Blackcurrant began to be cultivated in ancient times. Our ancestors used it for medical purposes. A decoction of berries removed pain in the stomach, treated for a cold. Unfortunately, varieties cultivated during the time of Kievan Rus irretrievably lost, but modern berries also contain a large amount of vitamin C.
Types and classification of varieties
This culture grows throughout Europe, it spread to Asia. Currant bushes are grown in England, France, Russia and the CIS countries. They can be found even in Kamchatka.
Today there are a large number of varieties of black currant. The best of them give a crop of large berries with a sweet rich taste. Breeders brought:
• early
• medium;
• late blackcurrant varieties.
These are the main groups of varieties by maturity.
There is another classification of this culture. By designation, all varieties are divided into three main groups:
• large fruited;
• dessert;
• technical.
Large-fruited varieties give the greatest yield. A berry is considered large if its weight is 5-8 g. As a rule, the ripening period of such berries is medium or late. The advantage of large-fruited varieties, in addition to the size of berries, is resistance to many fungal diseases. These are new varieties that are bred relatively recently. Therefore, they have strong immunity.
Dessert berries are high in sugar. Their weight is 1-5 g, depending on the variety. It is dessert blackcurrant most often grown by summer residents. Such plants are best planted in the sunlit area, so that the berries quickly gained sweetness. Taste assessment of dessert berries makes more than 4.5 points out of five.
Technical varieties are grown to use the crop for processing. Aromatic compotes are obtained from berries, currants are added to baking. The weight of the berry, as a rule, does not exceed 0.5-1 g. The taste of small-fruited currants is sour. It contains the largest amount of vitamin C compared to other varieties, so it is ground with sugar and used as a cold remedy.
Giant Currant Varieties
The best varieties of black currant include grade "Beauty of Lviv". Currants of this variety were bred in 1985. Harvesting can begin in the second decade of July. The mass of berries is 3.2 g, and the largest weigh up to 4.5 g. The taste is slightly tart, sweet and sour. The shape is round. The color of the berry is dark blue; in the sun, it acquires a ruby tint. The pulp is dense, jelly-like. The separation of berries is dry. The variety is highly portable and well stored.
The bush forms a large number of fruit brushes. They are located tightly. From a young bush, you can collect from 1.5 to 2 kg of currant. After growing vegetative mass in 4-5 years, the yield of the variety is 3-5 kg.
The leaf consists of three blades. The upper part of the sheet is heart-shaped. Lateral have a bevel directed to escape. The shape of the leaf is ribbed, and the color is dark green. The growth rate of the variety is medium, the plant forms straight shoots of medium thickness.
The variety is well adapted to the climatic conditions of central Russia. The best yield can be obtained in the forest and forest-steppe zone. For cultivation in the southern regions, the variety is not suitable. At high temperatures and irregular watering, the berries dry out. This variety must be planted in partial shade, water abundantly and mulch.
The best varieties of black currant: photo varieties "Beauty of Lviv"
One of the best blackcurrant varieties for the southern regions - "Selechenskaya 2". The shape of the berries is round. The size is large, with cherries.
The fruiting period is extended in time. Harvesting can begin in the second half of July. It continues until the end of August. From a three-year bush, up to 5 kg of berries are collected, the weight of the berry is 3-4 g. The separation is dry. The taste of berries is sweet with a slight acidity.
The plant is medium-sized, compact. The diameter of the adult bush is 1-1.5 m. The bush forms thick short shoots that quickly become stiff. Leaves are even, divided into three parts, the edge of the leaf is fine-toothed.
One of the largest varieties of blackcurrant and the most common in the CIS countries is "Vigorous". This currant has a powerful rich taste. Berry juice is very thick. The average size of berries is 5 g, and the largest of them can weigh 8 g. The weight and size of currants are comparable to grapes.
Berries ripening is late. Harvesting begins in late July. Fruiting lasts until the second half of September. From one bush you can collect up to 4 kg of berries.
The plant is tall and sprawling. It forms powerful thick shoots. The diameter of the bush is 1.5-2 m. The variety needs abundant watering and top dressing. It withstands frosts and cold snap.
The variety is suitable for cultivation in the northern regions and central strip of Russia. Ideal for the Moscow region, can grow in the climatic zone of the Urals. Yield in Siberia varieties "Vigorous" slightly falls and amounts to 3-3.5 kg per plant.
One of the best varieties of currant: photo of the variety "Vigorous"
Another large-fruited variety of black currants - "Dobrynya". Bushes are undersized or medium-sized. The strength of currant growth depends on the composition of the soil and the content of nutrients in it. Young shoots of olive color are straight of medium thickness. Lignified - brown.
You can distinguish "Dobrynya" from other varieties of blackcurrant during the flowering period. Fruit brushes of the plant are sinuous and slightly friable. On each of them 6-10 peduncles are formed. The flowers are bright yellow, very large.
The stem of the berries is green, medium in size. The skin is thick black with a pleasant white sheen. The weight of one berry is 5.5-6.5 g. The variety is planted for excellent taste qualities of berries and excellent drought tolerance. "Dobrynya" is well suited for cultivation in the southern climate.
Harvesting begins in late June; fruiting ends in August. "Dobrynya" is considered unproductive compared to other large-fruited varieties. From one bush collect up to 2.5 kg of the crop.
variety "Dobrynya"
The best varieties of blackcurrant dessert
Variety "Raisin" refers to a group of dessert. The weight of the berries is 2-3 g. Their shape is round. Berries have a pleasant sweet taste with a delicate grape hue. The peculiarity of the variety is that overripe berries do not fall from the bush, but gradually wrinkle, which is why the currant is called "Raisin".
The bush is medium-sized. Forms a small number of shoots. 8-12 flowers bloom on the stalk. Early ripening berries. From one bush 4-5 kg of crop are harvested. From currant leaves you can make a very tasty and fragrant tea.
"Raisin" black currant photo
The best varieties of black currant include variety "Legend". The berry is not very large, weighing 1.5-3.5 g. Its flesh is light brown. Variety "Legend" has an excellent candy aroma and a sweet very pleasant taste. Early ripening berries. You can start collecting at the end of June - the first decade of July. From one bush you can collect 3-4 kg of crop.
The plant is medium-sized, slightly spreading. The variety does not require cross-pollination to form an ovary. Black currant "Legend" is resistant to fungal diseases. Suitable for cultivation in central Russia and its northern regions, requires abundant watering.
"Legend" variety photo
