Description of red currant Sugar
The Saharnaya red currant bush is easy to distinguish by its external characteristics. Usually it is quite compact, reaching 1.5 - 2 m in height and 1.2 m in width. The upright gray-brown branches are covered with small dark green glossy leaves. They have a characteristic five-pointed shape with a jagged edge.
Red currant blooms quite inconspicuously. The flowers of this plant variety are small and yellow-green in color. But the fruits of the Sugar Currant are striking from a distance. The round berries are a rich, bright red color, covered with a shiny, dense skin and weigh about 8 g each. They form dense clusters 7–10 cm long. One such cluster of Sugarcurrant can contain from 10 to 20 fruits. The taste of the berries of this variety is juicy and sweet, with a pleasant sour aftertaste, which is why they are often used for making confectionery, baked goods and homemade rolls. Red sugar currants are no less tasty when freshly picked.
Sugar currant is a rather unpretentious plant, and therefore the red variety covers a wider distribution area than its black variety. In the CIS countries it is grown almost everywhere, including in cold regions, for example, in the Urals and Siberia.
Important! There is no Sugar blackcurrant as such; the Ordinary Miracle variety is often sold under this name. Unscrupulous traders sometimes pass off low-quality varieties as black sugar currants.
Productivity
The Sugar variety produces at least 4 kg of berries per year, but there are ways to improve this figure.
Red currants produce a good harvest in the first 6-8 years. The maximum number of fruits is at 3-4 years of life.
Branches that stop producing berries must be removed so that new branches receive as much nutrients as possible. Fertilize the soil so that the bush receives enough potassium and phosphorus; they are important for normal growth and fruiting of currants.
In one place, the bush bears fruit for up to 20 years, after this period the soil is depleted, then currants are replaced by other crops.
Collect ripe currants carefully so as not to crush them. Choose morning time for collection, cool and dry weather.
The fruits of the Sakharnaya variety are very sweet and good for consumption in their raw form. There are also many recipes for jelly, jam, compotes, pies; they are especially good from this variety of currant.
Characteristics of the variety
In addition to its excellent gastronomic qualities, Sugar red currant boasts other features that distinguish it from other varieties and make it a favorite of many gardeners.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Sugar currant bushes are highly frost-resistant and feel quite comfortable almost anywhere in temperate latitudes. With proper care, they can withstand even frosty winters without problems. This variety is not afraid of sudden temperature changes and drops in the thermometer to -32 °C.
The red variety of currant is also resistant to drought. The well-developed root system of the bush with long rhizomes allows the plant of this variety to survive without water for quite a long time. However, you should not ignore regular watering, otherwise it may affect the size and quality of the berries.
Productivity of the variety
The productivity of a bush directly depends on the quality of care. With proper cultivation, it will be possible to obtain berries from the end of May until October, and at the same time remove 4 kg of fruit from the bush. Mature bushes older than 5 years are capable of producing from 7 to 10 kg of red berries annually.
However, such impressive figures can only be achieved by taking due care of the variety. The size, quantity and taste of the berries are greatly influenced by the growing conditions of the Sugar red currant. So, if the plant suffers from insufficient sun, the berries will stop growing evenly and will concentrate at the top of the bush. In addition, they will become smaller from season to season. Therefore, when choosing a place to plant a bush, you can choose the sunniest area without fear that the berries will bake: the thick waxy skin will prevent the fruits from deteriorating.
Lack of moisture, in turn, will lead to fruit shedding, since the bush will spend all the available water to maintain the life of leaves and branches.
Harvested red currants become unusable very quickly, even when stored in the refrigerator - within 1 - 2 days. Therefore, it must either be consumed immediately or frozen. Despite the short shelf life, this variety easily tolerates short-term transportation and does not lose its presentation during transportation, especially if the fruits are transported in bunches.
You can increase the shelf life and preserve the beneficial properties of Saharnaya currants if you prepare the berries properly. The fruits of the variety are used to make preserves, compotes, jams and liqueurs, which can be stored for many months. In addition, it is consumed fresh, as well as in baked goods, jellies, drinks, confectionery and other gastronomic delights. Red currants of the Sugar variety have found their application in medicine, cosmetology, and even in landscape design.
Resistance to diseases and pests
According to reviews from plant growers, red Sugar currant has stronger immunity to various diseases when compared with other varieties. Pests are also much less likely to attack this plant variety.
Pros and cons of the variety
Naturally, despite all the positive characteristics, any plant variety has its strengths and weaknesses. Among the advantages of Sugar red currant are:
- high yield rates;
- excellent taste of berries;
- early fruit ripening;
- the ability of the bush to bear fruit for 20 years;
- ease of care;
- good disease resistance;
- the ability to use the variety in cooking and medicine;
- the ability of the plant to retain its properties during transportation;
- aesthetic appearance, suitable for garden decoration.
The disadvantages of the variety include:
- not too large berry size;
- poor self-pollination.
Choosing a landing site
Red currant Sugar: photo of the variety
Our variety likes to live in sandy loam or light loam soil. If the soil is acidic and clayey, this will only inhibit the roots. On such soils, there is poor growth of currants, low yields, and in the future the currants may disappear altogether.
It will also be necessary to make elevations if groundwater flows high in the area. You can make a whole ridge or separate mounds for each bush individually. The roots develop in the surface layer of soil, so the hills can be made 40 cm high.
Red currant variety Sugar likes conditions with good light and sunlight. The planting site should be well ventilated. Due to free air movement, plants will be less affected by powdery mildew. But here, too, there are some nuances - drafts are a bad form of ventilation, in addition, they can destroy the bushes. In order to protect the bushes from drafts, plants are planted near buildings and fences without cracks.
Reproduction methods
There are methods for growing Sakharnaya currants:
- Cuttings. During the procedure, green or lignified cuttings are used, which are made from the shoot of a young healthy plant, cutting it into pieces of 20 cm each. Green cuttings take root better in June, more mature ones - in mid-August. At the same time, for more successful rooting, it is advisable to plant the latter in a greenhouse.
- Breeding by layering. The most effective way. To implement it, red currant branches at the age of 1 - 2 years are cut at an angle, retreating 5 - 10 cm from the base of the bush. Shoots form from the root buds, which need to be covered with soil. With the arrival of autumn, they are separated from the mother bush and planted in a permanent place.
Planting and care
Having decided to plant red currants of the Sugar variety in your garden, you should pay attention to the planting site. Any currant, including red ones, prefers well-lit sunny places. Lack of sun will negatively affect the development of the bush and affect the taste and size of the berries.
As for soils, almost any soil that is not too acidic is suitable for Sugar currants. Chernozem, sandy loam and loamy soils are especially suitable for the plant.
Important! The shrub will not take root in clay soil and in places where groundwater lies too close to the surface.
It is worth considering the time of planting work. It usually depends on the climate in the region where the planting takes place. Many people plant Sugar currants in April-May, but reviews from people who have been growing this crop for several years indicate that it is better to plant it in September. Before the onset of winter, autumn seedlings will have successfully established themselves in the ground, and by the end of next summer they will be able to bear fruit on a par with adult plants.
Planting red currants is carried out according to the following scheme:
- First, prepare a planting hole 40 cm deep. If there are several seedlings, you can dig a ditch, placing the plants at a distance of 1.2 - 1.5 cm from each other.
- Fertilizer is then placed at the bottom of the hole by mixing turf with mullein or compost.
- The depression is watered abundantly and a currant seedling is placed in it at an angle of 45°, having first straightened its roots.
- Sprinkle the plant with soil so that the root trunk goes 5 cm into the soil: this will make the bush more lush.
- The soil around is trampled down, a hole is formed and generously watered with root solution diluted with water in the amount of 3 liters per bush.
- Finally, all shoots of the plant are cut by 1/3 to speed up growth.
Advice! High acidity of soils can be neutralized by adding chalk or crushed eggshells to the soil.
Aftercare
Further care for red currants of the Sakharnaya variety is also simple. It includes most of the standard procedures, such as watering, fertilizing, pruning and loosening.
Since the variety can grow in one place throughout its life, annual feeding of Sugarcurrant will literally bear fruit. Typically, a solution of nitroammophoska is used for this, which is diluted at the rate of 1 matchbox per 10 liters of water. The application of nitrogen fertilizers in the spring in the amount of 10 g per 1 m2 will also have a positive effect on the growth of the bush.
To form a spreading bush, pruning can be done every year. In the spring during the growing season, you should select 3 - 4 of the strongest branches for further growth, and cut off small shoots. It is advisable to leave those branches that grow in different directions.
With the arrival of spring, the variety is also loosened to provide the roots with oxygen, and then the tree trunk circle is covered with humus. To avoid the occurrence of diseases, the bush is weeded as necessary.
To ensure a good harvest, you should not ignore timely watering of Sugar currants. It is especially important during the ovary and ripening of berries. At the same time, the plant itself is not moistened, but only the trunk circle is watered once every 2 - 3 weeks, spending 5 liters of water per bush. If the summer is dry, watering is carried out more often: once every 10 days.
Important! Excess moisture is detrimental to the plant.
Despite the fact that Sakharnaya currants can tolerate fairly low temperatures, in regions where frosts of -40 °C are not uncommon, it would still be a good idea to cover the bush during cold weather. To do this, the branches of the bush are bent to the ground, having previously been cut by 1/3, and secured with weights. In this form, the variety will overwinter under the snow without any problems. In areas with snowless winters, sugar currants can be covered with dry leaves or covered with spruce branches.
Selection of seedlings
In order for currant bushes to grow strong and healthy, it is very important to choose the right seedlings for future planting. It is this issue that should be approached with all responsibility.
When selecting currants, some points should be taken into account.
- The roots of the seedlings should be well developed; you should not choose options with roots that are too long and overdried, since such plants are unlikely to take root in the soil.
- The leaves of the plants should not be damaged in any way; it is very important to inspect the seedlings for the presence of pests or diseases. The huge number of torn leaves on them should also be alarming, which may also indicate that sellers are trying to hide a pest attack or the presence of a disease on the plants.
- The branches must be healthy in appearance; slight peeling of the bark is allowed, but no spots or growths should be visible on it.
It is best to purchase any plants only in specialized stores and nurseries, as well as from trusted gardeners who are engaged in private practice. Buying in the right place significantly reduces the risks of purchasing low-quality or diseased seedlings. When ordering seedlings from another city, it is very important to take care of their reliable transportation.
Pest and disease control
Due to its high disease resistance, the Saharnaya currant variety is affected by only a few ailments. Among them, anthracnose can be identified as the most dangerous. This disease is caused by a fungal infection, which causes brown spots to appear on the leaves of the bush. Lack of timely treatment can lead to the death of the bush. If anthracnose is detected, the infected branches should be removed and the bush should be treated with antifungal drugs once every 2 weeks for 2 months. Before the buds bloom, as a preventative measure, you can spray red currants with a solution of copper sulfate.
