shoot on which it grows is located almost at a right angle, which allows the currant bush to collect the greatest amount of solar energy during the hours of peak activity of the luminary.

The lobes of the leaves are not equal. The average is much larger and wider than the rest. Nevertheless, their shape is absolutely the same: it is ovoid, like the kidneys, and there is also a sharpness at the end. In addition, small denticles are observed along the edges of the leaf plate. They are not sharp, but even slightly rounded. However, they are quite large, and therefore give the leaves an interesting shape.

However, looking at the leaves, it is sometimes difficult to determine where the first and fifth lateral lobes are located. The fact is that they are almost completely overlapped by neighboring ones, and due to the single structure of the sheet, they are practically invisible. However, thanks to the veins, it is still quite easy to understand where they are located.

The petiole, on which the leaf is located and with which it is attached to the tree, is quite strong and thick, albeit short. The most pubescence is observed on it, as well as a large number of age spots.

Flowers

In the Tender currant variety, they are not very large, but they still have some decorative value, thanks to which this currant can become a real decoration of your garden during its flowering.

Their hue ranges from white to pale pink. The petals are ovoid, but do not have any taper. They are also quite wide, due to which they overlap and create beautiful, albeit small, buds.

The brushes do not exceed five to six centimeters in length, and no more than ten flowers are collected in them. There are, of course, more inflorescences, but they are quite rare. The flowers in the inflorescence are not very dense. The stalks connecting each of them with a plant are relatively long, but only at the base of the brush. The further - the shorter they become.

Fruit

After the flowers have faded, berries will appear in their place, which by the standards of different varieties of currants can be called quite large: they weigh from a gram to two.

The fall from the bush is dry and pleasant. Also, this can be called the appearance of the berries. Unlike many other currants, the fruits of the Tender variety are not glossy, but rather matte. Each of them contains up to thirty-six seeds.

However, all these are far from their most important characteristics. Much more important is the taste of Delicate currant, which is simply magnificent. According to the assessments of tasters and professional gardeners, the tasting score of Tender currant berries is four and nine tenths, which is only one tenth of the maximum score.

Their pulp is incredibly juicy, and the taste palette mixes both sour and sweet shades, perfectly balancing them.

In addition, we must not forget about the usefulness of currants, because it is, in principle, one of the most useful plants grown in our gardens. It is famous for its rich composition, which includes a huge amount of vitamins and minerals, as well as the ability to retain all these properties, even when preserved in jars.

Black currant Delicate: features of the variety

First of all, it should be mentioned that the Gentle currant variety was bred specifically for the northern regions, and therefore, of course, it has a fairly high winter hardiness. In addition, it is imperative to say about the self-fertility of this variety, because it is incredibly high, which makes the tender currant a wonderful plant for amateur gardeners who do not want to bother with additional plantings. The percentage of berries that you can pick from a non-pollinated plant compared to a pollinated plant is seventy-six percent, which is amazing.

The immunity of the Tender currant variety is also striking, which allows it to very successfully defend itself against a huge number of fungal diseases. The only drawback that, perhaps, can be distinguished is far from the highest productivity: you can collect only three kilograms from one bush. However, as professional gardeners say, this number can be almost doubled with good and abundant feeding.

Zoning

Currant variety Nezhnaya grows quite well in the Moscow region, as well as in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. However, the further north from these regions, the better.

The most suitable conditions for growing Nezhnaya currants are observed from Pskov to Volgograd, as well as in the vicinity.

Conclusion

Delicate currant is an incredibly high quality and good variety that will gladly settle in your garden and will bring you a stable harvest every year, without any delay.

We hope this information was useful to you and you made your choice in favor or against the Tender currant variety. We just have to wish you good luck.