In addition to the varieties of currants with black, white and red berries, there are also shrubs with green fruits. Green-fruit culture appeared relatively recently, therefore it is less common in garden areas. But those of the gardeners who grow it give very positive reviews about currants with green berries, which are not inferior in quality to their relatives. Such representatives include the Snezhnaya Koroleva variety - this review will reveal in more detail all its properties and characteristics.

Description varieties of green currant Snezhnaya Koroleva

Currant Snow Queen refers to varieties with an average late ripening of berries. Shoots quickly grow and develop, as a result of which the crown becomes thick. Also a distinctive feature is its self-pollination and annual abundant fruiting.

Important! Green currant contains much more vitamin C than its relative with black berries.

Selection history

The variety of green currant Snezhnaya Koroleva was bred at the All-Russian Research Institute of Gardening named after I.V. Michurina. The currant of the Constance variety became the progenitor. In addition to the Snow Queen, the Emerald Necklace, Inca Gold, and the Tear of Isis were also selected.

Appearance, characteristics of berries, ripening time, yield

Bushes of the Snow Queen currant are medium-sized, slightly sprawling plants. Leaves form large, with pointed lobes. The brushes are long enough, contain 15–20 berries. The fruits are large, weighing from 1 to 1.3 g, round in shape, yellow in color with a green tint.

Read also about the benefits of currant buds.

The skin is transparent, dense. The flesh is sweet and sour, with a pleasant aroma, without a currant flavor. The ripening period falls in July and August. Productivity is about 2.7 kg per 1 bush.

The chemical composition of green currant (per 100 g of product):

• water: 85 g;
• vitamins: A, C, E, K, PP, group B;
• micro and macro elements: calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, sulfur, manganese, copper, chlorine, iodine, etc.

Nutrition value (in the same portion):

• calorie content: 43 kcal;
• proteins: 2.4 g;
• fats: 1.8 g;
• carbohydrates: 30.8 g.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

• The advantages of the Green Queen Currant Snow Queen include:
• unpretentiousness in leaving;
• compact bushes that do not take up much space on the site;
• high nutritional qualities of fruits without a characteristic currant taste;
• high productivity;
• excellent transportability;
• good frost resistance;
• resistance to major diseases;
• can be eaten by allergy sufferers;
• universal application;
• berries contain a large amount of nutrients.

• The disadvantages include the following characteristics:
• relatively late ripening period, falling in July, August;
• seedlings of this variety are difficult to obtain.

Agricultural technology

Agrotechnical measures include the right place for planting seedlings, watering and fertilizing plants, prevention against diseases and pests, forming the crown of bushes and preparing for wintering.

Did you know? Currants, like honeysuckle and viburnum, contain pectin, which removes radioactive substances from the human body.

Seat selection and landing

Currant varieties Snezhnaya Koroleva are recommended to be planted in areas that must meet such requirements:

• the landing site should be well-lit throughout the day, without drafts and strong winds;
• the soil should be chosen light, loose, well-permeable and high in nutrients;
• groundwater level should be more than 1.5 m;
• areas with stagnant water, drained peatlands, places near any buildings should be avoided.

After the place is selected, you can proceed to the very procedure of planting seedlings, which can be done in spring or autumn.

It consists of the following steps:

1. Previously, the site must be cleaned of weeds and other debris.
2. Dig to a depth of 25-30 cm.
3. Dig a hole 40 cm deep and 50 cm wide. Between the plants leave a distance of about 80 cm, between the rows - up to 1 m.
4. The top layer of the earth is mixed with 2 buckets of humus, 200 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate, 2 cups of wood ash.
5. Pour half of the nutrient mixture to the bottom of the pit, forming a tubercle.
6. Place the seedling on an elevation at an angle of 30–40 °, deepen the root neck by 8–10 cm deep into the ground, straighten the roots.
7. Sprinkle the pit with the remaining half of the mixture and chernozem, carefully compact.
8. Around the seedling make a small moat and pour a bucket of warm water into it.
9. Cover the trunk area with mulch (sawdust, peat, humus, compost).

Care

Over the entire growing season, it is necessary to water the bushes of the Green Queen Currant Snezhnaya Koroleva several times and make fertilizers, namely:

• watering is recommended after planting seedlings, during the flowering period of bushes, during fruiting, using 10-12 liters of water for each bush;
• in the first 2-3 years after planting, you can fertilize the plant in early spring using ammonium nitrate (30 g per 1 bush);
• the next year (at the beginning of fruiting) add 40 g of ammonium nitrate, 40 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate per 1 shrub;
• in the fall after falling of leaves, fertilize 50 g of superphosphate, 35 g of potassium sulfate at the root;
• every 3 years make 10 kg of humus or compost under the plant.

Pest and Disease Control

Despite the fact that Snezhnaya Koroleva currant is highly resistant to diseases, gardeners advise that preventive treatment of the bushes with drugs such as Topaz (2 ml per 10 liters of water), Tiovit Jet (10 g per 10 liters of water), Alirin-B "(10 tablets per 10 liters of water), Bayleton" (10 g per 10 liters of water).

Important! For irrigation of currants, you need to use only warm, defended tap or rain water, otherwise you can damage the root system of plants.

Trimming and shaping a bush

The variety of green currant Snezhnaya Koroleva is characterized by good formation and growth of new shoots, so over time the crown of bushes thickens and requires pruning.

It can be carried out at any time, namely:

• before the sap flow begins, in early spring it is necessary to remove dry shoots damaged after winter;
• in the middle of the season, it is necessary to cut off the branches damaged by diseases or pests, as well as those that thicken the crown and do not give fruit;
• in the fall, after harvesting and before preparing for the winter, you need to trim the old, weak, unproductive, interfering shoot growth;
• you can rejuvenate old bushes by cutting off the entire aerial part of the crown and leaving hemp up to 3 cm high;
• immediately after planting seedlings, all shoots should be shortened, leaving 3-4 buds from the ground.

Fig. 1. Currant pruning: a - annual seedling; b - a biennial bush; c, d - shortening of shoots. Fig. 2. Currant bush before anti-aging pruning (a), after it (b) and pruning of a neglected bush (c). For any pruning, it is recommended to use sharp, cleaned and decontaminated garden tools (clippers, pruners, saws, axes, etc.), and cover large sections with garden varieties.

Preparing for the winter

The preparation of the Green Queen Currant for the winter consists of the following manipulations:

• carry out sanitary pruning of the crown;
• to collect fallen leaves and weed grass around the bushes;
• healthy shoots to tie a few pieces together, bend to the ground and fix with the help of pegs;
• before severe frosts, the bushes need to be covered with straw, sawdust or a special covering breathable material, you can still sprinkle snow on top.

Did you know? In overripe berries of currant, the amount of vitamins is much less than in unripe ones.

Harvesting and transportation of the crop, shelf life of berries

The harvest period for the green currant Snezhnaya Koroleva falls in July and August. Experienced gardeners recommend picking berries in the morning or evening, dry, because wet fruits quickly deteriorate and lose their presentation. It is advisable to use a small and shallow container for harvesting, which will provide the berries with better preservation.

In the case of transporting the fruits, they need to be picked a little unripe along with the bunches (this will ensure greater preservation) and in the necessary containers of 3-6 kg, so as not to pour over later. In the refrigerator, currant berries can be stored for about 20 days. The shelf life of dried currant berries in the refrigerator is about 20 days. If you save them in food bags at a temperature of –2 ° C, then this period increases to 3 months.

It will be interesting for you to learn how to make Jam from Five-Minute Currant.

From time to time, berries should be checked, discarding spoiled. Green currant Snezhnaya Koroleva is not very popular among summer residents, and in vain, because its berries have a pleasant sweet and sour taste, they are large enough, you can make a variety of desserts and eat them raw. Plants bear fruit annually, bringing a high yield.