Currant pygmy

Pygmy is deservedly considered a variety that can please with a rich harvest even in cold regions. Black currant is widespread in Russia due to its pleasant taste, bright smell and many useful properties. Berry bushes are not whimsical to care for, and some varieties have strong immunity.

Blackcurrant Pygmy is a medium layer. The height is 1.5-2 meters. The density is medium, and the crown is slightly spreading. Fruits for universal use. Straight and non-pubescent shoots are light green with a barely noticeable brown coating. Thickness is medium. The shape of the leaves is standard, consisting of five lobes. They are large and dark green. The texture is wrinkled, with a shiny finish. In the middle, the leaf plate is slightly concave.

During flowering, the branches are covered with medium-sized saucer flowers. The color can be yellow-pink or white-pink. One cluster of medium length grows from 5 to 10 berries. The brushes are light green and slightly curved.

The color of the ripe berries is dark blue, almost black. In weight, they gain from 2.3 to 7.7 grams on average, and the size is considered very large. The shape is round. The berries are covered with a glossy skin with a slight sheen. It is thin and hardly felt when eaten fresh. An average number of small seeds is formed inside. The pulp is juicy and colorful. The separation of berries is dry. Fully ripe berries remain on the shoots without crumbling.

Various preserves and desserts are prepared from the Pygmy berries. Due to the natural sweetness in cooking, you can do without sugar. Also, the fruits are suitable for drying and freezing. So they will be stored for about 6 months without loss of usefulness and taste.

They only speak positively about the taste characteristics of the crop. With a sufficient amount of heat and natural light, the berries grow sweet, without sourness. The tasters gave this variety a maximum rating of 5 points. The pronounced aroma is also praised separately.

The fruiting season is from late June to early July. Pygmy currant has an average ripening period. The exact dates depend on the weather conditions. In the south, the berries ripen earlier.

High yield is the main advantage of this variety. One plant produces about 6 kilograms of juicy berries. On an industrial scale, the average yield is 108 centners per hectare and 6.4 tons per hectare. And the maximum fruiting reaches 22.8 tons per hectare. Due to their high transportability, berries can be transported over long distances without fear of loss of marketability. The main thing is to store the crop in closed and strong containers.

Prolonged adverse weather conditions reduce yields.The berries ripen at a temperature of about 14-15 degrees Celsius.

The best time of the year for planting shrubs is autumn. It is desirable to carry out the work at the end of September or in the first days of October. Before the first frost comes, the seedlings will have time to get stronger and take root. It is necessary to calculate the timing in such a way that at least a month remains before the onset of cold weather. Shrubs bloom for 40 days. Plants can also be planted in spring, after snow melts and warming. It is important to land before sap flow.

The quality of the crop depends on the correct choice of planting material. In the process of choosing seedlings, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

• for planting in open ground, the age of the shrubs should be 1 or 2 years;
• the maximum height is about 30 centimeters;
• strong and healthy roots, without rot and other defects;
• dense shrubs take root faster in a new place and will develop better;
• complete absence of green mass.

A stimulating solution is prepared in advance, into which the seedlings are lowered for two days. The mixture will help the plant adapt. To protect against pests and infections, potassium permanganate is mixed into the composition. The root system is covered with a clay mash a few hours before transplanting.

Optimal landing pattern:

• landing pit dimensions - 50x50 centimeters, with a depth of 60 centimeters;
• the distance between the bushes is 120 centimeters;
• placing shrubs in the holes, the roots are gently straightened;
• the seedling is placed at an angle - in this position, the shrubs are covered with earth;
• there should be about 4 buds above the ground, and the lower ones can be deepened into the ground;
• the earth is rammed and watered abundantly;
• if the soil was fertilized in advance, they do without mineral fertilizing.

Even beginners can cope with the cultivation of the Pygmy variety, the main thing is to observe the basic rules of agricultural technology. A high-yielding plant needs constant care and irrigation. A properly designed watering scheme is necessary for the formation of juicy and aromatic berries.

The best yield can be achieved when growing currants in sunny areas, but this variety is not picky about lighting conditions and is able to fully develop even in a small shade. The selected location should be with low wind passability. Airing will prevent fungal infections from developing and destroying the plantation. A moderate wind will help the soil to dry out of the snow with the arrival of spring.

Despite their drought tolerance, shrubs should be watered regularly to maintain proper moisture levels. Drought is especially dangerous during the flowering period. Due to the lack of water, the peduncles begin to fade and crumble. Shrubs are irrigated infrequently, but abundantly. One plant consumes from 3 to 5 buckets of water. In summer, one watering every two weeks is enough, while maintaining comfortable weather conditions.

To reduce the frequency of watering, the ground is covered with mulch. It is advisable to use organic material that not only retains moisture, but also nourishes the shrubs. Sawdust, crushed wood ash or humus are used as mulch.

In the fall, heavy watering is carried out to saturate the soil with a large amount of water. Most often, work is carried out in October.

The soil in which the shrubs are planted requires additional care. All weeds that appear are immediately removed. The surface is regularly loosened with a cultivator or ordinary hoe. This procedure will saturate the earth with oxygen. Such soil absorbs water better and allows oxygen to pass through.

Clay and heavy soil especially needs additional processing.Such a land is prone to weight. In the process of loosening, the gardening tool must not be deepened to a depth of more than 4 centimeters, since the roots of the currant are located on the surface. The maximum deepening of the root system is about 10 centimeters.

When growing black currants, especially in depleted soil, top dressing is used. It can be both ready-made complex fertilizers and traditional recipes that have been tested by time. They are used several times per season. As a rule, this is done during transplantation, in the flowering phase and crop formation. When using store formulations, you must follow the instructions exactly to prevent overdose.