Black currant Nika

Such a fruit and berry culture as currant is quite widespread in our country, it is cultivated both in private gardening and on an industrial scale. And this is not surprising, because it contains a huge amount of useful trace elements necessary for the human body. But in the cultivation of this culture, one very unpleasant fact was noticed: the shrub was quite often struck by such a disease as powdery mildew. After that, scientists thought about breeding new subspecies of this plant that are immune to this dangerous disease. The result was not long in coming, and one of these subspecies was the black currant Nika, which, plus everything, firmly tolerates severe frosts. In this article, we will take a closer look at this subspecies, all its features, strengths and weaknesses, how to properly grow and care for it.

Black currant Nika: variety description and characteristics

Black currant Nika: photo of the variety

The Nika black currant shrub belongs to the representatives of medium-sized plants, has an average thickening index. Its shoots cannot be called very large, they are straight-growing, of medium thickness, and also have an average growth rate. Young shoots are green, while mature shoots are dark brown in color. The buds are endowed with medium size, with a pointed tip, have a brown color with a raspberry tint, they are pressed to the shoot, solitary.

Nika currant leaves are medium to small in size, with a smooth surface, pale green hue. These leaves are three-lobed, with rather deep cuts and chamfered edges. The petioles on which these leaves grow have an average length. The flowers, when opened, have a goblet shape and medium size, have a pale pink color. Short brushes. Cross-subspecies pollination is not necessary. It is also worth noting that this variety quickly begins its own fruiting period.

A shrub of the Nika currant variety has a high frost resistance, easily tolerates recurrent spring frosts. It also has a good level of immunity to such a common disease as powdery mildew. The shrub is very rarely affected by the gall aphid pest, sometimes it is attacked by a kidney mite, but not often. It is also worth mentioning that this plant rarely gets sick with anthracnose.

A variety of black currant Nika appeared in the Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia named after N. M.A. Lisavenko, thanks to the works of breeders such as Z.S. Zotova, I.P. Kalinin, N.I. Nazaryuk, M.A. Pershina, I.L. Tesla, by breeding one of the best Altai subspecies with large fruits of the Seyanets Golubki variety and the Finnish subspecies Lepaan Musta. In 1998, the Nika currant variety entered the State variety trials, and in 2001 it was entered into the State Register and zoned for the West Siberian region.

Black currant Nika: features of the variety

The fruits of the black currant Nika have an early ripening period, and these berries ripen at the same time, starting from mid-June, or from the first ten days of July. These fruits have a universal purpose, have a spherical shape, no edges, black color. Outwardly, these berries look quite attractive, and they grow on short stalks.The fruits are quite large, each berry can reach a weight of 2.1 grams, on average, but the maximum weight of one such fruit reached 4.2 grams. The inside of the fruit is very juicy and aromatic. The taste of Nika currant berries is sweet, with a slight acidity. When tasting, these berries received an assessment of 4.5 points out of five. The surface of the fruit is covered with a skin of medium density. It should be said that these fruits contain a large amount of vitamins, such as: A, B1, B2, B5, B6, C, E, PP. They contain macronutrients (calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium) and trace elements (zinc, copper, manganese, iron). And also these berries are able to provide the human body with fatty acids Omega-6 and Omega-3. The energy value of such fruits is 63 kcal, 100 grams contain 15.4 grams of carbohydrates, 0.4 grams of fat and 1.4 grams of protein. The sugar level in this variety is 10.4 percent and the acidity is about 3 percent. The yield indicator of the Nika blackcurrant variety averages 2.6 kilograms per bush, and if considered on an industrial scale, then 77.2 centners per hectare. It is also worth noting that these fruits have a good level of transportability.

Black currant Nika: cultivation of a variety

In order to successfully grow the Nika black currant variety, you should follow some rules: choose the right site for planting, correctly plant a seedling, water it, apply fertilizing, apply measures to combat and prevent diseases and pests, perform a pruning procedure and prepare the plant for the winter period ...

Site selection and disembarkation

When choosing a site for planting and future growth of Nick's currants, it is required to remember that this culture loves good lighting, therefore it is better that it is in a sufficiently illuminated area, although the presence of partial shade can also be allowed. The place of future growth must be protected from strong and cold winds.

For the cultivation of Nika currants, both loam and light sandy loam soil are quite suitable, the most important rule is that the soil is not swampy, and the occurrence of groundwater is at least one and a half meters deep from the soil surface. It is worth noting that this subspecies of currants may well grow on poor soils in composition, but on fertile land the harvest will be the most stable and plentiful.

The best period for planting a Nika blackcurrant seedling, according to experienced gardeners, is the autumn period, more precisely the last decade of September. When planting a plant, follow this sequence of actions:

• A landing hole is dug so that it is 60 centimeters in circumference and 40 centimeters deep.
• One bucket of compost or humus is added to the bottom of the planting hole, after which 200 grams of superphosphate, 25 grams of potassium sulfate are added (which can be replaced with 120 grams of nitroammophoska, half a kilogram of fruit and berry mixture, or 40 grams of wood ash).
• At the roots of Nick's blackcurrant seedling, you need to trim the tips.
• Place the young plant in the center of the planting hole and sprinkle with a layer of soil, approximately 7 centimeters thick, then tamp.
• Pour half a bucket of water over the planted Nika currant seedling and lay a layer of mulch around it.

Black currant Nika: variety care

For the procedure for watering Nick's black currant, both the drip method and the subsoil method are suitable. During one season, this plant should be irrigated five times, but it is also worth remembering that the amount of rainfall affects the number of irrigations. For one square meter of planting, three buckets of liquid are required during watering. You should also be sure to complete the watering procedure before the winter period and after waking up, with the arrival of spring.It is not necessary to introduce fertilizing for this plant in the first year of life, since at this time the culture will be quite enough with those fertilizers that were applied during planting. In subsequent spring periods, 25 grams of ammonium nitrate is required to be applied to the soil. And once every two years, for this culture, you need to make a top dressing of 100 grams of superphosphate and 30 grams of potassium chloride, per square meter. The introduction of fertilizing and processing of the given plant occurs according to the following scheme:

• Sleeping kidneys. The shrub is treated against a complex of pests at this time with DNOC, or with boiling water from a watering can.
• Budding period. During the loosening procedure, one matchbox of ammonium nitrate is introduced into the soil for one shrub.
• Shoot growth period. At this moment, the plant is sprayed with Topaz for powdery mildew disease.
• Budding period, or the beginning of the flowering period. At this point, the shrub is treated with boric acid and iron chelate, in a ratio of 10 grams per 10 liters of liquid.
• The end of the flowering period. During this period, the bush is fed under watering with bird droppings (1 to 15), or mullein (1 to 5).
• The period of growth and fruit filling. At this time, constant watering procedures are performed, as well as the treatment of the plant from stress due to the heat with the drug Immunocytophyte.
• Fruit ripening period. Immediately after harvesting the fruits, shoots are cut out, which were affected by the glass, and after spraying the shrub with Topaz and Fufanon preparations.
• The period of the end of the growth of shoots. At this time, the culture is fed with potassium sulfate and superphosphate, two matchboxes for one shrub.
• The period of leaf fall. During this period, the tips of the branches that were affected by the disease powdery mildew are trimmed, and shoots that are affected by the kidney mite and glassworm are removed.

Diseases and pests

For the Nika blackcurrant variety, the most dangerous diseases are:

• White spot (septoria). For treatment, the plant is sprayed with a solution of Bordeaux liquid (100 grams of substance per 10 liters of liquid).
• Brown spot (cercospora). For the fight, the same solution is used as for septoria.
• Mosaic. It is useless to treat a bush with this disease, it is required to dig up a bush and disinfect the soil.
• Bucket and columnar rust. To combat, the drug Fitosporin and one percent Bordeaux liquid are used.

Black currants of the Nika variety can also be affected by some harmful and dangerous insects. When fighting them, they perform the following actions:

• Currant glass bowl. To combat, the treatment of the plant with drugs Karbofos, or Actellik is used.
• Leaf and gooseberry aphids. Control methods are similar to those with currant glass.
• Ants. Special baits and toxic substances are used.
• Firefighter. Before the flowering period, the soil is covered with roofing material or linoleum, and soil is laid out along their edges. With the end of the flowering period, this is removed.
• Spider and kidney mites. To combat them, the drugs Phosphamide and Karbofos are used, as well as colloidal sulfur.

For prevention, the following measures are taken:

• Water Nick's currants with hot water before the beginning of the growing season.
• A trimming procedure is performed.
• The bush is treated with Fundazol, Karbofos, Nitrofen and Bordeaux liquid.

Shrub pruning and shaping procedure

The formation of a shrub over the years is as follows:

• A maximum of 4 most developed and healthy shoots remain on the shrub, all the rest are cut off.
• Removed up to the two weakest shoots.
• The procedure is repeated two years later.
• Repeats again.
• Shoots that are four years old are removed.

Plus, in the spring and autumn periods, it is required to cut off the weakened, broken, dry, thickening crown, as well as interfering with development and frozen shoots.

Wintering

During preparation for the winter period, Nick's black currant needs to be watered, pruned and fed. In order to prepare a bush of this subspecies for wintering, one of the methods can be used:

• Bend the stems and shoots to the surface, and press them down with something heavy.
• Sprinkle with soil.
• Cover the bush with a breathable covering material.

Harvesting and storage

To pick the Nick currant variety, use a cardboard or wooden container of small volume, about three liters. You can also use wooden crates up to 6 kilograms. In the event that you want to redirect the crop for further processing, then the capacity of the collection container may be larger. The main thing to remember is that the fruits should be dry, not wet with dew or rain.

It is worth noting that the fruits of the Nika currant, which are intended for further transportation, are able not to lose their commercial characteristics for 7 days. And berries that are harvested at the stage of consumer ripeness can retain their qualities for a maximum of two days.

If a given crop requires a rather long transportation, then it is removed at the stage of technical ripeness, that is, a little immature. In another case, the collection of fruits is required only when fully ripe.

There is also an opportunity to increase the storage period of Nika's currant fruits, for this they are required: freeze, dry, boil compote, jam, make tincture, juice or wine. For further storage, fruits that have been affected by pests and diseases, as well as with other signs of damage that have lost their commercial characteristics, are completely unsuitable. It is required to store the crop of black currant Nika in a dark place, with high air humidity and temperatures from 0 to -1 degrees.

Black currant Nika: reviews of gardeners

• Kristina Mikhailovna, Moscow region: “The most important thing I like about Nick's black currant is the rather quick onset of fruiting. Also, the variety does not need pollinators, so there is no need to plant other currant varieties nearby. And of course, I can safely attribute Nick's large currant berries to the pluses of the variety. "

• Anastasia Ivanovna, Sverdlovsk region: “We make compotes and preserves from Nika's black currant berries, and we love to pamper ourselves fresh, which means that this variety is of universal use. The taste of the berries is just wonderful! You can hardly find this in stores, so I strongly recommend growing Nick's blackcurrant variety to all gardeners! "

• Semyon Alexandrovich, Leningrad region: “Nika currant pleases with its rich harvests every year. The only disappointment is that the berries are not kept fresh for a long time, they quickly deteriorate. But they are so delicious that my grandchildren don't let them go bad. Based on the cultivation experience, I can also note that Nika's black currant has a very good level of immunity to the disease powdery mildew and the gall aphid pest. "