Content
Currant Romance (Chime) is one of the reliable black-fruited varieties of culture. This species is characterized by large fruit size, excellent taste and early ripening. Therefore, many gardeners prefer to grow it on their site. But in order to achieve the desired performance when growing Romance currants, it is necessary to study not only its strengths, but also its weaknesses.
Currant Romance is suitable for small household plots
Breeding history
This variety of black currant was bred at a breeding station located in the city of Sverdlovsk. Its author is considered to be a senior researcher T.V. Shagin. The romance was obtained as a result of free pollination of the Leningrad giant currant. Subsequently, attempts were made to improve the characteristics of the obtained seedling. As a result, a resistant variety was formed, which successfully passed the tests and in 2004 was entered into the State Register. It is recommended for cultivation in the Volga-Vyatka region.
Description of the currant variety Romance
This type of culture is characterized by a weak, medium spreading bush with a sparse crown. Young shoots are initially erect, green in color, with a slight anthocyanin tint, 0.7-1 cm in diameter. As they grow older, they noticeably thicken, lignify and acquire a brown-gray tint. Edge on currant branches There is no romance.
The buds of this variety are large, with a blunt tip, deflected from the shoot. They are solitary and oppositely located on the branches. The leaf scar has a rounded-wedge shape.
The leaves of the currant Romance are three-lobed. The surface is matte, wrinkled. The central part is wide-triangular with a pointed end. It has additional protrusions and is slightly longer than the others. The lateral blades are wide, directed to the sides. The basal parts of the leaf are underdeveloped. There is a medium-sized open heart-shaped notch at the base of the plate. The teeth on the leaves of Romantics are large. The petiole is long, thickened with anthocyanin, attached to the branches at right angles.
The flowers are large, with curved, rounded petals. Sepals are loosely located, colored in a creamy pink shade. Fruit clusters of the Romance currant are short, thickened. On each of them, six to ten berries are formed. The peduncle is short, brown-green in color, thickened.
Currant Romance is characterized by large fruits with a regular rounded shape. The average weight of the berries varies between 4-6 g. When ripe, they become uniform black. The skin is thin, dense. When eaten, it is felt, but not significantly. The pulp is juicy, contains a moderate amount of seeds. The taste of the fruit is sweet with a slight acidity. The crop is suitable for fresh consumption and further processing.
The berries of the currant Romance are densely located in the brush
Characteristics
When choosing this variety, you must first study its characteristics. This will allow you to properly care for the shrub and get a good harvest.
Drought tolerance, winter hardiness
Currant Romance shows resistance to short-term drought without loss of commercial qualities. But with a prolonged absence of precipitation, it needs regular watering, especially during the flowering period and the formation of the ovary.
The shrub easily withstands frosts in winter down to -28 degrees. At the same time, an adult plant does not need special shelter.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening times
Black currant Romance - medium ripening. The shrub blooms in late May - early June, depending on weather conditions. This period lasts 5-10 days. This variety is self-fertile within 70%. Berries ripen at the end of July.
Productivity and fruiting
Romance is a high-yielding species. One adult bush can be harvested 3.5 kg of marketable berries. The shrub begins to bear fruit in the second year after planting, and shows maximum productivity in the fifth year. The fruits stay in the brush for a long time, do not crumble and do not shrink. The crop easily tolerates direct sunlight, so burns do not appear on the skin.
Fresh berries can be stored for three days in a cool, dark place. The crop can easily be transported in boxes of 5 kg.
Disease and pest resistance
Currant variety Romantica shows resistance to common diseases of the culture. But it can be affected by a kidney mite at low air humidity and high temperatures. Therefore, experienced gardeners recommend timely preventive treatment of shrubs with fungicides and insecticides. This will keep your immunity at a high level.
Advantages and disadvantages
Blackcurrant Romance is one of the new modern species that have many virtues. But it also has certain drawbacks that you need to pay attention to.
This variety is of medium ripening.
Main advantages:
- high yield;
- large size of berries;
- great taste;
- self-fertility;
- frost resistance;
- marketability;
- versatility of application;
- immunity to disease.
Disadvantages:
- dense fruit clusters;
- susceptibility to kidney mites;
- breakage of bushes under excessive load.
Features of planting and care
Planting black currant Romance is recommended in early spring or autumn. In the first case, the soil should warm up to a depth of 20 cm, and the daytime temperature should be kept at around +9 degrees. Under such conditions, the shrub will quickly take root, without wasting energy on the growing season. Autumn planting should be carried out at the end of September, but so that at least three to four weeks remain before frost. Delaying the timing can negatively affect rooting and lead to the death of the shrub.
Caring for this variety assumes compliance with standard rules. In the absence of rain for a long time, irrigation with settled water should be carried out with the soil getting wet by 10 cm. The frequency of moistening is twice a week. However, during the ripening of the berries, irrigation should be stopped so that they do not become watery.
Fertilize currants Romance twice a season. To do this, in the spring, organic matter should be introduced, and during the formation of the ovary, phosphorus-potassium mineral mixtures should be used.
Throughout the growing season, you need to regularly fertilize the weeds and loosen the soil in the root circle. This allows you to maintain aeration of the soil and nutrients in it.
For this variety, you need to choose sunny open areas.
The first three years after planting, the romantic currant seedling needs to be insulated for the winter. To do this, in late autumn, lay the mulch at the base of the shrub, and wrap the crown with spandbond in two layers.
Every year in the spring, the plant should be cleaned from damaged and broken branches. And at the age of six, the Romance currant needs to be updated. To do this, the entire bush should be cut off at the base. It takes one year to recover.
Conclusion
Currant Romance is a modern crop variety, when grown, you can get a stable high yield with minimal maintenance. Therefore, many gardeners already have it on their personal plots. The advantage of the species is that it has compact bushes, so they do not require a lot of free space.
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