Black currant Vologda: variety description, photos, reviews

Content

1 The main characteristics of the variety
2 Planting seedlings
3 Care features
4 Testimonials

Breeders have bred many varieties of black currant, differing in yield, bush structure and other characteristics. Berries contain a lot of vitamins and are even used for medicinal purposes. Among the many varieties, the black currant Vologda has gained great popularity, the bushes of which can withstand severe frosts, and in the summer they delight with an abundant harvest of delicious berries.

The main characteristics of the variety

A description of the Vologda currant variety, photos, reviews of gardeners will help to better study the culture. Let's start the review of characteristics with the structure of the bush. The currant grows with spreading branches. The bushes are medium-sized and very dense. Shoots grow with a bent top. The skin is green. The bark of mature branches becomes gray with a brown tint. The five-pointed leaves on the bush grow in different sizes. The surface of the green plate is matte; a bluish tint is often observed.

Flowers are collected in bunches. The length of the brush reaches 10 cm. The shape of the flowers resembles a saucer. The petals are yellow with a clear predominance of a green tint. The stem is purple. The cluster consists of an average of seven berries. Large fruits are located closer to the base. The berry weight varies from 1.7 to 3 g. A ripe brush acquires a deep black color. The shape of the berries is round, slightly oval. The pulp contains many seeds. The skin is firm and slightly ribbed. Ripe berry is sweet, but acidic is clearly felt. Vologda currant pulp contains vitamin C - 138 mg / 100 g and sugar - 8.1%.

Pollination can occur without the participation of bees, since the black currant of Vologda is self-fertile. In terms of ripening time, the variety is considered medium late. The berries are ready to eat in early August. Brushes can hang on bushes for a long time. Berries do not crack even when overripe. The yield of the Vologda variety is 4 kg per bush. Currant has good winter hardiness.

Attention! Vologda black currant bushes are afraid of temperature fluctuations. With frequent adverse natural phenomena, annual shoots and buds freeze out. 2

The advantages of Vologda black currant are the following features:

wintering resistance;
weakly affected by ticks and powdery mildew;
sweet large berries;
stable yield;
self-pollination;
good adaptability to weather conditions.

Among the shortcomings of the Vologda variety, the large size of the bush is distinguished, which is not comparable to the amount of the crop. The berries ripen uncommonly, which is inconvenient when harvesting.

Important! With an excess of moisture, the skin of overripe berries tends to crack.

Planting seedlings

It is possible to grow the Vologda black currant variety in any area, even with poor soil. The shrub is unpretentious for special care. However, the Vologda variety has three worst enemies: constant shadow, waterlogging of the beds, rocky ground.

They have been planting seedlings since October. If night frosts in the region begin earlier, then the dates are shifted to mid-September. A feature of black currant is the lack of a dormant period in the root system. The seedling of Vologda manages to take root in the fall, take root, and in the fall it quickly grows.

In spring, Vologda seedlings are planted from March to April. The earth should thaw, warm up a little. The buds on the seedlings may be swollen, but not blooming. The site for black currant is chosen raw, but not swampy. Usually the bushes of Vologda are planted in the lowlands, along the fences, but the place should be illuminated by the sun.

When buying, it is better to give preference to two-year-old seedlings of Vologda. The choice is made according to the structure of the root system.A good seedling has at least two lignified brown roots with many thin branching threads. A dark color indicates hypothermia or drying of the root system. Such a seedling will disappear or it will take a long time to take root. The age of two-year-old seedlings is determined by the length of the root system, which is at least 15 cm.

Advice! Before buying, a Vologda seedling is removed from the pot. If the lump of soil is strongly braided by roots, the currants will quickly take root.

Seedlings 35 cm long with one or two shoots are considered good. The skin of healthy twigs is not wrinkled, brown in color without spots and mechanical damage.

When planting, observe the permissible distance between seedlings and other objects:

Vologda bushes grow sprawling and take up a lot of space. The minimum distance between seedlings is 1.5 m.
You can make a hedge from the black currant of the Vologda variety. If the bushes are planted along the fence, then they adhere to a minimum indent of 1.5 m.
On large plantations, black currants of the Vologda variety are planted in rows. Since the bushes grow strongly, the row spacing is maintained at about 2.5 m. The path is needed for caring for the bushes, watering and harvesting.
Black currant bushes can be alternated with fruit trees. The distance between young plantings is maintained at least 2 m.

The rules for planting seedlings of the Vologda variety are the same as for other varieties. The whole process can be broken down into several points:

The site for the seedlings is dug onto the bayonet of a shovel. Remove roots weeds, large stones and check the acidity. If the indicator is overestimated, by 1 m² scatter 500 g of lime, dig in and leave for a couple of days.
Holes 40 cm deep are dug under each bush.The hole can be made square or round, 50 cm in diameter.
Pour half a bucket of compost and old manure into the hole. Organic matter can be replaced with a mineral complex containing potassium, phosphorus and other trace elements.
The contents of the hole are poured with a bucket of water. After soaking at the bottom of the hole, a slide is organized from the soil.
Vologda currant seedling set at an angle of 45^about... The root system is spread over a mound and covered with earth. The soil around the seedling is tamped by hand. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system.
After planting, 4 buckets of water are poured into the hole. The Vologda seedling is cut exactly in half with a pruner. In currants with strong roots, it is fashionable to cut off 1/3 of the upper part. Pruning creates optimal conditions for strong growth.
The place around the seedling is framed with an earthen embankment. The earth in the hole is covered with a thick layer of sawdust or peat mulch.

Swampy areas with a close location of groundwater can also be used for growing black currants. In such areas, holes are not dug. After digging the earth and applying top dressing, make wide embankments 25 cm high. Currant seedlings are planted on them.

The video tells about planting black currants:

Care features

Careful care for black currants is required immediately after planting, so that the seedlings take root well and give a quick growth. If you continue to take care of adult bushes, the Vologda variety will thank you with a good harvest.

Currants need water as a source of moisture and as a preventive measure. In early spring, the bushes are given a hot shower. A bucket of water is heated to a temperature of 60-70^aboutC, dissolve 250 g of baking soda, pour it into a watering can and irrigate the bush. The hot solution is safe for currants, but destroys overwintered pests on the branches.

Vologda loves moisture, but frequent watering is not needed. There is enough moisture inside the soil. Watering can be increased in dry summers, when cracks appear on the ground from extreme heat. Under each currant bush, a deep depression is raked and up to 6 buckets of water are poured. The ground should get wet to a depth of 40 cm.

Mandatory watering is carried out in the following cases:

in the spring, before bud break, if dry weather is established outside;
during flowering and pouring berries;
dry summer;
in the fall, when the currants drop their foliage.

Many gardeners use the simplest method of watering - sprinkling. Splashes of water wash away dust from currant foliage well, but strongly compact the soil. For uniform and deep absorption of moisture, grooves with a depth of 10 cm are cut on the surface of the soil in the assumed area of the roots.

A good effect is obtained from a stone well. Under a black currant bush I dig a hole 40 cm deep and 25 cm wide. Large stones are thrown into the hole. During watering, water quickly passes through the stones and flows to the roots. From above, a stone well is covered with a piece of tin or roofing material to prevent moisture evaporation.

Important! For the winter, the stone well is covered with a thick layer of straw or other insulation to prevent the roots from freezing.

Soil care includes loosening, weeding, adding wood ash and mulching. Vologda black currant reacts well to feeding. Fertilizers are applied in the third year after planting the seedling:

in the fall, after dropping the foliage, 3 kg of organic matter is introduced under the bush;
mineral fertilizers are added annually along with organic matter: 30 g of nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as 15 g of potassium;
while pouring the berries, potassium dissolved in water is added under the bush - 10 g and superphosphate - 40 g;
in spring, during flowering and after harvesting, currants are fed with urea at the rate of 40 g per bush.

The first pruning of a young Vologda seedling is performed immediately after planting. By autumn, five shoots about 45 cm long should have grown. Next year, a new growth will begin. Old branches will give birth, and only strong ones leave new shoots. All weak branches are cut off. In the third year, last year's shoots become fruiting. Old branches also bear fruit, but they are pruned in the fall. The further pruning cycle is repeated annually. An adult, normally formed bush should consist of 10-15 fruit branches.

The video tells about the autumn pruning of currants:

Testimonials

There are a lot of reviews about the Vologda currant variety. Let's read some interesting opinions of gardeners.

Helena

I bought the Vologda variety in the nursery. The berries turned out to be very sweet, but much smaller than promised. Maybe this is due to improper care, but I liked the currants.

Seergey

Vologda planted currant bushes near the fence, where a heap of compost used to lie. I have no problems with feeding. The soil is saturated with nutrients. The bushes have grown large and the berries are large. I water it occasionally when it's hot and the fruits are tied.