Currant Gulliver

Most often, novice gardeners and summer residents with extensive experience choose currant varieties according to their characteristics and reviews. Gulliver currant has a good taste, rich harvest, as well as immunity to various diseases and winter hardiness.

The Gulliver variety was bred in the Bryansk region at the V.I. W.R. Williams. The authors were A.I. Astakhov and L.I. Zueva. The varieties Seyanets Golubki and line 32-77 (Bredthorpe) were taken as the parent pair. In 2000, after all testing, the culture was entered into the State Register and approved for use.

As stated by the manufacturer, the type of growth of the bush is vigorous. The crown is slightly spreading, average in density. Shoots are thick and grow almost always curved. They are olive green in color. The older the shoot, the more it stiffens, and there is practically no pubescence on it. The buds on the branches are formed in a deep green color.

Leaves are standard size. They consist of three lobes, with deep notches, slightly shiny, pointed. The surface of the plate is wrinkled, dark green in color.

The brushes are medium, slightly sinuous, dense. From 9 to 17 berries are formed on one brush.

Flowering occurs at the end of May and lasts about 14 days. The buds are medium and small, red-violet. Sepals are brightly colored.

Gardeners note that the positive aspects of the variety are that the currant is immune to spring frosts, and also tolerates short drought well.

Among the shortcomings indicate regular pruning, rapid growth of the bush. And also the need to carefully transport the crop, as the berries can be squeezed under the weight.

The fruits are large and round. The average weight of one berry is from 1.9 to 3.2 g. The color of the berries is black with a shiny sheen. The peel is firm and medium in density. This makes it possible to transport crops over long distances, while observing all transportation rules.

The pulp is tender, juicy, and may turn dark due to the pigment in the peel.

The variety has a universal purpose, so the fruits can be eaten fresh, prepared from them for compotes, jams, purees and preserves.

The leaves are also used in canning. And some gardeners recommend brewing tea from currant leaves and berries to strengthen the immune system.

Summer residents indicate that the berries have a sweet and sour taste, and the aroma is not saturated enough. The amount of sugar per 100 g is 6.7%, and the amount of acid is 2.7%. A feature of the Gulliver currant is that it is rich in vitamin C, about 167 mg. It also contains a high level of ascorbic acid - 156 mg. The tasting score is 4.4 points.

The culture belongs to varieties of early ripening. Fruiting falls on July 15-30.

The average yield per bush is 1.4 kg. With proper processing, the yield can increase to 2-2.5 kg. On an industrial scale, the minimum indicators are 86.3 centners, the maximum - 13 tons per hectare.

The originators stated that currants grow best in the Central, North-West and Volga-Vyatka regions. But it can also be grown in any other area with little loss in yield.

According to its characteristics, the currant is self-fertile, so additional pollination is not required.

It is recommended to plant seedlings in the fall. This will allow the bush to properly take root in the new location. All forces will be spent on deepening the root system, and not on the formation of new shoots and brushes.

It is best to choose an area that is lighted, with no structure to cast a shadow. The soil should be loamy and not too acidic. If the indicators are increased, then they are reduced with lime.

Since a bush can grow in one place for 10-15 years, the land must be very fertile and well-blown by the winds. Currants love moisture, so more sand, peat and humus should be brought to the selected area, as they retain moisture longer.

It is better to choose a planting place from the south or south-west side of the garden.

Before planting, it is necessary to inspect the seedling for rot and broken roots. The root system should be at least 15 cm long. The length of the trunk itself is 30 cm, and the number of shoots should be 2-3.

Site preparation must be done 2-4 weeks before disembarkation. It is not recommended to immediately plant a seedling in a dug hole, since when the earth shrinks, it can damage the roots.

To do everything right, you need to follow simple instructions.

• The selected area is dug up, introducing humus, peat, sand and wood ash there.

• Then a hole is prepared with a depth of 40-50 cm, with a diameter of 50-60 cm. Nothing should grow around the bush at a distance of 1.5 m, since the bush is vigorous.

• Everything is spilled with water and left to shrink for 2-4 weeks. After that, the currant is planted.

• It is necessary to deepen the seedling 4 cm from the root collar, this will stimulate the growth of lateral shoots. The ground around the stem is compacted.

• Then everything is poured abundantly with warm water.

• For good growth, it is recommended to prune the shoots, leaving 2-3 healthy buds.

Many argue that currants are an unpretentious crop, but nevertheless, a number of care points must be observed in order to ensure a high yield.

• Not only the formation of the future harvest depends on moisture, but also the accumulation of useful elements. Therefore, a watering schedule is drawn up. At a distance of 30 cm around the trunk, a special groove is made with a depth of 10-15 cm, it is into it that water is introduced (25-30 liters of warm water per 1 m2). After watering, the soil should be loosened to provide the roots with oxygen. If regular watering is impossible for some reason, then the soil around the bush should be mulch. Too much moisture will cause the roots to rot.

• Most often, minerals and organics are used for feeding. In the spring, after the bush is doused with boiling water, urea, ammonium nitrate for the growth of greenery, nitrogen or slurry are added. In the summer, they fertilize with potassium and phosphorus, and in the fall, the soil around the bush is dug up and humus and wood ash are added.

• Pruning must be done regularly in order not only to rejuvenate the bush, but also to eliminate the possibility of pests. Pruning should be done in the spring before the first buds appear. In the fall, remove all old or broken branches. One branch can bear fruit for 4 years. Then they remove it. It is recommended to leave 15-20 branches on one bush. Otherwise, the currants will grow too actively, and some berries will lack sunlight.

The originator declares that, subject to all agrotechnical standards, currants rarely get sick. She has a strong immunity to anthracnose, powdery mildew or rust. But for prevention, the bushes can be irrigated with the drug "Fitosporin" or "Fundazol". All spraying is carried out in dry cloudy weather.