The passion for gardening and vegetable farming in Russia is experiencing a new wave. City dwellers are yearning for the countryside, for fresh air, and the oversaturation of food products with industrial additives creates a need for healthy food grown in their own backyard. Berries have always occupied a special place in the diet. Their consumption, both fresh and in the form of various preparations, breaks all records. The cultivation of fruitful bushes began with the monks in their hermitages. Gradually, the hobby migrated into private hands. Today, perhaps, there are currants in every dacha, and the number of recipes for preserving them, consuming them fresh or frozen is impossible to count. Below we’ll talk about the best varieties of blackcurrant for the Moscow region.
Its name comes from the word “stench” - or a strong smell, due to the high content of essential oils.
Top 10. Summer resident
Rating (2021): 4.40
The early ripening variety Blackcurrant Summer Resident is one of the first to ripen, delighting with aromatic berries already at the end of June.
- Characteristics
Berry weight: up to 2.5 g
- Harvest: 3rd decade of June
- Productivity: 1.5-2.5 kg
Dachnitsa is one of the early blackcurrant varieties for the Moscow region, the first berries of which can be enjoyed as early as the 20th of June. The fruits are not the most outstanding in size, sweet and sour in taste with a sugar content of about 9%. Due to their thin skin, the berries do not store well after being picked from the bush, so it is better to immediately put them into processing. The summer resident is distinguished by compact bushes of small height and regular shape. To maintain productivity, the plant needs to be renewed periodically. The variety has high disease resistance, and is slightly susceptible to powdery mildew and bud mite. But the summer resident does not like the soil to dry out, so in the summer she needs to provide watering.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Early maturation
- Thin skin
- Resistant to most diseases
- Compact bush size
- Requires watering in summer
With large berries
Berries picked from early ripening bushes have a low sugar content (about 10%), so the taste is sour. Such fruits are often used for preservation. Ascorbic acid in this case acts as a natural preservative, which contributes to the safety of the products.
- Izyumnaya
Ripens early, harvesting begins in the second half of July. The weight of one currant reaches 2-3 g. The color of the fruit is intense dark. Despite the presence of sourness, sweetness is higher among other early varieties (9.1%).
The peculiarity of the bush is the delayed release of ripened berries. After technical ripeness, the currants remain on the branches for about 2 weeks. After drying in the sun like this, the peas look and taste more like raisins. The plant is low-growing, resistant to heat and prolonged cold snaps, and is immune to ash and mites.
- Mermaid
Ripe black currants look harmonious on a tall plant. All of them have the same shape and size. The weight of one is 7-7.5 g. The plant is a self-fertile crop. Among the advantages of the variety: high yield, frost resistance, pleasant dessert taste. Disadvantages: average resistance to kidney mites and septoria.
- Vigorous
The bushes are characterized by a restrained type of growth, the ripening of fruits is average. The berries are plum-shaped, the weight of one reaches 5-6 g, but there are also records of 8 g. The yield of an adult plant rarely falls below 3.7 kg. The dense pulp contains a lot of juice. The taste is sour, but pleasantly refreshing.
Reference! When giving preference to large-fruited varieties of currants, it is worth considering that they require a special regime of irrigation and fertilizing. This rule is especially relevant for areas with poor soil and sandy soils.
Top 9. Titania
Rating (2021): 4.45
The variety of Swedish selection Titania is a plant of Swedish selection with berries that are expressive in weight and appearance and are highly resistant to all diseases and pests.
- Characteristics
Berry weight: up to 4 g
- Harvest: 1-2 decades of July
- Productivity: 3-7 kg
Titania is a Swedish selection currant with exceptional disease resistance and excellent winter hardiness. The plant forms massive bushes that need support. The berries are large, but uneven in size; there can be up to two dozen of them on one cluster, which is an absolute record. Ripening occurs gradually, so the collection is organized in several stages. The berries are juicy, but in dry weather they are dry, which increases shelf life and transportability. In Europe, Titania is grown as an industrial variety, but in gardens near Moscow it is also quite appropriate, although it is poorly distributed.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Immunity to all diseases
- Frost resistance
- Large fruit
- Brushes up to 20 berries
- Not sold everywhere
Top 8. Lazy person
Rating (2021): 4.50
Late-ripening Lentyay is the latest variety in terms of ripening, the berries of which are ready for harvest no earlier than the beginning of August.
- Characteristics
Berry weight: up to 3.5 g
- Harvest: 1-2 decades of August
- Productivity: 2-3 kg
Lazy is a unique blackcurrant variety in terms of its ripening period, the berries of which begin to ripen only in August and remain on the branches until autumn. The bushes are vigorous and reach a height of 1.5 meters, but at the same time they are compact in diameter and slightly spreading, which saves space in the garden. Lazy berries are quite large, some reach 3.5 grams, and have a rich chocolate-black color. Their taste is highly valued and their sugar content is 8.3%. The variety is resistant to anthracnose, septoria, moderately resistant to bud mite, and is often affected by powdery mildew. Reviews from gardeners about this currant sound only good. Many people are happy to have this variety in their collection.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Late ripening
- Large fruit
- Sweet berries
- Resistance to many diseases
- Susceptible to powdery mildew
Classification of currants
Thanks to the work of breeders, there are currently a large number of currant varieties. To understand them well, they are classified according to the following parameters:
- according to ripening dates;
- by the ability not to succumb to disease;
- by berry size;
- by the size of the harvest per season;
- by taste and sugar content;
- by type.
According to the ripening period, currants can be divided into early, mid-ripening and late. The size of the berries varies from 0.8 grams to 5 grams. You can harvest up to five or even eight kilograms from a bush.
In addition to blackcurrant, there are several other types, the color of the berries is completely different. And this:
- Red Ribes;
- white;
- blood red;
- icy;
- golden;
- Siberian grouse;
- alpine.
How does the golden currant variety for the Moscow region differ from other types? The golden currant bush has an unusual leaf color. By the end of summer they turn golden, and later turn red and become a rich carmine color and stay on the bush until winter.
The shrub grows no less than two, two and a half meters in height. The berries grow up to eight millimeters in diameter and range in color from brown to black. At the same time, the blood-red currant variety is more suitable as an ornamental plant due to the way it will bloom. The inflorescences are red or pink, which is unusual for currants. The berries are also not quite ordinary. They are slightly elongated and colored blue-black with a patina. In addition, they do not have a pronounced taste.
Golden currant variety
When choosing large-fruited black currant varieties for the Moscow region, you need to carefully inspect the seedlings to ensure their quality. First of all, it is necessary to inspect the root system. A high-quality seedling will have several roots that have already become woody and have reached a length of at least twenty centimeters. In addition, the fibrous roots must be intact and well developed.
Important! When buying seedlings, you need to ask the seller in which regions this variety will feel great, grow and develop. After all, if you buy currants that are intended for cultivation in the Moscow region, they will not grow in the Urals.
To prevent the root system of the bush from drying out, it is recommended to wrap it in a damp cloth and bring it to the garden plot in this condition. Then it is better to dig them in so that they remain in the ground until they are moved to a permanent place. The part of the seedling that should subsequently remain on the surface may have one or two small branches, no more than forty centimeters in height. It is best to choose those seedlings that are already at least two years old. Thus, the bush will begin to bear fruit earlier.
Important! Those gardeners who have just started gardening are advised not to buy plants from unfamiliar sellers, since there is no guarantee that the goods will be sold honestly, and the beginner himself does not yet understand which varieties of currants are better. In this case, it is better to ask your neighbors or friends for seedlings.
Top 7. Izyumnaya
Rating (2021): 4.52
Does not fall off until autumn Currant berries of the Izyumnaya variety are not prone to shedding; they dry out on the branches, remaining until autumn.
- Characteristics
Berry weight: up to 3.8 g
- Harvest: 1st decade of July
- Productivity: 2-4 kg
Izyumnaya is a unique variety in many ways, valued by gardeners in the Moscow region. It produces fairly large berries that do not fall off until the fall, but rather dry out on the branches, becoming like raisins. At the same time, their taste does not deteriorate. The variety is classified as sweet, the sugar content reaches 10%. Productivity is at an average level. Raisin forms compact bushes that are not prone to spreading, up to 1.5 meters high. The plant is not susceptible to bud mites and powdery mildew, and is not afraid of frost and summer moisture deficiency. In reviews, some gardeners note that shoot growth is not as active as other varieties.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Large fruit
- Sweet taste
- Doesn't crumble
- Immunity to diseases and pests
- Slow growth
Currant propagation
Propagation of currant bushes is carried out by cuttings, layering or division. Rooting cuttings is the easiest way. Cuttings are prepared from basal shoots or annual shoots growing on the main stem.
When dividing bushes, pruners are used. It is necessary that a sufficient number of formed shoots and roots remain on each part of the plant, which will increase the chances of survival.
Using layering to propagate currants, branches and shoots are separated from the bushes only after rooting. It is recommended to root two-year-old cuttings as they have a better chance of developing.
Top 6. Belarusian sweet
Rating (2021): 4.55
Not susceptible to bud mite Belarusian sweet is a unique variety that is not affected by bud mite, always guaranteeing an excellent harvest.
- Characteristics
Berry weight: up to 2 g
- Harvest: 1-2 decades of July
- Productivity: 3-7 kg
Belarusian sweet is one of the few blackcurrant varieties that is sufficiently resistant to anthracnose and bud mite. This shrub will not surprise you with its overly large berries, because their average weight is 1-2 grams, but due to the abundance of the harvest, most gardeners are satisfied. The berries are quite sweet, containing up to 7.5% sugars. Another advantage is the lack of shedding, which allows you to collect the fruits not as they ripen, but when they are all ripe. With all its advantages, the Belarusian sweet also has disadvantages. The main one is susceptibility to fungal diseases, but this does not prevent the variety from receiving many positive reviews and being considered one of the best.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Disease resistant
- Sweet berries
- Productivity
- Doesn't crumble
- Susceptible to fungal diseases
Top 5. Bagheera
Rating (2021): 4.60
Best taste Bagheera currant berries are one of the sweetest, as they contain up to 11% sugar, which is an absolute record.
Simultaneous ripening of berries Bagheera is one of the few blackcurrant varieties in which the berries ripen simultaneously, which greatly simplifies their picking.
- Characteristics
Berry weight: up to 2.3 g
- Harvest: 3rd decade of July
- Productivity: 3-7 kg
Bagheera is one of the large-fruited black currants, but is not a record holder in this regard, because it produces berries of just over 2 grams. It is valued because the difference in size between the upper and lower fruits on the cluster is minimal, and they ripen almost simultaneously at the end of July, which makes harvesting much easier. Bagheera is considered one of the sweetest types, the sugar concentration reaches 11%. Thanks to the thick skin, the berries last a long time both on the bush and when picked. The variety is excellent for planting in the Moscow region, because it tolerates summer heat and lack of moisture well, and is not afraid of winter frosts.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Berries of the same size
- Up to 11% sugar
- Simultaneous ripening of berries
- The berries are not too large
Reviews from summer residents
Alexey Petrovich, Stupino
In the yard I set up a small garden with 9 trees and 15 currant bushes. For 7 years I tried to grow different varieties of the Gooseberry family. The Little Prince and the Summer Resident performed well. A feature of these varieties is considered to be abundant and timely watering. Black currant bears fruit annually; with proper pruning, the young plant gives a large increase in yield.
Maria, Valtsovo
The whole family loves blackcurrant jam. Our dacha neighbors have been growing the crop for a long time, experimenting with varieties. For some reason my plant is not taking root. A few years ago I managed to acquire several Sudarushka bushes.
From my limited experience, I can say that currants are very prolific and winter-hardy. Of course, in the fall I insulate the tree trunk area and carry out thorough sanitation. But after the record frosts of last winter, the powerful immunity of the plant itself can be felt.
Tamara Alexandrovna, Staraya Sitnya
I make compotes and preserves from currants grown at my dacha, add red berries to tomatoes when canning, and try different impromptu jams. Black-fruited varieties have taken root very well in our area: Yadrenaya, Dobrynya, Veloy. The branches are literally covered with beautiful berries. During the season, it is possible to remove from 2 to 3 kg of fruit from the bush.
Watch a video about the best large-fruited blackcurrant varieties:
Top 4. Vigorous
Rating (2021): 4.65
The largest currant berries of the Yadrenaya variety are one of the largest among those grown in gardens near Moscow, because their weight reaches 8 grams.
- Characteristics
Berry weight: up to 8 g
- Harvest: 2-3 decades of July
- Productivity: 3-7 kg
Black currant variety Yadrenaya was bred for cultivation in the Siberian climate, but due to a number of advantages it quickly spread throughout the country, including in the Moscow region. Excellent winter hardiness, resistance to bud mites and high yields have made this variety incredibly popular. It produces very large berries, with thick skin and large seeds. The taste seems sour to many, although the amount of sugar in the composition reaches 9%. The berries ripen unevenly and may fall off, so it is better to harvest in several passes as the fruits ripen. Vigorous gets different reviews from gardeners, but most are still happy to see it in their garden.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Large fruit
- Winter hardiness
- Productivity
- Uneven ripening
See also:
- 10 best varieties of apricots for the Moscow region
Top 3. Pygmy
Rating (2021): 4.70
Large berries for universal use Pygmy will delight you with its very large berries, which are suitable for use both fresh and for canning, freezing and other types of processing.
- Characteristics
Berry weight: up to 7.5 g
- Harvest: 1st decade of July
- Productivity: 5-6 kg
The large-fruited blackcurrant variety Pygmy can surprise with berries weighing up to 7.5 grams, although not all of them will be so impressive in size. A medium-ripening shrub begins to produce crops in early July. The berries ripen in stages over 2-3 weeks. They have a pleasant, rather sweet taste (contain 9.4% sugar), a pronounced aroma, and thin skin. The fruits are used universally - from fresh consumption to freezing and canning. The Pygmy variety is resistant to anthracnose and powdery mildew, but is susceptible to bud mites, from which the bush must be treated. This currant is not afraid of frost; it grows well in the conditions of the Moscow region, delighting with a rich harvest.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Large fruit
- Gradual ripening of berries
- Resistant to a number of diseases
- Not afraid of frost and drought
- Affected by septoria and kidney mites
See also:
- 10 best varieties of honeysuckle for the Moscow region
Planting currants in the Moscow region
When planting berries in the Moscow region, you should take into account the specific climatic conditions, soil type and many other third-party factors. It is also important to observe the optimal timing for transplanting prepared seedlings into the ground so that they have time to take root and bear fruit during the warm period.
Timing: when is it better to plant currants - in spring or autumn?
Planting black currants in the fall at the beginning of September is the best option. If autumn is warm, then you can plant bushes before October so that the seedlings have time to adapt to new conditions. If early frosts occur, it is better to wait until spring and plant after the snow cover melts, when there is no likelihood of return frosts.
Preparing the site and planting material
A few days before transplanting the seedlings into the ground, the roots are treated with a disinfectant, which is suitable as a manganese solution. Immediately before planting, the roots are lightly trimmed so that the plants take root in the ground faster.
Planting pits for placing seedlings are pre-treated with rotted compost or manure to stimulate active growth and development. Blackcurrant requires slightly acidic soil, so if it is highly acidic, it is necessary to add a deoxidizing agent to the soil.
Top 2. Dobrynya
Rating (2021): 4.75
The best harvest Dobrynya, due to its large berries, arranged in clusters of several pieces, is capable of producing one of the richest harvests.
- Characteristics
Berry weight: up to 6.5 g
- Harvest: 1-2 decades of July
- Productivity: 4-9 kg
Dobrynya is another blackcurrant variety popular for growing in the Moscow region. It produces very large berries with elastic skin, guaranteeing dry tearing and excellent transportability. The taste characteristics of the variety are also excellent. The berries do not ripen at the same time, so they will have to be picked in several stages. The variety is resistant to powdery mildew, tolerates winter cold and summer heat well, but is often susceptible to bud mite and anthracnose. Dobrynya forms relatively small bushes with mostly straight branches, from which it is easy and convenient to harvest. Judging by the reviews, the number of berries and their weight directly depend on the quality of care and the correct choice of fertilizer.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Large-fruited
- Does not crack when removed
- Good transportability
- Powdery mildew resistance
- Susceptible to mites and anthracnose
See also:
- 16 best grape varieties for the Moscow region
How to choose a blackcurrant variety
The number of cultivated plants today is so large that it is impossible for a person inexperienced in gardening to choose the appropriate option without the help of specialists. We present the main criteria that will help summer residents select the best seedlings.
Maturation period
There are several types of plants:
- Early. The flowering period begins in the first ten days of May. The harvest begins in the second half of June. There is a danger of damage to the bushes by spring frosts, so they are more suitable for the southern regions.
- Average. They bloom in mid-May, when frosts are no longer dangerous. Plants of this type can be planted in most regions of Russia and CIS countries. Harvest time is the end of July.
- Mid-late. They are especially popular among summer residents. They are not afraid of frost, they receive more sunlight and heat, and accumulate more vitamins and sugars. Flowers appear in late spring, berries reach final ripeness by the end of July.
- Late. They begin to bloom at the end of May, and the state of full maturity occurs only in August. Such crops are good because they prolong the pleasure of enjoying fragrant berries when the harvest of other species has already been eaten and preserved, and pears, apples and plums will come a little later.
In the garden of an experienced gardener there are always several bushes of different ripening periods. Tasty and healthy currants can delight the owner from spring to autumn.
Productivity
It is this indicator that most influences the choice of seedlings. In addition to varietal characteristics, productivity is influenced by a number of conditions:
- Age of culture;
- Climatic conditions: planting exposure to sunlight, frequent rains, snow depth, air temperature in winter and summer, wind direction and strength;
- Soil fertility;
- Depth of groundwater;
- Proper planting and agricultural technology.
Young bushes (from one to five years) can produce from one and a half to three kg. Next comes the most productive period of the plant’s life, when it can produce from 7 to 9 kg, subject to optimal planting and care conditions.
Currants cannot be called a capricious crop. Given its fairly wide distribution across regions, optimal conditions for its cultivation are typical for mid-latitudes. She likes frosty winters with good snow cover and warm, cool summers. With proper care, on enriched soils, in favorable climatic conditions, productivity will increase.
Taste and size of berries
Taste characteristics are the most important criterion for evaluating fruits. The magnitude of the tasting assessment directly depends on the amount of sugars and organic acids, or rather on how balanced their ratio in the product turns out to be.
Lately, amateur gardening has been experiencing a revival. Tasting characteristics have become especially important. Varieties with a dessert taste have gained great popularity among summer residents. At the same time, crops with low acidity are assessed as unpromising, since their berries taste bland, they are not suitable for preservation, and eating them fresh is not pleasant due to their low tasting characteristics. Increased acidity also cannot please a gardener or farmer, since no one will eat such a berry.
Fruits with a harmonious combination of sweetness and acidity are highly rated for their taste. The conducted research allows us to name stable dessert species. Among them are already known to us: Dar Smolyaninova, Selechenskaya 2, Lazy Guy, etc.
Large fruit and black shiny peel determine the presentation of the product. Once upon a time, quite recently, a berry whose weight exceeded 1.5 grams was considered large. In a short period of time, breeders have developed many hybrids with fruits whose weight reaches 5.5 - 7 grams. The following varieties are very popular among summer residents: Yadrenaya, Dobrynya, Selechenskaya 2, Sokrovische. The weight of their berries ranges from 4 to 6 grams. All of them have a pleasant taste, dry tear-off (not damaged when separated from the brush), and different ripening periods. What they have in common is the weight and size of the fruit and high yield.
Frost resistance and pest resistance
Black currants, by their nature, have always been highly resistant to low temperatures. Nevertheless, breeders have developed quite a few new hybrids that can retain their best qualities at temperatures of minus 30°C and below, and continue to work in this direction. The need for such research is due to the fact that the climate in most regions of Russia has lost stability.
Prolonged thaws give way to the onset of sharp cold weather. Plants begin to awaken, there are cases of swelling of the buds and even the appearance of the first leaves. A sharp cold snap will certainly destroy the awakened young branches. Sometimes, under such conditions, up to 70% of the shoots die. Late spring frosts are especially dangerous.
Gardeners cultivating currants in such conditions should choose varieties with increased resistance to cold and frost. In addition, it is better to insulate early crops, regardless of cold resistance indicators. God saves man, who save himself. The best way to protect against late frost is to plant mid- and mid-late species.
In addition to seasonal cold, diseases and pests cause irreparable damage to plants. If you do not take protective measures, you may be left with half the harvest or without it at all. The most dangerous enemy is the bud mite - a microscopic pest that settles in the buds of currants and gooseberries.
Up to several thousand parasites settle in one kidney. By spring, the bud swells, becomes the size of a pea, and bursts. At this time, it resembles a cracked head of cabbage. Affected buds must be removed and destroyed, and the plant must be treated with acaricides. For planting, it is better to choose varieties that firmly resist the bud mite: Selechinskaya 2, Black Pearl, Dubrovskaya, Vologda, etc.
In addition to insects, significant damage to plants is caused by common diseases: fungal diseases - Spheroteca, Septoria, Anthractosis, viral diseases - Reversion, Striped mosaic, Columnar and scaly rust and the most common attack - Powdery mildew. Thanks to the many years of efforts of breeders, hybrids have been introduced that are resistant to fungal diseases and powdery mildew: Selechenskaya 2, Dar Smolyaninov, Venus, Lazy and others. When looking for plants for your garden, it is better to opt for them.
When planting, you should avoid places with high humidity, which contribute to the progression of powdery mildew and harmful fungi. Timely treatment of plants with special preparations will protect the garden from all diseases.
