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Currant ... This fruit and berry shrub is found in almost every household plot. And it's no wonder she's so popular. The berry contains a huge amount of vitamin C, and the leaves have excellent diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory effects. And many summer residents naively believe that after the harvest, all work is completed, and you can calmly rest until spring. However, it is not. Now is the perfect time to expand the range of fruit trees and berry bushes. And currants are no exception. With the proper skill, planting currants in the fall does not cause any particular difficulties. In this case, the seedlings have time to take root. In the spring, excellent shoots will go from the seedlings, and after a year you can expect the appearance of fragrant berries.
For beginners, the process of preparing and planting currants may seem too complicated and confusing. But in reality, this is not at all the case. You will learn how to plant currants correctly from this article.
Why is it preferable to plant currants in the fall
Despite the fact that the active sale of seedlings begins with the arrival of spring, experienced gardeners, knowing the peculiarities of the growth and development of black currant, still prefer to carry out planting work in the fall. And for this there are several important reasons that affect not only the development of seedlings, but also the quantity and quality of the crop.
- With the arrival of spring, currants swell and bud buds very early. The favorable period for planting is very short, only a few days. It's easy to miss this moment due to the weather conditions and the large amount of work on the backyard.
- By starting to plant currants in the spring, you disrupt the natural vegetative processes that occur both in the underground and in the aboveground parts of the plant. Saplings take a long time to adapt to a new place. Even a slight delay in development affects the flowering of the currant and, accordingly, its fruiting. Therefore, autumn is the most favorable period to plant red, white or black currants.
- Spring transplantation is also dangerous because weakened seedlings will not be able to provide adequate resistance to diseases and pests. Experienced gardeners say that currant bushes in this case are more likely to "get sick" and require more care and attention.
- Another benefit of planting in autumn is to give the roots the time they need to root. By the spring, the root system will be fully formed.
- By planting currants in the fall, you create ideal conditions for shrubs for active growth. By spring, the loosened and dug up soil will compact well around the roots.
Before planting currants in the fall, you need to find out the rules and timing of planting, as well as what methods of planting these crops exist.
The optimal time for planting currants in the fall
There are no clearly established dates for planting currant seedlings.On average in Russia, this period lasts from the beginning of September to the end of October. The main factor for determining the date when it is time to plant currants is regional affiliation. In the north of the country, they try to finish all the work by mid-September, but in the south, until mid-October, they are in no hurry to plant. Approaching frosts are important in determining the time for planting currant bushes. Roots need at least 3-4 weeks for strengthening and rooting. If you plant the seedlings too early, there will be many young shoots before the frost. We must try to prevent their appearance in the autumn. Late planting in the fall of red or black currants is also fraught with not very pleasant consequences - the bushes will not have time to take root and will die when the temperature drops. So, when planning planting work, you need to focus solely on the weather conditions and climate features of your region.
How to choose the right currant seedlings for planting
More than 90% of success depends on the correct approach to the choice of planting material. Therefore, try to pay attention to every little detail when buying currant seedlings. At the slightest suspicion, a poor-quality or diseased plant should be postponed. For planting, only high-quality seedlings are suitable, without damage and traces of rotting.
You should also pay attention to the age of the planting material. Ideal for planting young, no older than one year, bushes with 1-2 shoots.
When choosing seedlings, carefully examine the roots of the black currant. In young seedlings, the root system should be fibrous, with a large number of small and soft roots. In mature shrubs, the roots are more elastic and tough.
If your choice when buying fell on seedlings that are more than a year old, then be prepared for such bushes to take root much longer. To make the adaptation and engraftment process smoother and faster, you need to take careful care about correct planting and subsequent care of the seedlings.
Saplings that have damage, broken branches or the root system is not in the best condition, it is better not to purchase. The important thing to remember here is that the miser pays twice.
How to properly store currant seedlings until spring
What if the circumstances are not in your favor? Seedlings purchased late, there is no way to go to the country, autumn rains or other urgent matters? If you have the slightest doubt that you do not have time to plant the planting material according to all the rules and in compliance with the deadlines, it is better to save them until spring.
To do this, experienced gardeners recommend digging in the acquired currant bushes in the garden or on the site until spring. They need to be dug in strictly in a horizontal position. And in the spring, plant them in the ground. Before planting, it is advisable to lower the seedlings for 2-2.5 hours in water so that the roots absorb as much moisture as possible.
Choosing a place for planting currants
Many gardeners approach the choice of a place for planting currants without much diligence, believing that it will grow in almost any corner of the garden. This is indeed the case. Currant bushes will grow anywhere, only the harvest will be meager. Therefore, it is important to choose the right place for the currants so that in the future you do not have to transplant the shrub. So, what does this garden culture love and dislike?
- Currant loves medium loamy and heavy loamy soil.
- Currant is a moisture-loving shrub. Therefore, it is advisable to choose low-lying areas for planting.However, in wetlands, as well as where underground soil is located too close to the soil surface, it is not worth planting seedlings. Excessive moisture will cause rotting and diseases of the root system.
- In order for the bushes to delight you with a bountiful harvest in the summer, you should choose a sufficiently illuminated place for planting. If the shrub is planted in partial shade, then the berries will be small and sour, and their number will only decrease every year.
- Black currant also does not like strong, piercing winds. Therefore, an open landing site is also not suitable. An excellent place for her will be the area between fruit trees or along the fence.
Preparing the soil for planting currants
The yield of currants depends not only on compliance with the rules of planting and care. The quantity and quality of the future harvest will greatly delight you if you approach the process of preparing the soil for currants with full responsibility. It is necessary to prepare the land for planting currant seedlings in advance, about 3-4 weeks before the start of planting work.
Currant bushes are very fond of fertile, fertilized soil. Therefore, the site must be cleared of weeds in advance and fertilized well. Not earlier than a month before planting, mineral and organic fertilizers are applied to the ground at the rate of 1 m2:
- Superphosphate - no more than 50 g;
- Potassium sulfate - no more than 25 g;
- Humus or compost - 5 kg.
The cleaned and fertilized area needs to be dug up to a depth of 20-25 cm. There is no need to loosen the earth more than on the bayonet of a shovel. The roots of young seedlings are not too long.
It is better to plant currants in a prepared area after some time, when the soil is slightly compacted and saturated with moisture. The minimum rest period should be at least 3-4 weeks.
When and how to plant currants correctly, as well as how to avoid mistakes, the author of the video will tell you:
Step-by-step instructions for planting currants
In order for the autumn work on planting currants to be successful and during the next season you will see the fruits of your labors, it is important to know how to plant currants correctly and adhere to some of the recommendations of experienced gardeners:
- Level the area where you are going to plant currants. Carefully line up all pits and bumps. They will subsequently interfere with you when planting and caring for seedlings.
- Planting holes or planting trenches need to be dug not too deep. 20-25 cm deep will be sufficient. But the width and length depend on the age of the currant bush. If the seedlings are two-year-old, then the hole for planting currants needs a spacious one - about 40 X 40 cm.For annual bushes, 30 X 30 cm will be enough.It is important that the root system in the planting pit is located freely. Do not allow the roots to be crumpled or crumpled.
- If the groundwater is too close to the surface of the earth, a drainage layer should be laid at the bottom of the planting pit.
- The distance between the planting pits depends on the variety and type of shrubs, as well as the cultivation method. For planting black currants, the distance can vary between 1.5-2 m between the bushes. But the branches of red and white currants are longer and spreading, so the distance between them should be at least 2.5-3 m.If you plan to grow currants on trellises, then the distance between the seedlings is 0.5-0.7 m ...
- The bottom of the hole or trench is 1/3 filled with compost or rotted manure. For good root nutrition, add 1-2 handfuls of wood ash.
- Examine the currant bushes carefully. The twigs should be intact, the roots moist, but no signs of decay. Roots that are too long (over 30 cm) can be trimmed. If the planting material is not in doubt, it can be planted.
- Currant seedlings are planted at an angle of 45 in relation to the soil. This rule applies to common garden varieties. In this case, with the onset of spring, the shoots will grow from the root. The currant bush will grow in width, which will ensure high yields in the future.
- Standard shrub varieties must be planted strictly vertically.
- Gently spread the roots along the bottom of the trench or hole. They should be located freely throughout the pit. If the hole is small and the roots are cramped in it, it is better to slightly increase the depression.
- The root collar must be deepened 8-10 cm into the ground. Planting black currant in the fall this way will allow young bushes to adapt faster. And also, before the onset of frost, the currant will have time to take root well and build up the root system.
- Fill the hole or trench with earth, while observing the recommendations regarding the angle of inclination of the seedlings.
- Water the seedlings abundantly. Pour at least one bucket of water under each planted bush. So that the root collar does not become bare during watering, a small depression 3-4 cm deep and 15-20 cm wide should be made around the bush for watering. In this way, you will prevent leaching of the soil around the currant seedlings. In this case, water will not flow.
- Pruning must be done immediately after planting. Each branch is cut so that there are at least 4-5 buds above the ground. Pruning seedlings in the fall immediately after planting helps the currants to grow additional roots even before winter. With a well-developed root system, numerous strong shoots will go in the spring. It is undesirable to leave pruning for the spring. Since the root system in this case will be very weak, and this, in turn, will immediately affect fertility.
At the end of planting work in the autumn, the soil around the seedlings should be mulched with dry leaves, peat, moss or straw. This procedure will help not only to retain moisture, which is so necessary for the bushes after transplantation, but also protects young currants from frost.
Planting red currants in the fall is not much different from black. It is only important to consider that the bushes of red and white currants are much wider and larger. Therefore, when planting, it is better to make the distance between these seedlings larger so that in the future you do not have to replant them again.
How to grow currant seedlings on your own
Despite the fact that seedlings are the most popular planting material, currants can be planted in two more ways: cuttings and layering. In this case, you need to find the variety of currants that you like, and grow seedlings from it yourself. This can be done by cuttings and layering. What is the difference between these concepts?
Both methods are ideal if the original currant bush grows on your personal plot, and you want to plant a few more bushes in addition to increase the amount of the crop.
But if you want to plant the same variety of currants as those of your neighbors or friends, then it is better to use cuttings.
Planting currant cuttings
Buying seedlings is a very risky business. Even with all the rules for planting and caring for currants, the result can be disastrous. It is worth purchasing young bushes only from those sellers whom you trust, or in special nurseries, where each plant is under the constant supervision of professionals. But what if there are no trusted sellers and the nurseries are too far away? In this case, you can grow the seedlings yourself. All you need for this is a bush of currants you like, pruning shears or garden shears and desire.
- In order to properly prepare cuttings, you need to figure out which branches you need to cut them off. Indeed, the choice of material depends on how quickly and well the cuttings will take, as well as the yield of future bushes. Annual currant shoots are ideal for cutting the material.
- It is best to harvest lignified cuttings in the fall. The ideal time is the second half of September. In spring, shoots are just beginning to grow actively, and suitable material must be taken from those shoots that have already reached their peak in growth. Twigs that are too young are not suitable for this purpose.
- It is necessary to cut the material exclusively from strong and healthy currant bushes, taking into account the volume and taste of the crop. You need to choose shoots for cutting cuttings based on their length and diameter. The thickness of the branches should be at least 0.6 cm, and the length at least 15-20 cm.
- Only a clean and sharp tool should be used to cut the material. With a dirty pruner, you will cause irreparable harm to both the main currant bushes and the cuttings. When using blunt instruments, the survival rate of the future planting material is significantly reduced.
- Each cut shoot can be divided into several cuttings. It is important that each of them has at least 4-5 leaves. From the two lower leaves, the leaf plate is cut in half or completely. In this case, the leaf cuttings must be left.
- Make straight cuts at right angles: at the lower end of the cutting, no more than 0.5 cm from the last bud, at the upper tip you need to retreat 0.7-1 cm from the extreme leaf.
- After you have cut a sufficient number of cuttings, they need to be put in a special solution for a day, which promotes the active growth of the plant root system. It is important to take into account that only the lower parts of the shoots should be lowered into the solution, no higher than two buds from the lower cut. In the absence of a composition that accelerates the growth of the root system, you can put the cuttings in ordinary water for a day.
- Cuttings should be planted in accordance with the general rules for planting currant bushes, not forgetting about the angle of inclination of 45˚ with respect to the surface of the earth. There is only one difference: it is necessary to bury the cuttings in the ground so that the two upper buds remain above the ground. In this case, the distance between the cuttings should be at least 10-15 cm, row spacing - 45-50 cm.
- Do not forget about abundant watering.
If there is a strong heat at the end of planting work, be sure to take care of the planted cuttings. They need to create shade with gauze or cloth, and do not forget about regular watering. When the ambient temperature drops, mulch the currant cuttings so that they do not die when frost occurs. In the spring, it is necessary to prune and leave future seedlings until autumn. In the second half of September, excellent planting material will grow on your site, which can be planted in a permanent place.
You will learn more about planting currants using cuttings from the following video:
Planting currants with horizontal layering
This method of breeding currant bushes, like the previous one, is simple and accessible to every gardener. It differs only in that the main bushes, from which the currants need to be planted, must be at least 2 and not older than 5 years.
In the spring, as soon as the soil has thawed, but the buds on the currants have not yet blossomed, the ground under the bush must be loosened and fertilized. Shallow trenches are made from the bush. The direction of the grooves should be the radius of the circle, the center of which is the currant. Shoots are laid in these trenches. It is important to select only 1-2 year old branches. Later ones may break because they lack flexibility.The laid shoots are hooked tightly to the bottom of the groove in several places.
Now you need to carefully observe the currant bushes. When the buds begin to swell and open, cover the furrows with earth. On the surface of the soil, only the upper tips of the shoots should be left - the tops.
After a while, the first vertical shoots will appear from the ground. New shoots grow very quickly and when they grow up to 12-15 cm in height, they should be spud. After 3-4 weeks, hilling must be repeated.
In summer, caring for young shoots consists in abundant watering and mulching with peat or compost.
Interesting! Berries of red, black and white currants differ in the composition of vitamins and minerals. A certain color is suitable for each age period. For children, the black berry is most useful, for adults - red, and for the elderly - white currant.
In the fall, when the favorable period has come for planting currants, the grown layers are separated from the main bush. A cursory inspection of the seedlings is carried out. The strongest, well-developed plants with a good root system are planted immediately to a permanent place. But weak currant layering needs to be grown in the garden until next fall.
Conclusion
Many gardeners make a gross mistake: having planted black currant bushes in the fall on their site, they forget about them until the time comes to harvest. But in vain. To obtain a full-fledged and abundant harvest, one should not forget about such simple gardening works as timely watering, weeding and proper feeding. Only if you follow these simple rules, the yield of each bush can please you: up to a bucket of ripe and fragrant berries can be harvested from one bush! And given the fact that currants bear fruit up to 15 years old, you can devote time and effort to provide your family with valuable vitamins and minerals from Mother Nature itself!
