Bagheera currant

Black currant grows in almost all private areas of the Russian Federation. There are a lot of varieties of such a culture, but there are some that have deserved the special love of gardeners. This is, for example, the Bagheera variety. The majestic name fully justifies itself, because it is very difficult to find flaws in such a currant.

Bagiru was bred in the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution of the Federal Scientific Center named after I. V. Michurin. Scientists Zvyagina and Sergeeva worked on the development. To get the variety, they used varieties such as Minai Shmyrev and Bradthorpe. The efforts of the breeders were crowned with success, and already in 1994 the resulting variety was entered in the State Register.

Bagheera black currant is a medium-sized shrub. The bush is semi-spreading, its diameter is about 200 cm. The shoots of the plant are not very thick, there is no curvature. Their color is light brown, there is a small fluff. With age, the shoots darken, and they are also distinguished by very rapid growth.

The foliage of the bush is impressive. Green leaves usually have 5 lobes. The leaf plates are dull and smooth, the edges of the leaves are wavy. Interestingly, the veins on the plates have a red tint.

The buds of the plant are shaped like an egg, with a sharp tip. During flowering, the culture is strewn with goblet flowers. Their sepals have an interesting green-purple color. Bagheera's brushes are up to 6 cm in length. In each of them, from 4 to 7 black berries are sung.

If we talk about the main advantages of the variety, then they will be as follows:

• ability to withstand frost and drought;

• high commercial qualities, the ability to transport without deformations;

• excellent harvests, good taste;

• large-fruited;

• self-pollination ability

The plant has few disadvantages. So, currants are moderately resistant to powdery mildew, and it can also be affected by a kidney mite. Columnar rust is also quite common.

It is clear from the name of the variety that Bagheera produces black berries. They are quite large, they can even weigh more than 2 grams. In shape, the fruits resemble a ball, but they can also be flat-round. The skin covering the berries is not too dense, but it has an attractive glossy shine. The pulp is quite soft, very tender, but not watery, but juicy. Inside is the average number of grains.

Like most varieties of black currant, Bagheera's fruits are sweet and sour. The berries are very fragrant, and they also have an increased amount of vitamin C. Sugar is from 8.8 to 12.1%, so the berries can be used by those who follow a diet. Taste rating - 4.5 points.

Bagheera is a medium-late, early-growing variety. The berries ripen at the same time, which makes it easier for the gardener. Removal from the bush is carried out from late July to early August.

In addition to other advantages, Bagheera is also high-yielding. So, one bush will give 3.6 kg of berries, and a hectare - as much as 12 tons.

It is best to cultivate the described variety in Western and Eastern Siberia, the Urals, the Middle Volga. And also the Volgo-Vyatka and North-West regions are suitable for cultivation.

The self-fertility rate of Bagira is 67%, which means that in general she does not need pollinators. But the amount of the harvest can be increased. To do this, you need to plant near those varieties of black currant that bloom simultaneously with Bagheera.

Bagheera is planted either in early spring or late in autumn. If the spring period is selected, the planting holes are harvested in the fall, and if the autumn period, then a month before the seedling is placed in the ground.

The place must be chosen responsibly. Direct sunlight is contraindicated for the culture, since it is prone to foliage burns. The presence of winds is also not the best solution, as well as groundwater located near the soil surface. The substrate for Bagheera should be fertile. Good options are sandy loam and loam with neutral acidity. Bushes will not grow on heavy soil.

Bagheera seedlings adapt best to new conditions if their age does not exceed two years. The branches of healthy specimens are flexible and green, and there are no deformations on the roots. The roots should be a maximum of 0.2 m long. Before planting, they can be soaked in water with a growth promoter.

Planting technology looks the same as in the case of any other currant. However, you need to pay attention to the landing pattern. So, the distance between the bushes in a row is 150 cm, and between the rows themselves is 200 cm.

Bagheera is usually unassuming in grooming. Therefore, it does not look very complicated. In warm weather, the bush is watered once a week, if the summer is too hot, then 2 times. At the same time, 5 buckets are poured per square meter of earth. Irrigation is carried out only in the evening.

They begin to feed only for 3 years. In autumn and early spring, the soil next to each bush is mixed with 5 kilograms of compost and urea (40 grams). In mid-spring, plants can be fertilized with a solution of bird droppings. As soon as the crop is harvested, each bush should receive 50 grams of superphosphate and 20 grams of potassium sulfate.

Sanitary pruning is required for bushes. It is best done with a formative one. It will take about 5 years to form a bush, only after that it will take the desired shape. After five years of age, it remains only to carry out anti-aging pruning in order to increase the yield and extend the life of the bush.

The variety is relatively resistant to anthracnose and is very worthy of resistance to spider mites. But, as already mentioned, it can get sick with powdery mildew and columnar rust. To prevent such troubles, the plants must be properly watered. A large amount of water is even worse than a lack of it. In addition, it is always better to play it safe and spray the bushes with Fitosporin or Bordeaux liquid in advance.

As for the kidney mite, it may well infect the culture at different stages of the growing season. If this is an annual phenomenon, then it is recommended to use acaricides even before flowering. Prevention can also be carried out with garlic. To do this, pour 150 grams of the chopped product with a bucket of water and leave for about 8 hours. The treatment is carried out by spraying.

Plants tolerate heat and drought very well. They are very hardy. Shelter for the winter is needed only for young specimens. It is also highly recommended to organize it if the winter promises to be with little snow.

Gardeners from all regions of the Russian Federation are very fond of Bagira. Thanks to easy planting and minimal maintenance, the variety will be able to grow even for those who first took up this business. Summer residents note the large size of the fruits, as well as their rich taste. Positive emotions are also caused by the fact that the variety can be grown without the participation of pollinators. However, gardeners also take into account the likelihood of diseases, therefore their main recommendation is preventive treatments.