Secrets of a rich harvest of black currant

Briefly about black currant

When it comes to this berry, there is no doubt that it is loved and revered by every gardener. Memories of the taste of currants bring a smile to our faces, because we can say with great certainty that every family has once definitely tasted this berry, sweet and sour. This is the taste of childhood. One of the advantages of this berry is that you can do anything with it. And eat right from the bush (of course, wash it first), make jam and canning, make juices, fruit drinks and even alcoholic drinks from it. By itself, black currant belongs, as everyone could notice from the external and taste similarity of berries to the gooseberry family, but everything has its own individuality. This includes flowering for 12-14 years with proper care, frost resistance and self-fertility, even the leaves can be used. Typically, currant leaves are used for canning and brewing tea. Growing black currants is not a quick business.
There is a popular belief among gardeners that a currant bush will bear fruit for 5-6 years after planting, and that for better fruiting, it is necessary to plant bushes of different varieties of currants nearby.

Growing black currant: how and where to plant

The main factor in the successful start of the process of growing black currant bushes is the planting time. It is best to plant in the period from the end of September to the beginning of October, so that by the spring the plant has already settled in a new place and begins to grow actively.
Another equally important factor is the planting site; it is strictly forbidden to plant the plant in the shade. The best conditions will be open space or light partial shade.
In order for the plant to take root and begin to grow in the spring, regular watering is necessary. Immediately after planting, water with half a bucket and cover the soil with peat or manure. But in the future, regular watering is required, because the roots of the plant are moisture-loving and do not tolerate stagnation of water.

How to care for currants

Caring for a favorite plant of many gardeners is not quite whimsical and standard. All that is required is:
-regular watering;
-weeding and loosening;
- removal of weeds, especially wheatgrass, since it is this weed that causes the greatest harm to the currant;
-feeding during the flowering period of the bush;
-spraying with means of protection against small pests

Growing black currant: pruning rules

Post-harvest pruning ensures future growth and yield. And for already mature, formed bushes, this is to support them in a fruiting state.
Regular pruning of black currants involves several steps:

Pruning to form a bush is carried out after harvest, preferably in autumn or early spring.

Spring pruning of a medicinal nature is carried out to remove dry, damaged, frozen and infected branches of the bush.

So that there are more flower buds on fast-growing shoots, such branches are cut a little in the middle of summer.

After 5 years, the pruning stages also include the filing of old branches.

In almost every vegetable garden or garden there was, or is, black currant or any other variety. Let us also love this plant together and take proper care of it so that it never ceases to delight us.