- Authors: Holland
- Name synonyms: Rovada
- Ripening terms: medium late ripening
- Growth type: medium-sized
- Yield: high
- Appointment: for cooking preserves, jams, marmalades, for making jelly
- Berry weight, g: 0.8 (up to 1.6)
- Sheet: green, wrinkled, dense, 3-5-lobed
- Brush: long, thick
- Berry color: dark red
Currant is one of the most beloved horticultural crops. The Rovada variety is becoming more and more popular, although it was brought from the Netherlands quite recently. Gardeners fell in love with him for his attractive taste, unpretentiousness. The Rovada red currant gives a large yield with little effort.
Breeding history
The Rovada variety was obtained in the early 80s of the twentieth century. It was developed by Dutch breeders by crossing several popular currant varieties. In the same period, the Rovada currant was presented at an agricultural exhibition held in Paris.
This variety immediately began to spread across the European continent. It was brought to Russia in the early 90s. In a short time, he gained popularity among domestic gardeners, who fell in love with him for a large harvest with little effort. Nowadays, currants are found quite often in our gardens.
Description of the variety
The Rovada variety is medium late. The culture is of medium height. Sprawling bushes, actively growing during the first 2 years. Plants grow above one and a half meters.
The Rovada variety is prone to thickening. The plant needs to be formed in a timely manner, removing unnecessary branches. This will allow you to get the best harvest.
The leaf has five lobes. The plate is rather large in size. It has an elongated, pointed middle part with sharp jagged edges. The color of the foliage is dark green. On the surface, wrinkles can be seen with the naked eye. There is a small fluff inside. In the autumn, the foliage turns yellow.
On the bush grow dense flower brushes with a long size. The flowers resemble bells. One brush contains from 10 to 19 pieces at a time. First, flowers open at the base, then in the middle and at the top.
Experienced gardeners note the attractive properties of the Rovada currant:
the presence of high productivity indicators;
the plant blooms in mid-late May (for this reason, it does not fall under the influence of return frosts);
attractive berry taste with a sufficient amount of sugar and acid;
withstands large subzero temperatures, up to 35 degrees below zero;
maintaining a presentable presentation for a long time;
high resistance to the negative effects of dangerous diseases and insect pests;
Rovada berries can be used in any form;
the bush quickly adapts to the place where it will subsequently grow;
the fruits lie well, do not wrinkle and do not disappear;
you can transport the crop over long distances;
the branches of the plant are flexible.
The red currant variety has several negative points. Bushes are sensitive to climatic changes; seedlings do not always take root when planting. And one more minus - the need to cut the branches due to their strong thickening.
Characteristics of berries
The berries have a pronounced red color, a shiny and smooth surface, and a rounded shape. The size of the berries is large. Each weighs about 1 gram. With proper care, there are specimens with a greater mass.
Fruits grow in tassels. Each contains 15-20 berries. The brush is quite large, reaching up to 20 centimeters in size.
Taste qualities
Currants are quite dense, have a sweet and sour taste.They contain a sufficient amount of sugar and acid. Each berry has a high content:
provitamin A (beta-carotene);
all varieties of B vitamins;
P - prevents capillaries from breaking;
E - improves immunity;
coumarin substances, due to which the blood clots better, prevents the formation of tumors;
pectins that absorb harmful substances typical of heavy metals;
micro- and macroelements in the form of iron, potassium, selenium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iodine.
Ripening and fruiting
The berries ripen quickly and amicably. The first berries in the southern regions can be eaten from the last days of June. In more northern regions, the fruits ripen 2-3 weeks later.
There is a prolonged fruiting period for one and a half to two months. The plant blooms late. For this reason, it does not fall under frost, which often return in spring. The plant is well pollinated. That is why barren flowers are almost never found on currant bushes.
Yield
The Rovada variety has a fairly high yield. With minimal effort, the bush can produce about 10 kilograms of delicious and sweet berries. To get a large harvest, you should take good care of the plant, shape it correctly and cut it correctly.
Landing
For planting, areas that are well-lit by the sun's rays are chosen. They should not be exposed to the wind. Many experienced gardeners recommend choosing partial shade. The variety grows better on loamy or slightly sandy soils.
The plant is planted both in spring and early autumn. Before planting, the seedlings are placed in water, where they will stay for 3-4 hours. After that, a hole is dug on the territory of the selected site to a depth of 40-50 centimeters. A layer of compost is poured into it.
The seedling is lowered into the pit, while straightening the root system. Rotten and broken specimens should be removed immediately prior to this. They fall asleep on top with a layer of earth, deepening the root collar by 5-7 centimeters, tamping the ground.
After planting, currant bushes are watered abundantly.
Growing and care
Rovada currant is a rather unpretentious variety. To get a significant harvest, the plant should be well watered. This is especially necessary during the fruiting period, which falls on a sultry and hot summer.
Culture responds well to showering. You can do the procedure using a hose with a spray at the end.
In the process of growing, the culture needs to be fed. This is done several times during the season.
Fertilizers are applied in the spring, when the buds are just beginning to open. Ash, complex fertilizers or mullein, previously diluted in water, are suitable for this.
The currants are fed for the second time during the flowering period. This will allow the bushes to prepare well for fruiting.
After the berry picking time, you need to feed the culture a third time. This will prepare the plant for future wintering.
Rovad currants should not be fed during the period of formation and ripening of fruits. In this case, a lot of substances harmful to health will accumulate in the berries, which will negatively affect the well-being of a person.
In the spring, the bushes are treated for pests and diseases. This will allow the plant to grow well and yield plentifully, although the variety can withstand them on its own.
Next to the bushes, a layer of mulch should be poured, consisting of sawdust, leaves, straw, cut grass. This prevents the soil from overheating and retains moisture and heat.
Rovad currant is loved by many Russians for its unpretentiousness and abundant harvest. The berries are delicious. They ripen in a short time, can be used both fresh and in compotes, jams, preserves.
Currant is one of the most favorite crops of gardeners, it can be found on almost any personal plot. In order for the currant berries to be tasty and large, and the bush itself to be healthy and strong, you should properly care for, treat and protect the plant from harmful insects. It is important to recognize the signs of the disease in a timely manner and begin treatment in the early stages of plant damage.