Content
Currants, black and red, are one of the most beloved and popular berry crops among gardeners. It is unpretentious, frost-hardy, does not require special attention to itself, unlike other fruiting plants. The beneficial properties of wild currants (census) are due to the composition of the fruits, which contain a whole storehouse of vitamins and microelements, which makes it indispensable for the nutrition of adults and children.
Where does wild currant grow
Wild currant (repis) grows in forests, along the banks of rivers and swamps, in ravines. The culture is very common in Siberia and the Far East, the Urals and Kazakhstan, as well as in the forests of western and central Russia. Wild currants are grown everywhere in gardens, in personal plots. The exceptions are regions with very cold climates.
Description and photo of wild currant
Repis is a powerful, sprawling shrub with a height of 1 to 3 m, which is distinguished not only by its decorative effect, but also by a fairly good yield of useful, tasty berries. In appearance, the small three-lobed leaf plates of the plant resemble gooseberry leaves. Saturated green, they are covered with red and yellow spots by autumn, which makes the currants very effective and attractive.
A vivid photo of a wild currant demonstrates the charming flowering of the bush.
It blooms with bright, large yellow flowers at the end of May, attracting bees with its pleasant aroma. Fruiting begins in mid-July with medium-sized berries ranging in color from red, light brown to black. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly elongated. The taste is sweet and sour, but with a more pronounced sourness. The red currant, which is a type of black wild cricket, is especially acidic.
Useful video about the description and growth of the census:
Useful properties of wild currant
The fruits of wild currants are not only tasty, but also very useful due to the large amount of vitamins and minerals. Just like the leaves, they have a diuretic and antipyretic, anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, they are recommended to be eaten for infectious and colds, reduced immunity. Useful berries of repsa in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular organs, oncology. In addition, they:
- improve mental performance;
- reduce blood cholesterol levels;
- strengthens blood vessels;
- cleanse the body of toxins and toxins.
Such useful qualities of the plant are explained by the unique composition of currant fruits. Berries of cepes contain a large amount of vitamins, organic acids, tannins, essential oils. They also contain pectin, which makes it possible to widely use currants for making all kinds of jellies and jams.
Contraindications
Currant fruits are not recommended for eating:
- in acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- hepatitis;
- heart attacks and strokes;
- thrombophlebitis.
You can not eat large quantities of currants, especially red, and people prone to allergies. One of the main contraindications to the use of berries is their individual intolerance.
Wild currant recipes
In cooking, the fruits of wild red and black currants are widely used for making jelly, preserves, jams, compotes, fruit drinks. Proper preparation of blanks for winter use allows you to preserve vitamins and useful elements, which is especially important for maintaining good health in the cold season. Below are the most popular recipes.
Vitamin Jam
To make jam you will need:
- 1.5 kg of berries;
- 1 kg of granulated sugar.
The berries are ground in a blender, food processor or minced. Then it is mixed with sugar until it is completely dissolved. Jam is placed in clean prepared jars and stored in the refrigerator. Due to the absence of heat treatment, it retains all vitamins and beneficial properties.
Jam Pyatiminutka
From 3 kg of sugar and 2 tbsp. water, a syrup is boiled, in which 2 kg of berries are placed, selected from debris and twigs. After boiling, cook for 5 minutes. Pour hot into prepared jars and close with lids. Fast cooking allows you to preserve nutrients, makes cooking simple, and the jam itself is unusually tasty and aromatic.
Jam
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of sugar;
- 1 kg of berries;
- 1 lemon.
Peel the lemon and grind it together with the currant fruits through a meat grinder. Mix with sugar and put on low heat. After boiling, boil for 30 minutes, stirring and skimming. The resulting jam is poured hot into jars and sealed. The delicious taste of currant is harmoniously complemented by citrus notes.
The fruits of the census are dried and frozen for the winter. In the cold season, it is enough to throw some dry berries into the tea so that the drink acquires useful properties and is saturated with the unique aroma of summer. Frozen cakes are often used to decorate pastries. When frozen, they completely retain all their characteristic properties and composition.
Planting and caring for wild currants in the garden
Wild currant Repis is a culture that is unpretentious to the climate and growing conditions. It can grow and bear fruit on any soil, from sandy to clayey. However, in order for the crop to please with its abundance, pleasant taste of the fruit, you should choose the right seedlings and a place for planting. Planting material should be:
- with a developed root system of at least 20 cm in size, without dried roots;
- with woody branches, each of which has 3 - 4 healthy buds.
After planting, the census does not require particularly careful personal care. But do not forget about the main agricultural techniques - watering, feeding, pruning.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Repis currant can grow on any soil. However, in order for the fruiting to be good, and the shrub to please with its decorative appearance, it is better to plant it in a sunny, well-lit place in a fertile soil with high humidity. To do this, the site is dug up with the introduction of humus or rotted manure into the ground. With the planned planting in the spring, this can be done in the fall. They dig 40x40 planting holes and add compost or rotted humus to each.
Landing rules
The basic rules for planting wild cassis are as follows:
- planting of seedlings is carried out in early spring or autumn in well-lit places protected from drafts and cold winds;
- the site should not be swampy, waterlogged;
- planting on the site requires 2 crib bushes for full fruit setting.
Currants begin to bear fruit in very small quantities from the second year of planting, but a full harvest is obtained only in the 3rd - 4th year.
Landing Algorithm:
- dig holes 50x50 in size at a distance of 1.5 m from each other;
- rotted manure, humus or superphosphate are added to each planting pit;
- fertilizers are sprinkled with earth and seedlings are planted;
- fall asleep, compact and watered abundantly.
Wild currant census responds well to the introduction of wood ash, so it is also added when planting seedlings, at the rate of 2 cups per bush.
Watering and feeding
Wild currants are quite drought-resistant and undemanding to regular watering. However, after planting, young plants must be watered with warm water once a week. After the leaves bloom, watering is limited, since there is a high probability of the development of powdery mildew. The rest of the time, it is recommended to water the census no more than once every 2 weeks.
In early spring, every year wild currants are fed with mineral fertilizers or poultry droppings. For mineral feeding, the following composition is suitable:
- superphosphate (20g);
- ammonium nitrate (15g);
- potassium sulfate (15g).
In the fall, in order for the shrub to prepare well for the dormant period, humus is introduced into the soil, at least 5 kg for an adult bush and 1 glass of wood ash.
Pruning
Wild forest currant does not require regular pruning. Its bushes practically do not thicken. Spring sanitary pruning, meanwhile, allows you to get rid of damaged, dry, and broken branches. During the haircut, weak processes are also removed. When growing a census for decorative purposes, formative pruning is carried out, leaving strong, strong shoots and cutting off the apical parts to form the crown.
Preparing for winter
Repis grows almost everywhere, except in areas with a very cold climate. Therefore, he does not need shelter for the winter. A frost-resistant culture easily tolerates low air temperatures - up to 40 - 45 degrees of frost under a snow cover. Preparation for winter consists in mulching the near-trunk circle with fallen leaves, peat, which will additionally protect the root system from freezing, and in the spring it will be a good top dressing, which has a beneficial effect on the active growth of the bush.
Harvesting
The berries of the wild cassis currant ripen in mid-June - early August: it all depends on the specific climatic conditions. Fruiting lasts 1.5 - 2 months, during which the fruits do not crumble and are firmly held on the branches. Harvest in stages, as the berries ripen, which ripen unevenly.
Conclusion
The beneficial properties of wild currants (census) made gardeners take a closer look at this berry culture. Despite the prevalence of cultivated, hybrid varieties of currants, it is especially popular precisely because of its unique properties. Often, unpretentious, frost-resistant shrubs are planted to protect the site from cold winds. Well, a nice bonus of decorative green spaces is a good harvest of delicious, incredibly healthy berries.
