5 secrets of an unprecedented currant harvest
Currants are the most “popular” berries. This shrub can very often be found in the gardens of the middle strip.
But do all gardeners know how to achieve a good yield from the currant bush?
Experienced gardeners know the main secrets of growing this plant. Find out and you! It turns out that everything is not complicated at all.
- Water currants in time
In a season, it’s enough to water currants 3 times. But this has to be done correctly. Most of all, the plant needs moisture in the periods of growth of shoots and the appearance of berries. Without watering, currants will give a very low yield, the berries will be small and dry, with a thick skin.
Black currants tolerate the lack of moisture in the soil much worse than red currants
The first time the plant is watered during the active growth of green mass and the appearance of ovaries. This usually occurs in late May to early June. The second watering should be done in late June – when the berries ripen on the bush.
The third watering needs currants after the harvest. Lack of moisture in the soil at this time negatively affects the laying of flower buds. And this means that next year you may be left without a harvest.
To ensure that the water during irrigation does not flow beyond the limits of the root circle, you should make grooves around the bush with a depth of 10 cm and a diameter equal to the diameter of the crown. Some gardeners install around currant bushes low fences made of plastic or metal plates.
There should be 4-5 buckets of water per square meter of soil in the bed circle. Currant roots go into the ground to a depth of about 40 cm, and this layer of soil should be well saturated with moisture.
- Feed currants properly
If before planting currants all the necessary fertilizers were applied to the soil, the culture can do without fertilizers for several years. If, however, the fertilizer was applied only in the planting hole, currant bushes need to be fertilized 2 times a season.
The plants especially need nutrients during the emergence of ovaries and after fruit-bearing (almost at the same time as the watering). It is important to remember that the fertilizer or watering of currants should be applied in the furrows around the bush, but in no case in its center.
Currants are best fertilized with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. To do this, a solution of superphosphate and potassium sulfate should be made under each bush (dilute 1 tbsp of preparations per 10 liters of water).
Phosphorus fertilizer affects the size of fruits, and potassium – on their sweetness
During the rainy season, it is better to apply fertilizer in dry form.
If you do not have the necessary fertilizer on hand, you can sprinkle the soil under the bush with ash at a rate of 500 g per bush. And distribute the fertilizer further from the center of the shrub by 20-25 cm. You can do this again in mid-August.
- Mulch the soil under the bushes
The soil under the currant bushes should not dry out very much, which is why it is recommended to mulch. You can use a variety of materials for this: sphagnum moss, newspapers, peat, sawdust.
- Protect currants from frost
Currants are considered one of the most frost-resistant garden crops, but in too frosty winters even their buds can freeze. Therefore, during the cold season, currant branches should be ducked to the ground, and the shrub itself – covered with snow.
Return spring frosts can cause currants to drop their buds. In addition, cold, windy weather during bush flowering can contribute to poor flower pollination, because the flight of insects is significantly hampered. As a result, the berries do not set.
Although currant is a winter-hardy plant but does not like severe frosts either
Therefore, during frosts, currant bushes should be sprayed with water or protected with smoke. And to avoid problems with pollination, it is recommended to choose self-pollinating varieties of plants or attract bees to the site.
Hot and dry weather during currant flowering – also not too good for the plant. Pistil stigmas dry out and the period of possible flower pollination is shortened.
- Involve bees in the garden
Bees are the main helpers of the gardener who grows currants, because it is they who pollinate this plant. Therefore, to prevent insects from flying past currant bushes, the plants should be sprayed with sweet water (1 tbsp of honey per 1 liter of water).
Another way is to plant plants on the plot that attract bees: asters, verbena, helenium, hyacinth, honeysuckle, buddleia, wigella, monarda, peonies, rhododendrons. This will allow insects to take up residence in your garden for a long time. Plant flowers in sunny, but protected from strong winds: this is where bees usually collect nectar from flowers.
We hope that you will have the best currant crop in the new season. Take note of our tips, and you will surely succeed.