A currant bush can be grown from seeds, but it is important to understand how to properly harvest seeds and plant them, and what conditions to maintain for the full development of the crop. When using seed material, a plant grows with new characteristics, this is the main difference from the propagation of currants by layering and cuttings. The first harvest is harvested no earlier than after 4-5 years.
Is it possible to grow currants from seeds?
Crop propagation by seeds is used to develop new varieties.Basically, it is not possible to preserve all the properties of the mother bushes. Plant characteristics can change for the better or for the worse. For amateur gardeners, this method of growing currants is an opportunity to obtain an improved version of the crop and subsequently carry out vegetative propagation.
Advantages and disadvantages of the method
As with other methods, when propagating currants by seeds, there are certain advantages and disadvantages. Having assessed the features of this method of growing crops, each gardener will be able to determine for himself the advisability of planting seeds. The advantages are as follows:
- variety of landing options;
- the opportunity to receive bush seedlings of your favorite variety;
- carrying out breeding activities in order to develop improved varieties;
- Possibility of growing at home.
There are also negative aspects:
- the process of growing crops is labor-intensive;
- the bush begins to bear fruit at least 4-5 years after planting;
- in most cases, the characteristics of the mother bushes are not preserved;
- in apartments it is impossible to maintain the required temperature during the wintering period, which leads to disruptions in the natural vegetation cycle and an increased risk of plant damage by pests and diseases;
- When grown in sheltered areas, the volume of berries decreases.
Procurement of seeds
It is not difficult to prepare material for planting currants; the main thing is to select the best fruits. Dry the seeds naturally or in a dryer. Ripe berries are carefully kneaded or cut, then washed. The resulting material is pre-dried.
You can prepare seeds in another way. In this case, the berries are partially dried, and only after this process is completed, the seed material is extracted.It is allowed to use fallen fruits that have lain under the snow. Such a berry undergoes good preparation for sowing, since it undergoes a natural stratification process.
How to grow currants from seeds?
There are several options for growing currants from seeds. Can be grown in a greenhouse or apartment and planted in spring or autumn. Another option is possible - sowing in open ground before the onset of cold weather or in pots with further storage in the cellar.
The culture grows equally both in open ground and in a warm room; the difference may appear later.
In the open ground
Sow seeds 2-3 weeks before the onset of cold weather. This is the optimal period for growing currants in open ground. It is not necessary to withstand a longer period, since the plant may germinate before the onset of winter.
Choose a well-lit place and plant the seeds at a shallow depth. Be sure to use a marker, which in the spring will help determine the desired plot of land. Germination occurs after the soil has warmed and thawed.
In September, sowing is carried out in pots. The containers are stored in the cellar until spring, periodically checking the soil moisture. Do not allow drying out. In April, the pots are buried in the garden, choosing an area well lit by sunlight.
In the greenhouse
With the onset of spring, a box filled with moist soil is prepared for the seed. The container with the seeds is covered with film and left in a sheltered room. When shoots have appeared, the box is freed from the film and moved to the windowsill.
When the seedlings are 15 cm high, they proceed to picking. Separate pots are used for replanting.At stable temperatures, after the first leaves appear, young plants are moved to pre-prepared holes in an open area of land.
In the future, the currants are regularly and abundantly watered through a divider. The plants take root, after which the volume of water used is reduced. The optimal distance between holes is 1 m.
The greenhouse method is not suitable for those who plan to produce large volumes of fruit. In addition, when growing crops in a greenhouse, the risk of negative impacts from pests and the development of diseases increases. To prevent this, it is important to regularly care for plants and process them in a timely manner.
At home
The home method of growing currants is designed for dwarf plants. The red variety is not suitable; a black variety of the crop is selected. In other ways, only blackcurrants are also usually grown.
You must purchase a pot with a height of 25 cm or more in advance. The pot is placed on a loggia or balcony. Maintaining the required temperature in the apartment is not easy, because plants grow slowly and develop poorly. When implementing this method, you should not expect high yields.
Advice from experienced gardeners
An important condition is light, fine-grained soil containing a sufficient amount of nutrients. In such soil it is easier for sprouts to germinate. You can purchase ready-made soil or prepare the necessary mixture yourself from garden soil, charcoal and compost or humus.
To plant seedlings, an additional component is used for clay soil - sand. The soil is kneaded by hand or sifted through a sieve and must be disinfected in the most convenient way.Some advise watering the soil with a hot solution of potassium permanganate, while other gardeners warm the soil in the oven. Everyone has their own methods.
To grow currants from seeds, select pots with holes through which excess moisture will penetrate. A drainage layer is formed at the bottom. Coarse sand and small pebbles are suitable for these purposes.
Gardeners advise storing dried seeds in paper bags at temperatures from +2 to +5 degrees. With the onset of spring, the seed is kept near the battery for several days, only after which it is sown in pots. Before planting plants in open ground, prepare holes up to 1 cm deep and carry out abundant watering. The holes are filled with sand or dry fine earth.
During the growth period of plants in pots, they are closely monitored. At first, avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Place the containers in the shade, if necessary, and provide protection from the cold at night.
The future shrub is watered regularly, the area around it is carefully weeded and loosened. Fertilizers are added to the soil. To reduce the growth of weeds, after watering the soil is mulched with humus or compost. As a result, moisture is retained in the soil longer and plants receive additional nutrients.
In the first year of plant life, a thorough examination is carried out, which makes it possible to identify fungal diseases at the initial stage of their development. For preventive purposes, the soil and currants are sprinkled with wood ash and sprayed against aphids with an infusion of garlic and soap. For irrigation, use a solution of copper sulfate.
You shouldn't expect significant development in one year. More intensive growth is observed in the second year, and in the third year young bushes are formed.During the flowering period, the bushes are slightly shaken, which has a positive effect on pollination and the formation of berries.
Plants and fruits can differ significantly in quality, taste, appearance, the result is unpredictable. The berry may turn out to be smaller or larger, juicier, sour or sweeter. But in any case, the process itself brings a lot of pleasure to gardeners. In addition, there is always the opportunity to develop a variety with a long fruiting period or other improved characteristics.
