Standard currant - methods of formation, care, useful tips

Recently, the combined use of this culture in horticulture has been practiced - its beneficial nutritional properties are successfully combined with decorative qualities. This is achieved by forming currants on a trunk. Standard currant not only looks spectacular and serves to decorate the site, but also gives a bountiful harvest of amazingly tasty berries. Gardeners who have chosen this method of decorating a currant bush note an improvement in the taste of fruits and an increase in the volume of the harvest. The cultivation of standard currants requires compliance with certain rules and agrotechnical recommendations. In this article, we will look at the necessary procedures for caring for currants on a trunk, which will allow you to achieve the best results.

Currant bushes are something without which it is difficult to imagine a summer cottage or an adjoining territory in the countryside. Almost no garden can do without them, which is probably why country rest is firmly associated, among other things, with the aroma of currant leaves and the sweet and sour taste of berries. This culture is ubiquitous in Eurasia and North America. In Russia, this plant is not only loved by gardeners, but also constitutes an important part of agricultural production - our country is the leader in the world market in the field of growing currants.

Currants and their beneficial properties have been widely known for a long time. In Russia, it was used not only fresh and for making jams, but also as a raw material for home brew. At the moment, syrups, jams, preserves, compotes and fruit drinks, various types of marshmallows, marshmallows, marmalade, as well as berry wine are prepared from currant berries. Currant leaves are brewed as herbal tea, and are also used in cooking as a seasoning for fish and meat dishes.

The chemical composition of currant berries makes it a valuable source of nutrients. So, black currant is rich in vitamin C and manganese, as well as tannins and elements of bactericidal action. Red currant berries contain a large amount of iron and potassium, selenium, vitamins A, E, C. Currant also has other valuable properties: some of its species are known for their melliferous qualities, and black currant juice in the food industry acts as a natural dye. Based on all this, the popularity of currants among gardeners is understandable.

Currants on a stem: how to grow a standard currant

Red currant on the trunk: photo

The basis of the standard growing of currants is the process of lengthening its trunk, more precisely, its lower part, which, in fact, is called the stem. This includes the spacing between the root collar and the skeletal branches.

The elongation of the stem leads to the fact that the currant bush loses its resemblance to other shrubs and resembles a small tree with a long thin trunk and a compact crown. The berries of the standard currant form beautiful clusters that not only look spectacular, but are also easily removed during harvesting. On average, it takes no more than 30 minutes to collect fruits from one currant stock bush.For comparison, picking berries from a traditional currant bush takes three or even four times more time. Moreover, this often has to be done in an uncomfortable position in order to get to the berries located on the lower branches and in hard-to-reach plexuses of branches. Such a pastime is fraught with pain in the lower back and cervical spine, so the standard way of growing currants is an excellent way to avoid this dubious pleasure.

The creation of a standard form requires adherence to certain rules. Despite the innovativeness of this method of growing a berry bush, its application will be successful not only among experienced gardeners, but also among beginners.

There are 2 ways to grow currants on a trunk, below we will consider both.

Based on its own root system

Standard currant: photo

This method will allow you to use those currant bushes that are already growing on the site and consists in their transformation.
In this case, bushes of different types of currants are successfully used. The best time to start forming standard currants is spring - its first half. It is important to start working in the interval between the melting of snow and the beginning of the circulation of juices in the tissues of the plant.

How to grow currants in this way on a trunk step by step:

• first of all, it is necessary to choose the right currant bush: only healthy plants that do not have traces of diseases and pests are suitable for our purposes;
• of all the main shoots, you need to choose the strongest, straight, located perpendicular to the ground level, all other shoots should be removed;
• all lower branches are removed from the shoot so that no bulges remain on the surface of the trunk, and pinch the upper part of the shoot;
• strong upper branches are left unchanged;
• the resulting miniature tree can be rounded by partially cutting off the upper branches of the crown;
• to strengthen the trunk, a support is formed: for this purpose, a peg is placed in the ground next to the trunk, and the plant is tied to it (this will save it from deformation due to the weight of the berries, as well as under the influence of strong gusts of wind);
• standard currant bushes require systematic inspection throughout the summer in order to detect and remove lateral shoots that break out of the crown and violate its contours;
• in the fall, it is recommended to pinch the tops of the branches - this will allow new shoots to form in these places in the spring.

Rootstock based

Black currant on a trunk: photo

European gardeners prefer the stock method of forming standard currants. This technique is considered more laborious and requires special knowledge and skills in working with horticultural crops.

The algorithm of this procedure involves the following steps:

• the optimal time for its holding is the beginning of spring (March), before the start of the movement of juices, immediately after the disappearance of the snow cover;
• a currant bush available in the garden area is suitable for the role of a rootstock; it is best to root the cuttings or seedlings in advance;
• seedlings that are a little over a year old, strong, straight, without side branches and shoots are suitable as a stock;
• the stock from an adult plant is cleared of lateral shoots and branches - a smooth, straight trunk up to 0.8 m high should remain, its top should be pinched;
• a medium-sized freshly cut cutting of any variety, regardless of the varietal affiliation of the rootstock, is suitable for the role of a scion;
• vaccination is in progress. How to plant currants on a trunk? You can get a film purchased in a specialized store ahead of time - it will help fix the scion on the body of the stock;
• the kidneys on the surface of the stem should be blinded;
• over the next seasons, standard currants need a systematic examination and removal of newly appeared shoots and branches.

Selection of a variety of standard currant

The question of choosing the type and variety of currants for standard decoration invariably worries gardeners who decide to decorate their site in this way. Experienced gardeners and breeders believe that almost any currant is suitable for these purposes - white, black, golden, even red.

But the most popular is black currant on a stem - its already not too sour (unlike other species) berries when growing a bush in a standard form become even sweeter and larger. However, there is an important point that introduces certain restrictions: standard black currant does not tolerate spring return frosts and early autumn cold, as a result of which its branches freeze. For this reason, its most successful cultivation will be in the southern regions with mild spring and autumn months.

Black currant on a trunk: types

The most resistant to winter cold, frost and bad weather are considered to be such standard black currant varieties as "Sibylla" and "Premiera". Among other things, they are distinguished by high productivity and resistance to pests and diseases.

White currant on a trunk

Growing white currants on a trunk also takes place. Among the varieties of white currants, suitable for standard decoration, the Czech variety "Primus" tolerates frosts well, yielding about 10 kg of berries from 1 bush. Another variety is “Dessertnaya”. The cultivation of this white currant on a trunk is famous for its winter hardiness, productivity and the ability to resist attacks of pests and fungal infections.

Golden currants, suitable for growing on a trunk, are represented by the "Imperial Yellow" variety - its bushes reach a height of about 2 m and are distinguished by their strength in comparison with black or white currants.

Red currant on a trunk

Red currant on a stem is popular due to its unpretentiousness - unlike black currant, it is easier to tolerate frost and successfully takes root in almost all regions of central Russia. How to grow red currants on a trunk? The most suitable varieties for standard cultivation are considered to be the Chulkovskaya variety. The standard form red currant of this variety has very powerful shoots and is known for its early fruiting period, like the American Red Cross currant cultivated since the 19th century. The choice of the Natalie variety is considered the key to obtaining a bountiful harvest that will be stored for a long time. Also, this variety is considered the most winter-hardy among red currant varieties.

Standard currant - advantages

Standard red currant: photo

The cultivation of standard currants has a number of advantages:

• growing currants on a trunk provides decorativeness of standard currant bushes, rather resembling graceful trees, decorated with large spectacular clusters of berries;
• the vertical placement of the currant bush helps to save space in the garden area, since the interval between individual bushes can be only 0.25 m, and flowers or strawberries will quite successfully take root near their base;
• caring for standard currants is much easier than for spreading shrubs - it is easier to loosen the soil around it, weed, irrigate, cover with a layer of mulch, in addition, it is much more difficult for pests living in the soil to move to high-lying berries;
• the berries of the standard currant are, on average, much larger than those that grow on ordinary bushes, and their bunches are more like grape bunches; - harvesting from standard bushes is much easier than from ordinary ones - on average, it takes 15 to 30 minutes to clear the berries from a standard currant bush, while harvesting a spreading bush will take at least an hour and a half;
• Unlike traditional bushes, the branches of standard forms do not come into contact with the surface of the earth, which protects them from rotting processes and the attack of pests living in the soil, therefore, growing currants on a stem reduces the risk of various currant diseases.
• the trunk of the standard bushes receives the bulk of the nutrients that are not consumed on lateral shoots, like in traditional currant bushes;
• berries of standard bushes receive more sunlight, which allows them to grow not only larger, but also very tasty;
• the crowns of standard bushes are less dense than that of ordinary ones, therefore, due to their air permeability, the risk of developing fungal diseases is significantly reduced;
• standard currant bushes begin to bear crops a year after planting and retain the ability to bear fruit for a fairly long period of time - up to 20 years.

How to form a standard currant: ways to restore bushes

In order to reconstruct currant bushes, you can use one of two methods that will help you figure out how to form currants on a trunk correctly:

• The first consists in processing a currant seedling: before transplanting it to a permanent place, it is necessary to remove all branches, shoots, buds from the surface of the trunk, preferably without leaving any bulges and traces. The trunk should be as clean and smooth as possible, and only in the upper part of the kidneys remain. Pinch the top. The height of the stem part is about 0.4 m.
• For the second method, you will need a tube made of dense opaque material, the length of which is equal to the length of the future stem. Such a tube adheres tightly to the surface of the trunk, preventing the formation of new shoots. The seedling is placed in the soil together with a tube, the lower part of which is 3-4 cm deeper. This will prevent the root collar from sprouting. Further, the seedling grows and develops inside the tube. An additional support can be placed next to it.

Standard currant - planting, soil preparation

Success in growing standard currants directly depends on the competent choice of a place for seedlings. Since the lighting mode is of paramount importance, it is important to choose the most illuminated area in the garden area. The composition of the soil and its quality are also factors determining the success of the entire enterprise. Standard currant prefers weakly acidic sandy loam soils with a high peat content. How to plant currants on a trunk?

It is recommended to carry out preparatory work in advance, which will allow the seedlings to quickly adapt to a new place. About 6 months before planting them in the ground, you should dig up the area and add manure to the soil. It is recommended to move currant seedlings to the site at the end of summer. The optimal time is the first days of August.

The ideal type of planting material is a straight, strong stem without side shoots and branches; the tip is pinched. The landing hole should be quite wide and deep - about 0.5 m wide, depth - about 0.6 m.The interval between holes should be 0.25-0.35 m.
An important distinctive feature of the placement of the standard seedling is its strictly perpendicular placement relative to the soil surface. Regular currant bushes are planted at a 45-degree angle, while the standard currant bush should stand perfectly straight.
To this end, it is necessary to compact the ground around the seedling as tightly as possible and take care of additional support that will not allow it to deviate from the vertical under the influence of wind or the weight of the crown.

In the next season, young shoots and branches will appear on the seedling, including on the surface of the trunk and at the roots. The stem will need to be cleaned of lateral processes and root growth, and the remaining shoots should be pinched.A full-fledged crown will be formed for 3-4 seasons, all this time and later, the stem must be periodically refined, removing the newly formed side shoots and branches, and the tops of the crown branches should be pinched every year.

How to care for standard currants

Caring for the standard currant will allow you to grow a strong miniature tree, keep its unusual shape and get a rich harvest of delicious berries. If you do not take the recommended actions, sooner or later the bush will lose the shape of the trunk and the standard currant will return to its traditional spreading state. We will briefly consider the necessary procedures for caring for standard currants.

Watering mode

Systematic watering is extremely important, since standard currants do not tolerate drought. Along with this condition, overmoistening of the soil should be avoided, since excess moisture will also have a bad effect on the health of the plant. Therefore, watering should be moderate, under normal weather conditions without heavy rains - weekly. In the dry autumn months, it is also essential. The recommended amount of water is 30 to 40 liters.

Soil care

Every 3 weeks, loosening and weeding of the area around the bush is shown. This will remove weeds that take away food and moisture from the currants, as well as saturate the soil with oxygen and better distribute moisture between its layers. To reduce the number of these not always pleasant procedures, mulching the surface of the earth with sawdust, straw or dry grass will allow. This will help preserve moisture in the soil, prevent it from drying out and overheating, and in cold weather - freezing of the roots. The weeds will also not be able to break through the mulch layer.

Fertilizers

In the spring, it is recommended to feed the currant bushes with urea at the rate of 20 g per 1 copy. In the summer, you can apply both mineral fertilizers and organic matter. As the first, superphosphate and potassium sulfate (35 and 15 g, respectively) are suitable. It is recommended to apply manure from organic fertilizers: 3-5 kg ​​of fertilizer is enough for 1 currant bush. In the fall, you need to repeat the introduction of mineral dressings, but the rate of superphosphate is increased to 45-60 g.

How to cut a standard currant

Pruning standard currant bushes is one of the most important procedures, without which the plant will return to its original shape. The removal of lateral branches and shoots, correction of the contours of the crown, and its thinning are required annually. Anti-aging pruning should be done every 4-5 years. The stem form of currants needs to be cleaned of the stem from root growth and shoots in its lower part, since it is they that cause the main damage to the decorative qualities of the plant.

Standard currant shape and tying

Due to the fragility of the standard currant bushes, they need solid support. Strong wind, as well as the heaviness of its own crown during the fruiting period, can tilt the bole or damage it. Therefore, next to the plant, a strong peg is dug into the soil, or support structures with slats are placed, to which the trunk of the bush is tied.

Shelter for the winter

Shelter for the winter is especially important in severe frost conditions typical for central Russia. If the winter is snowy, standard currants can successfully winter under a layer of snow. In regions where frosts alternate with thaws, it is recommended to create an artificial layer of spunbond or other similar material that covers the bush.

Standard currant - useful tips

Cuttings for the formation of currants on a trunk are best cut in the summer months, optimally in mid-July. Sections with 1 bud located at the top are suitable. It is vitally important to cover the stalk for the winter - a layer of fallen leaves or peat is suitable for this. In the spring, you need to cut off all lateral shoots and twigs from the cutting, with the exception of the strongest and most direct - this is the future stem.

The creation of a trunk always follows the same scheme - the type and variety of currants do not play any role in this.

It should be borne in mind that standard currant does not tolerate frost and cold well - especially for black currant. In snowless winters, she needs shelter, which can be removed only after the threat of spring return frosts has passed.

The support is very important for the successful cultivation of currants in the standard way, but even if it is available, it is important to protect the plants from the through wind. It is best to plant currants in the corners of the garden sheltered from the wind. Stakes made of a variety of materials are suitable as supports - be it wood or metal.

Environmentally friendly and safe for plants and people protection from pests can be ensured by planting flowers such as geraniums or marigolds, or garlic under currant bushes. The pungent smell of these crops will scare away harmful insects. Choosing top dressing for currants, it is not recommended to abuse nitrogenous fertilizers - standard currants do not welcome them. It will be optimal to add about 20 g of carbamide (urea) in the spring.

Currant seedlings. Standard currant - video

Growing standard currants, although it requires adherence to certain rules and recommendations, is available to every gardener, both experienced and beginner. Either way, the effort will pay off when it's time to harvest a bountiful harvest of large, sweet berries. And the exquisite standard shape of the currant will serve as a decoration for any garden plot.