Wild currant (census): description, types, benefits, cultivation

Content:

The article presents a wild currant (census): a description of the plant, characteristics, types, benefits, cultivation on the site, features of care.

Wild currants (they are also called "forest", "repis", "Siberian grouse", "serebryanka", "pearl currant", "Ural beauty") are not a rare guest on any personal plot. What attracts gardeners with these tall shrubs with sour berries? Of course, with its elegance, especially in autumn, when the bushes are covered with bright colorful leaves. And this unpretentious plant is famous for its lack of sugars, and a huge content of vitamin C. Let's talk in more detail about planting, care and harvesting of this currant beauty.

Wild currant: useful properties and application

Currant is the richest plant in vitamins and minerals. Leaves and berries are used for various colds and acute respiratory viral infections, gastrointestinal diseases, with their help they improve conditions in cardiovascular problems, in the presence of vitamin deficiency, in case of failures in the immune system and other health problems.
For the elderly, this plant will work to improve mental performance, cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, lower cholesterol levels and strengthen blood vessels. The effect is due to the presence of organic acids, pectin, tannins and essential oils, as well as vitamins A, B, C, E, PP in the composition of wild currants.

It is important that at low temperatures the beneficial properties of the plant are preserved, which means that berries frozen in the refrigerator are a vitamin mix for a whole year!

Apart from frozen grated sweets, wild currant berries are used to make compotes, jam, marshmallow, and even sauces. An excellent preparation in the winter - dried berries and leaves, they make tea, excellent in taste and healing properties.

Wild currant: about culture and its characteristics

Wild currants can often be found along the banks of the Ural and Siberian rivers and lakes. Sometimes it can be confused with thickets in forests, in ravines, or even near a swamp. Distinctive features of the census in its dark green three-lobed leaves, reminiscent of gooseberry leaves. Wild currant bushes reach a height of up to three meters. In autumn days, the copy pleases with bright multi-colored foliage and becomes a wonderful decoration of any personal plot.

A tempting characteristic for any gardener is the census's ability to adapt to the most challenging weather conditions. It can be intense heat in summer or severe frost in winter. But if the crested bushes die, then not from heat or cold, but from time or from lack of proper care in nature.

In garden plots, Siberian grouse is often used as a protective green space. Its dense leafy flap provides excellent wind protection.

Grouse blooms in May. Its beautiful yellow fragrant flowers reach 1 cm in diameter. And the berries are oblong, unusual for currants, stretching up to 1 cm. There are always a lot of berries on the bush, the color is from yellowish to black.

To taste, wild currants are sweet and sour, there is much more acid. Harvested from July to August, ripening depends on the summer weather.

Repis, wild currant: types

Let's talk today about two types of wild currants - wild black and red.
Wild black currant is found in the forests of the Urals, the European part of the country and in the Republic of Kazakhstan. They eat it raw, freeze it or make preparations in the winter.

The place of growth of wild red currants - European rivers, lakes, forests, places near swamps. In the southern part of Europe, it is found in the mountains.
The strong sour taste of red grouse makes it difficult to enjoy fresh berries. But the preserves and jams made from it are simply excellent. It is also dried and added to teas, compote with wild sprouts is made, and also added to meat sauces and fillings for sweet dishes.

Wild currant photos, rules for growing on the site

Almost any land is suitable for the Ural beauty. Undemanding to the ground is an attractive property of this plant for gardeners. The main thing in growing it is to choose high-quality planting material and choose the planting site correctly.

Strong and healthy seedlings are needed. When choosing seedlings, you should pay attention to:
- on the root system: the roots must be dry and dried;
- uterine cuttings should not suffer from diseases and harmful insects;
- on the daughter offspring there should be no dried and sluggish leaves (otherwise there are pests);
- the seedling must have several healthy branches;
- each shoot must have three or more green living buds.

Wild currant seedlings for planting can be dug directly from the forest by selecting it from the very edge. Why? Because, the extreme offspring are not oppressed by the mother bushes, moreover, as a rule, they get more sunlight. In a couple of years, such seedlings will delight you with the first berries, and in five you will harvest a decent harvest.
So, how to prepare the soil and planting holes. As already mentioned above, the Siberian grouse is unpretentious in the choice of soil.

Correct fertilization is the main factor in the effective growth of this plant.

Grouse is planted at the end of summer or at the very beginning of autumn, so that the roots have time to get used to and strengthen before the onset of cold weather. Some plant them in mid-spring, then the bushes will finally take root by winter, gain strength and even grow.

Having chosen a place for planting, dig holes (approximate dimensions - 0.6 × 0.6 m. The depth of the hole should be a little more for a bucket of humus to enter. Humus is sprinkled with earth and a small tubercle is made. The roots of the seedling are carefully laid out on top and covered with soil like this so as not to deepen the root collar of the plant.
Further, watering and mulching is carried out with chopped straw or sawdust.

A few secrets to caring for a wild beauty

Grouse agrotechnics is very similar to the technology of caring for cultivated currant varieties, but there are still differences.

About watering... Grouse is watered weekly. Irrigation volume - up to 10 liters per 1 young plant. Watered gently, not under the roots, trying not to touch the root part.

When the first leaves bloom, watering is reduced to 2 times a month or even less often, depending on the weather. It is advisable to use water that is settled and not cold (especially for young seedlings). For hardened bushes, the temperature of the water for irrigation is not so important.

Fertilizer... The time for feeding black and red wild currants is spring and autumn.
At the beginning of the season, on spring days, in addition to mineral fertilizers, bird droppings are introduced, which replaces nitrogen fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are applied in autumn days (up to four kilograms of humus per seedling, or one glass of wood ash per 10 liters of water will be enough). Fertilizers are applied carefully so as not to damage the root systems of the seedlings. For example, humus fertilizer is added little by little, mixing with the topsoil.
Do not forget to water abundantly immediately after fertilizing.

About pruning and forming the crown... Of course, in the wild, the bushes are not pruned. On the personal plot, the sprouts also do not require crown formation. Fruiting bushes are pruned a little, cutting off broken and dry branches. Five-year shoots should also be removed, they will gradually be replaced by young shoots.
Pruning time is early spring, before the leaves bloom. Use garden shears or pruning shears.
If the wild currant serves as a fence for you, then the green hedge should be cut, giving the shape of this very fence.

How to treat sprouts from pests and prevent diseases

The enemies and diseases of the Siberian grouse are the same as those of the cultivated currant. They protect it from powdery mildew, kidney mites, aphids and ants, currant goldsweet and rust, gooseberry moth, etc.

The first thing they do is cut out diseased shoots, then they dig up the soil under the bushes and, of course, the main thing is that they do not forget to process it with special means.

1. The buds have blossomed. Apply: solution "Decis", "Confidor", "Calypso", anometrine emulsion (25%).
2. Before or after flowering. Process: colloidal sulfur (combats powdery mildew and currant mites).
3. 30 days after the bushes have faded. Apply: "Karbofos" or "Chlorofos" (fighting with gold and glass).

Folk remedies are very effective. Solutions and decoctions are useful here:
- onion peel;
- garlic;
- dandelion;
- wormwood;
- soap;
- potato tops.
If your wild beauty is not lucky and a kidney mite takes a fancy to her, then the bush is dug up and burned. Otherwise, you risk losing the entire currant plantation.

Should wild currants take shelter for the winter

Dikusha does not need shelter at all. Her stamina knows no bounds. Even if something freezes, new shoots will surely appear in this place. Experience shows that Siberian, Ural and Far Eastern cold weather does not care for the Siberian grouse.

Experienced gardeners recommend!

1. Plant a couple of bushes in the garden for mutual pollination.
2. If harmful insects appear on one bush, it is worth treating all the bushes.
3. So that in winter the currant bushes are not damaged by rodent animals (mice, hares, etc.), wrap the branches of the lower part of the bushes with plastic bags (old elastic women's tights may also be suitable)
4. After planting a young seedling, make attachments around the circumference of thickened branches, thin sticks or planks. With their help, the bush will not fall apart.

A wild-growing currant beauty does not need much attention and special care, which is why she has gained popularity among gardeners. Against this background, an unprecedented crop (up to 8 kg) can be harvested from one developed bush. And the recommended pair of bushes in your garden guarantees you, in addition to hedges and a beautiful view, a supply of vitamins for a whole year!

Wild currant