Red currants are less popular than black currants, but the crop is also good. An excellent choice for planting is Sugar. Below you will find a description of the variety and the rules of cultivation.

Description varieties of red currant Sugar

Sugar currant is a hybrid grade of red currant of early ripening. The variety is intended for the Central region, but is successfully growing in the north and south. Sugar currant differs in frost resistance to -32 ° C and high drought resistance. Also among the features of the variety is high resistance to diseases and pests.

Did you know? Bees use some varieties of currant as a honey plant.

Selection history

Sugar currant was developed by the Soviet breeder Smolyaninov N.K. in the 1970s. Initially, the culture was bred for cultivation in the middle lane. The variety is still not listed in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia.

Appearance, characteristics of berries, ripening time, yield

The shrub is medium-tall, tall, grows to 1.5–2 m. The crown is compact, not more than 1.2 m in diameter. Stems erect, covered with grayish-brown bark. Midwifery is average. The leaves are five-lobed, serrated, dark green with a brilliant tint.

The berries ripen in a round shape. The peel is bright red, durable. Pulp of moderate density. The average weight of one fruit is 8 g. The taste is sweet with a slight acidity.

As part of red currant:

• vitamins A, E, C, group B;
• alimentary fiber;
• fatty acid;
• ash;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• sodium;
• magnesium;
• phosphorus;
• iron.

Maturing early. The first fruits begin to pour by the end of May. Gardeners manage to remove about 4-7 kg of the crop from the bush.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

• Sugar currant has many advantages, including:
• frost resistance;
• high resistance to diseases and pests;
• early ripening;
• unpretentiousness;
• prolonged fruiting;
• universal application;
• high taste.

• The disadvantages are:
• relatively low productivity;
• lack of self-pollination;
• small sizes of berries.

Agricultural technology

The survival and growth of the bush is largely affected by the correct planting. It is also important to provide plants with proper care.

Did you know? In unripe currants, vitamin C is 4 times more than in ripe.

Seat selection and landing

When choosing a site for planting red currants, pay attention to the following terrain parameters:

• lack of shadow;
• groundwater not higher than 1.5 m to ensure moderate humidity;
• soil with neutral acidity;
• type of substrate - sandy loam, loam or chernozem.

Bushes are planted in September. It is possible to spring plant in April before the start of the growing season, however, too little time passes from the end of the cold weather to sap flow.

Land as follows:

1. Dig a hole with a depth and diameter of approximately 0.4 m.
2. Mix 10 kg of compost and 10 kg of soil, pour the mixture into a hole.
3. Pour a bucket of water into the hole.
4. Place the seedling under the diagonal slope, straighten the rhizome.
5. Fill the empty space in the pit with substrate.
6. Pour the seedling.
7. Trim all shoots by one third to stimulate green growth.

Care

The most important measures in caring for redcurrant plantings are soil moisture and fertilizer. They should be conducted according to the rules below. Important! Do not follow the tips to fertilize the bushes with chlorine based products. This substance can be harmful to currants.

Watering is carried out as the soil dries. The approximate frequency of hydration in the cool period is 1 time in 3 weeks. In the heat, irrigation is increased up to 1 time in 5 days.

Top dressing does not make the first 2 years after planting. At 3 years, the bushes begin to fertilize according to the scheme:

• in early spring - urea (solution at a concentration of 50 g per 10 l of water);
• after flowering - slurry (solution of 2 l of concentrate in 10 l of water);
• during the ripening period - a solution of 20 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium nitrate in 10 l (the specified amount is enough for 1 m² of soil);
• after harvesting - slurry (solution of 2 l of concentrate in 10 l of water);
• in November - 12 kg of mullein for digging.

Pest and Disease Control

Sugar currant variety is resistant to most parasites and diseases. The only thing that is dangerous for the bushes is anthracnose damage. This is a fungal disease, among the symptoms of which are dark brown spots on leaf plates and shoots.

For treatment, the farmer can use one of the following drugs to choose from:

1. "Agro-doctor". Mix 7-10 ml of concentrate in 10 l of water. You can spray during the growing season before the start of budding and after harvesting. To remove the fungus, it is necessary to carry out 2 treatments with an interval of 2 weeks. 0.5–1 L of working fluid goes to the bush.
2. Bordeaux fluid. To prepare the solution, stir 250 ml of concentrated liquid in a bucket of water. For treatment, one treatment is enough. The consumption for the plant is 1–1.5 liters.
3. "Forecast". 10 ml of the substance is dissolved in 10 l of water. Spraying is carried out before flowering and after harvest during the growing season. It is necessary to carry out 2 treatments with an interval of 20 days. 0.5–1 l will be used up on the bush.

Pollinators

Self-pollination of the plant is about 35%. For successful fruiting, pollinators need to be planted nearby. Vicksne and Natalie redcurrant varieties are a good choice.

Trimming and shaping a bush

Bushes form in the fall after the end of sap flow. For the first 6 years, leave only 2-3 young strong branches every year. Remove the remaining shoots completely. Thus, a skeletal skeleton of 12–18 branches of different ages will be formed. See also: when and how to prune red currants.

Also, in the spring before the start of the growing season, carry out sanitary pruning. To do this, remove the shoots:

• broken;
• sick;
• frozen
• over 7 years old.

Wintering

Plants withstand temperatures up to -32 ° C. It is not necessary to cover bushes for the winter. The winter training includes:

• trunks circle cleaning;
• mulching with sawdust or compost;
• bandaging the branches with wire.

Important! In the north, where the average daily temperature drops below -32 ° C, currants need to be rewound with spanbond.

Harvesting and transportation of the crop, shelf life of berries

Harvest can ripen from May to October. Take off the berries as they ripen. Shelving and transportability is average.

The expiration date of currants is up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

Sugar redcurrant from year to year collects positive reviews from domestic gardeners. With proper care, the owner receives a delicious ripe harvest.