Description of black currant variety Riddle, features of planting and care

Currant Riddle brings a lot of harvest and is a mid-early variety. Recommended for cultivation by the state register in the Central and North Caucasus regions. The berry bush is often cultivated in other regions of Russia, as well as in the CIS countries. To successfully grow a plant, you should familiarize yourself with all agrotechnical nuances.

History of the development of the culture Mystery

The Riddle currant variety was bred at the Moscow University of Horticulture VSTISP by breeder V. Litvinova in 1957. The Nina and Rival varieties were crossed, the Riddle is a hybrid. Since 1977, it has been listed in the state register.

Biological description of the variety

The fruit variety of currant attracts gardeners with large berries with a luxurious taste. It is grown for personal consumption or for sale. Since it is a medium-yielding variety, it is often bred for making dishes and preparations for the winter. The bushes are self-fertile and do not require nearby pollinators. If there are already pollinating crops on the plot, this will increase the yield of currants.

Bush and branching of the root system

Currant bushes are famous for their compact shape, medium size, spreading nature, and density. Currants are long-lived compared to their counterparts. The next season after planting, you can get a harvest. With proper care, shrubs can live up to 15 years.

The variety is distinguished by thick shoots with a reddish top and five medium-sized lobed leaves. The brushes are also medium in size, up to 5 cm, without pubescence. There are about 7 berries on them.

Flowering, yield and berries

Pollen occurs in the middle or end of May, depending on the climatic conditions of the region. The inflorescences are small, cup-shaped, the petals are pale pink, curled. The Riddle variety bears berries that weigh up to 2.2. g, medium size. They are fragrant, round in shape, black in color with yellowish dots, have a sweet and sour table taste and have a thick skin.The variety is medium-yielding; up to 3 kg of currants are harvested from 1 bush in late August or early September. The commercial quality of the fruit is at the highest level. The taste is sweet and sour, tasters rated it 4 points.

Scope of application

Berries are universally used; they contain a lot of vitamin C. Currants are used to prepare jelly, juices, syrups, wines, liqueurs, jellies, and marshmallows. You can also make yoghurts and fillings for sweets.

The plant is famous for its medicinal properties: it lowers blood pressure, eliminates fever, and stimulates metabolic processes in the body. The fruits have antibacterial, antipyretic, and immunomodulatory properties.

Medicines are made from the Riddle currant in the form of cough syrups and lozenges..

Resistance to low temperatures and drought

The Riddle currant variety is characterized by average winter hardiness and can withstand cold temperatures down to -26 degrees. It tolerates dry periods well if they are short-term. A prolonged lack of moisture is fraught with a reduction in yield and withering of the bushes.

Susceptibility to diseases, bugs

Currants have strong immunity to powdery mildew, anthracnose, and bud mite. If the bushes are not cared for, the protective properties are weakened.

Advantages and disadvantages of Riddles

The Riddle currant variety has many advantages, but there are also negative aspects.

Features of planting and care

You should take care of currants regularly, since the variety is capricious. It is necessary to water, fertilize, and trim bushes on time. Preventive treatments against beetles and diseases are carried out periodically.The planting process is standard; no special nuances of agricultural technology are implied. Currant Riddle is planted in the same way as its brothers.

The soil should be fertile, slightly acidic, with a neutral reaction - pH 5.0-5.5. The culture prefers loamy soil. The bushes grow safely in lighted places, protected from the wind.

You can also select an area in partial shade. Groundwater in the area should not be higher than 1.5 meters.

Optimal time for planting

Experienced gardeners recommend planting Riddle currants in early September or late March.

It is important that the air temperature warms up to +10-15, there is no threat of frost returning.

Preparing the seedling and site

If the soil is fertile, such as loam, fertilization before planting is not required. In the case of acidic soil, lime is added to it before digging, per 1 square meter from 0.3-0.8 kg. Also, 100-150 g of granulated superphosphate, 2-4 kg of organic matter, 20-30 g of potassium sulfate are added to the soil in a ratio per 1 sq.m. It is necessary to plow the soil to a depth of 20 to 22 cm.

Landing technology

Riddle currants should be planted on the south or southwest side. Planting holes are dug 50*50*50 cm in size, half a bucket of water is poured into them, and the seedling is placed at an angle of 45 degrees, 4 cm deeper than it grew in the mother liquor. This planting method stimulates intensive formation of rhizomes and shoots. Afterwards, the seedlings are watered with 0.5 buckets of water per bush. To avoid rapid evaporation of moisture, the area is mulched with peat, humus, dry soil or sawdust.

Irrigation and fertilization

Currant Riddle is a moisture-loving variety; its rhizome is located in the upper soil layer at a depth of 20 cm.

It is important that she receives the required amount of fluid during intensive growth and the formation of ovaries, which occurs at the beginning of June. The bushes also need moisture during fruit filling, which occurs in early July, and after harvesting, in August-September. Pre-winter watering is carried out in October, water consumption is 20-30 liters per bush.

Fertilizers play an important role during the currant growing season. 3 feedings are required per season. They use nitrogen compounds in March - ammonium nitrate 30 g, urea 20 g, bird droppings 1:12 or mullein 1:6 in the proportion of 1.5 buckets of water for each bush. You can feed currants after harvesting the fruits. This is important for strengthening the plants.

Preventative treatment

Attacks of harmful beetles, diseases, have a detrimental effect on the health of currants, the quality and quantity of fruits. The greatest danger is the mealy growth aphid. Bushes should be regularly inspected to identify possible beetles and the onset of diseases. If diseased or damaged shoots are found, they are removed. To reduce the risk of damage to bushes, they should be treated with Bordeaux mixture at the beginning of the growing season.

Loosening and mulching beds

The plot should be weeded to a depth of 6-8 cm, 2-3 times a week. To reduce the frequency of loosening, cover the circumference of the currant bushes with mulch. The procedure is done immediately after plowing, the ground is covered with humus 5-10 cm thick. Organic matter is placed from the branches at a distance of 0.2 meters.

If weeds appear, they are removed immediately. Weeds inhibit the development of bushes and take away nutrients from the soil..

Bush formation

Currants need to be pruned to remove unnecessary, damaged, and dried branches.Otherwise, the plant will waste energy and nutrients on them. Most of the ovaries are located on last year's growths of four-year and five-year-old branches. Shoots older than 6 years must be cut out, and diseased, dried specimens must also be removed.

With the systematic, timely formation of the bush, the fruiting of currant bushes is extended to 15 years. In the fall, after leaf fall, the main pruning is carried out. In March, before the buds open, stems damaged by frost are shortened to healthy tissue, and dead and injured branches are removed. In summer, it is advisable to pinch the tips of young shoots to stimulate their tillering and give the bushes a neat appearance.

Shelter for the winter

Experienced gardeners recommend covering currants for the winter. The procedure is carried out at the end of October or beginning of November. The bushes are pre-pruned and fertilized. The branches are bent to the soil, grouped in groups of 3-5 and pressed down with boards or bricks. If frosts in the region reach -35 in winter, the shoots are buried. You cannot cover them from above, especially with metal sheets, they have high thermal conductivity. Buried branches will be covered with an ice crust and will not receive oxygen. During spring frosts, the bushes are again covered with cloth and bulky paper bags.

How to propagate the Riddle

Currant Riddle propagates vegetatively, this is the most effective way. There are several other methods:

• propagation by petioles, when branches from one-year-old shoots 25 cm long are used;
• using green cuttings, a shoot 15 cm long is cut from a young branch;
• layering - use layering from the mother bush up to 3 years old.

Each of the growing techniques is available to the beginning gardener.

Reviews about the variety

Feedback about Riddle currants will help you make your choice.

Nikita Savelyev, 59 years old, Kazan

Hello! Currant Riddle is my favorite variety. I have been growing it for 15 years, the berries are incredibly tasty. I recommend to everyone!

Victoria Bernik, 60 years old, Kyiv

Hi all! I have loved currants since childhood; I planted the Riddle variety in my garden in 2005. Last summer I renewed the plantings with new bushes, using the fruits for personal consumption.

Zhanna Alybaeva, 54 years old, Zaporozhye

Hello everybody! They have been growing Riddle currants since the fall of 2009; although the variety is capricious, the berries are incredibly tasty. I make pies from them and decorate desserts.