How and where to plant black currants

The choice of place for planting black currants plays a decisive role. The plant’s productivity, growth and disease resistance will depend on this. When choosing a location, you need to know the favorable conditions for the best growth of this berry.

As you know, in the wild, currants are common along river banks along with raspberry trees. It likes damp places, and does not like dry or swampy areas with standing water. The roots of the currant in such an environment will rot, and its branches will be overgrown with lichen. Therefore, it is better to plant it in a low part of the site, but above groundwater. This way the plant will have the moisture it needs for a good harvest and the roots will be in a favorable environment.

In addition to moisture, for a good harvest and healthy growth of the currant bush in general — need sunlight. To do this, you need to choose a well-lit place on the site. If the plant is planted in the shade — the harvest will be smaller, because the plant loves light. If possible, it is better not to plant black currants in an area where shade predominates most of the day, but to choose a lighter location. Also, currants do not like windblown areas.

For its favorable development, it is necessary to choose a place along the fence or between fruit trees, so that sunlight penetrates.
Currants like soil that is loose and moist, of medium density, with a high content of organic matter. Favorable soil for it is not acidic or neutral soil.

Planting dates for currant seedlings

Planting currant seedlings is limited by time. Seedlings can be planted in both spring and autumn. But, as the experience of many gardeners shows, the best time for planting is autumn. In spring, the buds bloom too quickly, and the planting period is very short. It is necessary to plant blackcurrant seedlings before the buds open. The plant may simply not have time to take root.

The autumn period for planting black currant bushes is good because during the winter the soil settles closer to the roots, and in the spring the already established plant rushes into rapid growth.

It is necessary to plant currants 3-4 weeks before the onset of cold weather. This is approximately when the leaves have already completely fallen off, and the fruiting period is already over and the currants are at rest. If planted earlier — Shoots may grow, which is not advisable. Late planting can lead to the death of the plant, as it will not have time to take root.

Scheme for planting currants in spring

There are two most common ways to plant black currants: seedlings and cuttings. Most often they are planted as seedlings.

Before planting a seedling, it is necessary to dig a hole with a diameter and depth of approximately 50 cm. The size of the hole is determined by the size of the root system of the seedling. The size of the root system should be half the size of the hole dug. Medium loamy soil is suitable for black currants. If the site has clay soil, then you need to dig a larger hole so that the root system can grow freely in the future. More humus and organic fertilizers are needed in clay soil.

Organic fertilizer (compost, manure) should be placed at the bottom of the hole to make the soil more nutritious. Currants do not like acidic soil. In this case, it will be very important to add ash, chalk, or eggshells to the fertilizer. After applying fertilizers, the hole must be thoroughly watered.

It is best to plant a currant seedling at an angle of 45?. Thanks to this, the plant’s shoots will be fan-shaped, and in the future it will be a productive bush.

You need to bury the bush so that its root collar is buried 7 cm from the surface. The distance between bushes should be about 60-70 cm. The distance between rows of bushes should be about two meters.

If cuttings are used for planting, it is very important that they are 15 to 20 cm long. A straight cut is made from above, and an oblique cut from below. If there are a lot of cuttings for planting, you should dig a trench and fill it with organic fertilizers. It is better to make a trench with manure or compost in the fall.

Before planting, the soil must thaw to a depth of 20 — 25 centimeters. Before planting, it must be moistened with water. The cuttings are planted evenly, at a depth of 10 — 15 centimeters. Distance between cuttings — 70 centimeters.

After planting the cuttings, it is necessary to regularly water the soil, preventing it from drying out. Regular loosening of the soil is important. By autumn, the planted cuttings will grow into small bushes and take root. Next spring they can be planted in their permanent place of residence, where they will grow, bear fruit, and delight with the beneficial and tasteful properties of the crop.

Time limits for treating currants against diseases and pests

Every year, blackcurrant bushes must be treated against diseases and pests. Processing methods may be different. Folk remedies along with spraying are widely used.
Spraying is divided into the following periods:

• before buds open;
• in the active flowering stage;
• processing of plants after flowering;
• processing after harvest.

In early spring, when it becomes warm outside, there may still be snow, and the buds have not yet swelled - they cut out the apical part of the shoots, where signs of powdery mildew are visible. Such signs are the appearance of a grayish dense felt coating.

In the spring, it is important to inspect currant buds for signs of bud mite. Damaged buds are removed, or the currant bush is completely rejuvenated.

There is another method of treating currant bushes against bud mites. It is also carried out in early spring using boiling water. This is done so that the pests that have settled in the kidneys die. This treatment should not be carried out at a later period, when the leaves have blossomed - it can cause harm. In the autumn, treatment with boiling water is ineffective, since the buds are tightly closed, and boiling water may not reach the pests.

Timing for fertilizing currants

Feeding blackcurrant bushes with fertilizers should be done in early spring. During this period, it is necessary to fertilize the soil near the bush with nitrogen fertilizers. In the autumn, it is necessary to fertilize with organic fertilizers, with the addition of potassium sulfate and superphosphate.

In the case of liquid feeding, it is recommended to water the bushes four times a year. The first time liquid fertilizing is done in the spring, during bud break. The second time - after flowering. The third feeding is done while the berries are filling, and the fourth after harvesting. Organic fertilizers (poultry droppings, cow manure, slurry), as well as mineral fertilizers are used as liquid fertilizers.

Gardeners recommend using rotted grass as fertilizer. Freshly cut grass is placed in a pile for two weeks. After about two weeks, a white coating appears on the grass. The grass is ready to be used as fertilizer. It is sprinkled on the surface of the soil around blackcurrant bushes. In addition to fertilizer, rotted grass also serves as a means of treating shrubs from powdery mildew. Thanks to bacteria developing in rotten grass — Shrubs will not be afraid of powdery mildew.