Nuances of planting black currant

Black currant is a very sensitive culture to numerous planting nuances. When planning its breeding, you will have to take into account everything: from the timing of the procedure to neighboring plants.

Planting black currants can be carried out twice a year: in autumn and spring. Usually, exact dates are determined depending on the climatic characteristics of the region and weather conditions. The spring procedure is carried out immediately after the completion of the snow melting. This should be done as early as possible in order to provide the culture with well-moistened soil. However, at the same time, it is necessary to be sure that the frosts will not return, and, therefore, will not destroy the young seedlings.

Autumn planting is considered much preferable in all senses, especially for novice gardeners. The procedure, carried out at the end of the season, allows you to really carry out the preparatory measures and provide the plants with time for development. Again, the rooted bush begins to bear fruit a year earlier than its spring "brother". In this case, you have to keep up with the cold weather and freezing of the soil - at least two weeks. Otherwise, the planting will simply not survive the winter. Best of all, the root system of currants feels at temperatures that are kept within the range of +5 +10 degrees. It should also be taken into account that the culture requires about 20-25 days for complete rooting.

Spring planting is usually recommended for northern regions with temperatures as low as -23. Planting crops in the southern regions is successful both in autumn and spring, but most gardeners prefer autumn planting. For the middle zone, including the Moscow region, early autumn planting of berry crops will be optimal - that is, the one that is carried out in September.

If you initially choose a good currant seedling, then in the future it will be possible to guarantee both the rapid development of the bush and the receipt of a bountiful harvest. Planting material should always be purchased in trusted places, whose reputation is a guarantee of its health. Preference should be given to varieties that are appropriate for the conditions of a particular region, as well as possessing strong immunity against most common diseases. For seedlings, it is best to use samples that are one or two years old, although it is the latter that will be able to take root best.

The branches of the selected seedling should have a uniform brown color. It is important that their surface is free from obscure spots, cracks, damage or disease symptoms. The required height of the aboveground part of the sample is 35 to 45 centimeters, in addition, there are several formed buds on it. Currants need 3-4 elastic skeletal roots up to 20 centimeters long, surrounded by small processes. It should also be monitored to ensure that the kidneys are free of the swelling that mites often develop.

When buying a seedling, it is a good idea to lightly scrape the top layer of the bark - it should hide a moist surface of a rich green hue under it. The absence of the latter indicates the death of the plant. In addition, it is in black currant that the scraping site should have a pronounced aroma.

For black currants, it is extremely important to choose the right place for planting.

Since the berry culture shows sensitivity to many factors, all of them have to be taken into account. Lowlands, in which liquid accumulates after melting snow or precipitation, as well as areas with a close location of groundwater, are not suitable for black currants. It is best to land on level ground or on a gentle slope tilted to the west or northwest.

The culture prefers an abundant supply of light, but is able to thrive even in the presence of light shade. It should also be mentioned that black currant loves space. Therefore, between the bushes and fruit trees, at least 2.5 meters should be preserved, and between the rows of the berry itself, 2 to 3 meters should be kept. The planting should be at least 2 meters away from the nearby fence.

Loams or light sandy loam soils are most suitable for the plant. Berry crops love well-drained and nutrient-rich soil. If there is only sand on the site, then a small amount of clay will have to be added to the planting hole on your own, which will accelerate the "transportation" of air and water to the roots of the seedlings.

The acidity level of the soil is also considered an equally significant indicator. The crop prefers slightly acidic soil, which corresponds to a ph value of 6 to 6.5, so more acidified soil needs to be limed.

Black berries should not be planted on those beds where raspberries, gooseberries or other varieties of the same currants used to live. All other fruit, berry and even vegetable crops are considered suitable predecessors.

Raspberries with cherries and sea buckthorn are also bad neighbors, because, growing, they begin to "fight" for liquid and nutrition and significantly slow down the development of young seedlings. As neighboring crops, gooseberry is also bad because it is the "owner" of similar pests, which means that it provokes infection.

The hole in which the currant seedlings will be placed should be slightly larger than the root system of the seedling. Usually its sides are about 40-50 centimeters. What additional components should be put inside is determined depending on the composition of the soil. It is considered universal to fertilize each well with 60 grams of potassium sulfate and 100 grams of capsule superphosphate. If it is loam, then the top layer of the excavated earth is mixed with a bucket of rotted manure, after which it is used to "decorate" the bottom. Sandy soil is pre-mixed with clay, peat or compost, and the compactor is used in the amount of 2 buckets per square meter.

If desired, the mixture can also be supplemented with wood ash. In both cases, before applying fertilizers and soil, it is necessary to first arrange a drainage layer of small pebbles or gravel. It is also worth mentioning that a seedling sold in a container is not removed from it until the actual planting. Samples that do not have a protective container are preserved by wrapping the root system in plastic wrap or a damp cloth. In either case, if currant roots dry out slightly, then before being transferred to open ground, they are slightly soaked in a liquid substance obtained by mixing manure, clay and water.

The technology used for planting garden berries does not differ in complexity. First of all, the pit is filled with drainage, fertilizers and soil necessary to form the bottom. Further, the depression is filled with about 10 liters of water. According to the rules, the seedling is immersed in the hole at an angle of 45 degrees, which will allow it to develop more actively. The root collar should fit about 5-6 centimeters below ground level.

The root processes are carefully covered with earth and compacted. Void should not be left next to them, as this negatively affects the rooting of the plant. Around the currant bush, an earthen side is erected with an indent of 15-20 centimeters from the center. The hole is abundantly irrigated and mulched with straw, wood chips, needles or agrofibre. It should be emphasized that the methods of performing the procedure in autumn and spring may differ slightly. So, during spring planting, digging and top dressing of the soil is carried out in the previous fall. In the second case, the pits are prepared a couple of weeks before the direct disembarkation.

It is necessary to take care of the berry culture placed in the open field regularly and fully. Irrigation should be carried out once a week, and 2-3 buckets should be poured under each bush. The most suitable for black currants is drip irrigation, which provides the necessary moisture to the soil near the roots. Each watering should be accompanied by loosening and getting rid of weeds. These procedures are extremely necessary, since loosening improves the flow of oxygen to the roots, and weeding eliminates "competitors" for nutrients.

From fertilizers, the crop requires nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium - a complex containing them is usually applied in the spring. For example, you can prepare a mixture of 50 grams of ammonium nitrate, 30 grams of potassium sulfate and 30 grams of superphosphate, diluted with 10 liters of water. When choosing organic matter, you will have to use 4-5 kilograms applied for each currant bush.