Planting and caring for black currants - easy steps
Few suburban areas do without black currant bushes. It is not only a green decoration and delicious berries, but also a source of a large amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for a full-fledged human life. Meanwhile, the cultivation and care of black currant does not require much effort and cost, the main thing is to choose the right place for planting.
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Blackcurrant planting technique
You can plant currants both in early spring, before bud break, and in autumn at the end of September. Planting time is not critical for growing and caring for black currants. 3-4 weeks before planting the bushes, it is necessary to prepare the planting holes and fertilize the soil. The site is deeply dug up, the rhizomes of perennial weeds and other debris are removed and fertilizers are evenly scattered at the rate of 4-5 kg of rotted compost or humus per 1 sq. M., 20-30 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphates. Planting pits are made not very deep 30-40 cm and 40-45 cm wide, placing them according to the scheme 1.5-1.7 m distance between bushes and 1.8-2.2 m between rows.
6-7 kg of humus, 15-25 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate are added to the bottom of each pit, mixed with fertile soil. If the soil is clayey and depleted, the planting pits are made deeper 50-65 cm and 55-65 cm in diameter, leaving a fertile layer, and the deep one is removed. Also, to ensure good drainage, river coarse sand is added. When planting and caring for black currants in the fall, 250-350 g of wood ash, 30-35 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphates or 50-60 g of Agricola are introduced under each seedling. When planting is carried out in the spring, an increased amount of humus of 10-12 kg and 60-80 g of liquid high-speed complex fertilizers, such as Ross or Effekton, are introduced into each pit.
The pit is filled with an earthen mixture with fertilizers. Dig it to the depth of the bayonet, supplement it with fertile soil on top and pour it abundantly with water. The seedlings are planted in 3-6 days, deepening them by 10-13 cm. Immediately before planting, the seedlings are cut off, leaving 3-5 well-developed buds. The root system must be well branched, not damaged or dried out. The roots are spread in different directions, covered with earth, gently shaken several times and watered with a small amount of water. The soil around the bushes is compacted with feet and mulched with peat or straw. Wood sawdust is not used as a mulching material in order to avoid excessive acidification of the soil. For compact formation of bushes and ensuring proper care for black currants in the future, they are planted vertically. You can plant currants obliquely to form new shoots and additional roots. In this case, the root collar is buried 7-9 cm below the soil level.
The main aspects of care
Blackcurrant thrives and bears fruit best on light, moist, fertile, neutral or alkaline soils with good drainage. If the soil is acidic, it should be limned. With proper care, black currants will grow well in a shaded area, but it is better to choose an open, illuminated area for it. The ideal option is a small artificial hillock of fertilized and inverted sod, in a sunny location, protected from strong winds.
Caring for black currants includes regular loosening of the root zone throughout the season, removing weeds.Annually, in early spring in April or late autumn, rejuvenating pruning of bushes is carried out, cutting out old, diseased, damaged, little fruit-bearing branches. During the growing season, follow the budding. If they swell, but do not open, then they are affected by a tick, they should be removed, if there are no more than 2-3 affected buds on the branch, if there are more, it is necessary to remove and burn the entire branch. In the summer, you should cut branches without berries and with double leaves.
The bushes need regular, but not abundant watering, since currants very quickly shed their leaves in hot weather. Rain irrigation has a beneficial effect on productivity. During the season, adult bushes are treated 2-3 times with a 1-2% solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. Although currants are a culture resistant to damage by various pests, it is advisable to carry out treatment with antiparasitic drugs in early spring.
It is necessary to plant several bushes nearby, in which case pollination will be of a better quality and even self-fertile varieties will bear fruit better.
Video "Black currant planting and care"
This video shows how to choose the right seedlings, what you should pay attention to; what is the peculiarity of caring for black currants; how to carry out spring pruning; when and how to feed the bushes for a large and regular harvest.