Content
Currant is an unpretentious berry crop that can be found on every personal plot. For its tasty and very healthy fruits, as well as ease of care, she has earned the great love of gardeners. Dutch currant pink - very fruitful, surprises with the size and abundance of fruits, as well as the spectacularity of a slender, neat shrub. This variety of European selection has gained wide popularity in Russia over the past few years.
Description of the Dutch currant
Dutch selection of pink currants is an ancient berry crop of Western European origin. The history of her appearance remains unknown: it is only clear that she was brought from Holland.
Dutch red currant is a late-ripening crop, characterized by a compact, medium-sized bush, not prone to thickening, up to 1.5 m high. This ensures a harmonious ripening of fruits that can reach large sizes with proper care. Shoots of pink currant are strong, medium-sized, its leaves are medium-sized, light green. The weight of the berries reaches from 0.6 to 1.2 g, but large specimens can weigh up to 2.5 g. 15 currant flowers are placed in clusters, which, after fertilization, turn into juicy, tasty, rounded or elongated berries from light pink to deep red.
Berry crops are grown everywhere in the southern, central and northern regions - in the Urals, Siberia, the Central black earth zone, the North Caucasus.
Description of Dutch red currant
According to the description and photo of the Dutch red currant, it becomes clear that its rich red fruits have an increased content of ascorbic acid. This explains their slightly sour taste and dense structure. The size of the berries is clearly round, medium, weight - 0.9 g. Red currants are excellent for preservation in a variety of versions.
Description of Dutch currant pink
The Dutch currant pink in the description and taste of the fruit is somewhat different from the red one, which can be clearly seen in the photo. Its pale pink berries are distinguished by their high taste and extraordinary aroma. Pink currants are sweeter than the red variety and do not give the sourness characteristic of many varieties of this culture. It is very tasty and healthy fresh.
Characteristics
Dutch currants are unpretentious, but require the necessary care to return a bountiful harvest. The culture grows equally well in sunny places and in a light partial shade during midday. It bears fruit best in fertile land with sufficient moisture. Unpretentious, adapts to different growing conditions and climates.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The main feature of the Dutch currant is its excellent winter hardiness. It can easily endure harsh winters under snow cover, but freeze during spring frosts when the snow melts. Therefore, in the spring, the bushes are covered with non-woven material. Young seedlings are prepared for winter by high hilling with snow or humus.There is no need to cover currants for the winter, they are able to withstand temperatures up to 45 degrees below zero.
Pink Dutch currants require adequate moisture. But unlike black or white currants, they are drought tolerant. Although a prolonged moisture deficit leads to a decrease in yield and crushing of fruits.
Variety yield
According to gardeners, red or pink currants of Dutch selection are very productive, which significantly differs from other varieties of red currants. On average, 6 to 9 kg can be harvested from one bush with proper care and optimal growing conditions. The fruits ripen in mid to late July, but remain fresh until September. The fruits do not crumble, do not bake in the sun, do not shrink and remain on the bushes for a long time, delighting the eye with beautiful brushes.
Application area
Dutch currants are suitable for fresh consumption and for processing. It is great for preserving compotes, making jelly, preserves, and jam. Red currant berries, dense in structure, are stored for a long time and easily tolerate transportation. The fruits of pink currants have a more delicate shell, so it must be transported very carefully.
Advantages and disadvantages
Dutch selection of pink currants has the following advantages:
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- frost resistance and drought resistance;
- high taste of sweet, without harsh acid, fruits;
- good yield and fast ripening of berries;
- thin-skinned fruit with few seeds.
There were no minuses in the berry culture.
Reproduction methods
To propagate pink currant, use one of the following methods:
- seed;
- cuttings;
- layering;
- dividing the bush.
The most effective, simple method for propagating Dutch red currants, according to gardeners, is cuttings, which are also used for other types of red currants. Annual cuttings are taken from strong, developed branches and planted in a planting bed. They regularly moisten the soil, loosen it and, after rooting, plant it in a permanent place. For layering, elastic shoots are chosen, which are bent to the ground to the previously dug holes. They are fixed with metal staples and the tops are tied vertically to the pegs. By autumn, the layers are transplanted to a permanent place. If it is necessary to transplant plants, use the optimal reproduction method - dividing the bush. They are carefully dug out after abundant watering, the root system is divided into several parts with a sharp knife and planted in a new place. Saplings with young shoots take root best of all.
Planting and leaving
For Dutch red currants, similar to other varieties of red currants, choose a sunny place, protected from cold, gusty winds and drafts. It is planted in the fall, in the first half, so that young plants have time to take root and get stronger for winter. The culture bears fruit abundantly on fertile soils, therefore organic and mineral fertilizers should be applied to the impoverished land. Do not plant this crop in lowlands, flooded places to prevent root rot. Before planting, humus or rotted manure and phosphorus-potassium granular fertilizers are applied at the site selected for it at the rate of 80 g per 10 sq. m. The application of fertilizers is timed to the digging of the site, since they should be located deep enough. Plants are planted in planting pits, the size of which corresponds to the root system of the seedlings. When planting in rows, the distance between the bushes is about 1.5 m, and between the rows - 2.5 m, that is, 4 bushes can be planted on a 10-meter area.
Planting of seedlings is carried out at a slight slope, which will allow the shrub to spread out and form a large number of shoots. When planting, care must be taken that the root collar is not more than 6 - 7 cm below ground level. The seedlings fall asleep, the soil is compacted and watered abundantly. After planting, all shoots are cut to a length of about 15 cm, leaving several developed buds on each. Mulching the trunk circle with peat or humus does not allow moisture to vigorously evaporate from the surface of the earth. When choosing seedlings, you need to pay attention:
- for the presence of a developed root system with flexible roots;
- possible mechanical damage;
- lack of rotting places and mold.
Follow-up care
According to the description of the variety of red and pink Dutch currants, it becomes clear that it is very hygrophilous, and in order to grow a crop similar to the one shown in the photo, it is necessary to follow the watering schedule. It should not be frequent, but abundant. It is enough to water the plant with warm water once every 10 days, and in a drought increase their number to 1 - 2 times a week so that the currants will please with a rich harvest. The volume of water per adult plant is 40 - 50 liters. In dry weather, the shrub will respond well to sprinkling the crown. It is not recommended to get carried away with this method of moisturizing, as the risk of the likelihood of developing powdery mildew increases. Especially the Dutch currant needs watering during the flowering period and the setting of ovaries.
Annually in the spring, mulching of the trunk circle is carried out with rotted manure to a depth of 5 - 7 cm. Periodically, the soil is loosened to ensure optimal aeration and get rid of weeds. The berry culture responds well to the application of potassium-phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers, which are fed in early spring, during flowering and after harvest. When setting the ovaries, the Dutch currant will respond with gratitude to the introduction of wood ash - 200 g per one bush.
The shrub needs pruning similar to black and white currants. An adult bush should have 12-15 shoots of different ages, so old, weak branches are removed annually and 3-4 young shoots are left annually. Do not touch annual growths during pruning, and the rest are shortened by almost half the length. Pruning is done in early spring or fall. Compact bushes do not need to be tied up.
Pests and diseases
The Dutch red currant, according to the reviews of experienced gardeners, unlike domestic varieties of red currants, is quite resistant to diseases and pests. However, improper crop farming practices can lead to:
- anthracnose, which is characterized by brown spots on the leaves;
- gall aphid, forming a colony on the lower part of the leaf and leads to the appearance of multi-colored spots on the leaves.
Fungal disease - anthracnose - occurs in the presence of weeds, unharvested fallen leaves in the trunk circle. Spores are carried with water, therefore, berry bushes are more often affected by disease in a rainy summer. The fight against gall aphids is insecticide treatment. Preventive measures against pests and diseases of currants consist in timely weeding, removal of damaged branches, fallen leaves.
Conclusion
Dutch currant pink is easy to care for, unpretentious, but fruitful.In addition, it is very decorative and, in addition to the abundance of useful berries, can be an excellent decoration for the garden. Even a beginner can easily cope with the cultivation of this berry culture.
