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Watering berry bushes, including currants, plays a huge role in harvesting. The root system of these plants is located close to the soil surface and does not have the ability to absorb moisture from deeper horizons. Therefore, you need to water the currants regularly, however, to achieve maximum efficiency, watering must be done in compliance with certain rules.
Features of watering currants
Currants love moist soil and are considered a moisture-loving plant. Lack of moisture in the soil negatively affects its general condition. The lack of water leads to the fact that the leaves of the currant curl, and the berries become smaller and dry. Shrub growth slows down, young shoots do not ripen. A particularly severe drought can even lead to the death of the currant bush.
However, it is impossible to water black currants too often. Excess water in the soil can cause considerable damage to the shrub. Stagnation of liquid in the roots can lead to their decay, in conditions of high humidity, pathogenic bacteria and fungi develop intensively, which provokes the appearance of various diseases. The normal soil moisture level for currants is 60%.
How often should currants be watered
In many cases, atmospheric precipitation is sufficient for currants. This is especially true for regions with a cool climate, in which the soil dries out relatively infrequently. In this case, additional moistening of the soil is not required.
How to water currants in summer
In summer, the need for watering currants is determined by the weather and the amount of rain. In dry periods, it is necessary to moisten the soil under the bushes once a week. Especially carefully you need to monitor the state of the soil during the period of setting and ripening of berries. The lack of water in the soil at this time can lead to the fact that not yet ripe fruits begin to fall off. This means that the shrub includes a natural regulation mechanism, getting rid of part of the crop, which takes a lot of moisture to ripen. This is done to maintain water balance in other parts of the plant to avoid dying. Thus, the discharge of berries is a clear sign of a lack of moisture in the soil.
With an insufficient amount of precipitation, currant bushes need watering after harvesting. Maintaining moisture in the soil at this time allows the shrub to quickly regain strength, especially if fruiting was abundant. In addition, after the completion of fruiting, new flower buds begin to form on the currants, which will become the basis of the next year's harvest.
Spring watering currants
The very first watering of currant bushes in the spring is recommended to be done before the beginning of the growing season, when the buds are still dormant. Usually this is the end of March, at which time in most regions the land is already free of snow. Watering is carried out by sprinkling, and the water should be hot, about + 70-75 ° С. To enhance the disinfecting effect, you can add several crystals of potassium permanganate to the water.
A regular watering can is used for watering, with the help of which the currant bushes are irrigated evenly. Such a measure has a beneficial effect on the shrub, since it performs the following functions.
- Kills spores of fungi that are the causative agents of powdery mildew and other diseases.
- It kills the larvae of insect pests that hibernated on the bush, primarily the currant mite.
- Hot water promotes rapid thawing of the soil in the root zone, which allows the plant to start growing early. It should be borne in mind that there should be no return frosts.
Useful video on how to properly water currants with boiling water in spring:
Re-watering currant bushes in spring may be needed in late spring, during the formation of flower ovaries. By this time, the moisture accumulated in the soil after the snow melts has already been consumed or has evaporated. If the winter was little snow, and the spring stood warm and dry, then watering is definitely necessary. Otherwise, you need to be guided by the condition of the soil, it may well turn out that there is enough water in it, in this case it is better to refuse additional moisture.
Watering currants in autumn
In autumn, the growth of currants slows down. With a decrease in average daily temperatures, water evaporation decreases, both from the leaves of the bush and from the soil. In the vast majority of cases, there is enough precipitation at this time of the year, and additional watering is usually unnecessary. However, in late autumn, before the onset of cold weather, in late October or early November, it is necessary to carry out the so-called "water-charging" watering of currants. It is done so that all plant tissues are saturated with moisture, this significantly improves the winter hardiness of the shrub and reduces the likelihood of its freezing in winter.
How to properly water currants
For watering currant bushes in spring and summer, you can choose any of three methods:
- Trench watering.
- Sprinkling.
- Drip irrigation.
The first method is to arrange a small trench or groove around the bush. Its diameter should be approximately equal to the projection of the crown. So that its walls do not crumble, they are strengthened with stones. During watering, the groove is filled to the top with water, which is gradually absorbed and moisturizes the entire root zone. Often, the moat is covered from above, preventing debris from entering it and preventing moisture from evaporating.
Sprinkling is the easiest way to water currant bushes, but no less effective. This shrub reacts well to irrigation of the crown, a water shower washes away dust from the leaves, and promotes the activation of photosynthesis. For sprinkling, use a watering can or a hose with a spray nozzle. This procedure should be carried out in the evening so that the water droplets do not focus the sun's rays and do not lead to leaf burns. It is better to use warm and settled water.
Drip irrigation began to be used for watering currant bushes relatively recently. The arrangement of such a system is quite costly, but it can significantly save water, which is very important for regions or areas experiencing its shortage.
Is it possible to water currants during flowering
You do not need to water flowering currants. An exception can be made only if the spring was early and dry. With a lack of moisture in the soil, flower ovaries may begin to crumble. Watering during this period should be done only by the root method, with warm water.
Some gardeners at this time only spray the bushes with honey solution (1 teaspoon honey per 1 liter of water). This is done to attract flying insects, which are pollinators for currant flowers. Thanks to this, the flower ovaries fall off less, and the yield increases.
Experienced gardening tips
Currant has been cultivated in Russia for a very long time, therefore, amateurs of growing berry bushes on their backyard plots have accumulated a lot of experience with this crop.Here are some guidelines experienced gardeners advise to follow when watering:
- To determine the amount of water that needs to be used to water the currant bush, you should make a depression in the ground on the bayonet of a shovel. If the top soil layer has dried out by less than 5 cm, then there is no need to moisten the soil additionally. If the ground has dried out by 10 cm, then it is recommended to use 20 liters of water for irrigation for each bush, if by 15 cm, then 40 liters.
- After watering, the root zone must be mulched. Mulch retains moisture well in the soil, thanks to it there are no sudden temperature fluctuations in the root zone. In addition, mulching additionally enriches the soil with nutrients. Peat, humus, straw or hay, sawdust can be used as mulch. It should be remembered that the thickness of the mulch layer should be small, so as not to disrupt the air exchange of the root layer of the soil. For example, if dense peat or humus is used as mulch, then the mulch layer should be no more than 5 cm for sandy soils and no more than 3 cm for clay soils.
- It is better to collect water for irrigation in barrels or other containers in advance. Then she will have time to warm up.
- Sprinkler irrigation should be carried out either early in the morning or late in the evening. The bushes must dry before being exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise the leaves are at risk of sunburn.
- It is very convenient to apply mineral fertilizers to the groove dug around the bush for irrigation. So the rain won't wash them away.
- In late autumn, before doing water-charging watering, the soil in the root zone of currant bushes must be dug up. This will keep moisture in the soil better. The layer of mulch for the winter needs to be removed, so the ground will freeze more. This will kill the parasites hibernating in the trunk circle.
Conclusion
To get a good harvest, you need to water the currants regularly, but with an obligatory look at the weather conditions. In cold, damp weather, additional watering will do much more harm than good to the shrub, and in some cases can lead to disease and death of the plant. To avoid this, you need to constantly monitor soil moisture and prevent it from drying out or waterlogging.
