Description and characteristics of pink currant varieties, planting and care

The presence of pink currant bushes in garden plots is a rare occurrence. This culture appeared relatively recently, but has already gained popularity among gardeners. Despite its young age, several varieties of this crop have been developed to date, each of which is characterized by increased frost resistance and ease of care.

Features of pink currant

Pink currant is a subspecies of beauty. Therefore, the description and characteristics of both cultures are similar. This variety has the following features:

• the weight of the berries varies between 0.4-1 grams;
• the fruits do not have the sourness characteristic of currants;
• the berries are white or pale pink, with yellowish tints;
• The shape of the fruit is round, but sometimes it is elongated.

Pink currants produce an early or medium harvest. From one adult bush it is possible to collect up to 7 kilograms of berries.

Currants are frost-resistant, so even young plants tolerate cold well. The berries contain a whole range of useful vitamins and microelements, which are retained in the fruit until sub-zero temperatures occur.

Rating and description of the best varieties

There are several varieties of pink currants. Popular varieties among gardeners include the following:

• Lyubava;
• Wonderful;
• Rossoshanskaya;
• Rosa Chair;
• Pink pearls;
• Jumper;
• Dutch pink;
• Muscat pink.

Each of the above varieties has its own advantages, which deserves separate consideration.

Lyubava

The variety gives a bountiful harvest. Unlike other varieties of the crop, the fruits of Lyubava have a slight sourness. This hybrid variety tolerates frost and drought well and bears fruit regularly.

wonderful

The first ripe berries on the bush of this variety appear in early summer. The size of the fruit exceeds 1 centimeter. As in the case of Lyubava, Wonderful berries have a sweet taste with a slight sourness.One bush produces up to 9 kilograms of harvest, to obtain which it is necessary to grow the crop in well-warmed and sunny areas.

Rossoshanskaya

Rossoshan currant produces a harvest in mid-summer. The bushes are characterized by rapid growth, and therefore the crop requires regular pruning. At the same time, the branches do not thicken much. On average, it is possible to collect up to 6 kilograms of berries with juicy pulp from one bush.

Rose Chair

The Rose Chair variety is recommended to be grown in sunny areas with light soil. In such conditions, the plant allows you to collect up to 5 kilograms of fruits, which are small in size (up to 0.8 grams). The crown of this variety of pink currant is slightly spreading. The bush produces its first harvest in the second half of summer.

Pink pearl

The currant bush of this variety reaches medium size and produces more than 7 kilograms of large and juicy berries without sourness per season. The plant tolerates dry periods well due to its branched root system. The crown is thickened, thanks to which new shoots protect the currants from sunburn.

Jumping

The variety, which reaches medium size during growth, was bred by Belarusian breeders. This variety of crop is considered the most resistant to fungal diseases. Colored berries appear on the bush by mid-July.

Dutch pink

A large and late-ripening variety of currant. The height of the bush reaches 1.5 meters. The berries are large in size and do not tolerate long-term storage. From one Dutch rose bush you can harvest up to 9 kilograms of harvest.

Muscat pink

The fruits of pink currants of this variety have a nutmeg aroma. The plant produces a constant yield when grown in sunny areas with loamy or sandy soils.The fruits of this variety are characterized by a rich crimson color.

Features of planting pink currants

Pink currant is considered an unpretentious plant, so planting the crop usually does not cause problems.

Selection of seedlings

When choosing seedlings, it is recommended to give preference to 1- or 2-year-old crops (shoot length varies from 25 to 30 centimeters), adapted to specific growing conditions (region). Before purchasing a crop, you should inspect the root system. You should not purchase seedlings with damaged or rotten shoots. In case of long-term transportation, the crop is placed in water for 2-3 days before planting.

We select the optimal location

Pink currants produce a stable harvest when grown in sunny areas protected from strong winds. It is recommended to plant the plant on loamy soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. After planting in often swampy areas, the root system of the crop quickly rots.

Preparing the soil and planting hole

It is first recommended to dig up the bed, removing the weeds. 2-3 weeks before planting seedlings, manure, wood ash, compost or potassium-phosphorus fertilizers should be added to the soil.

The size of the hole for the plant is determined depending on the development of the root system. On average, holes are dug 0.5 meters deep and wide.

Technology and planting timing

It is recommended to plant pink currants in the first half of autumn. During this time, the plant will have time to get stronger before the onset of frost.

The seedlings are planted in prepared holes at an angle of 45 degrees and at a distance of 1 meter from each other. The neck should be deepened by 5-7 centimeters.This will allow the currants to form the desired crown and increase the yield of the bush. After planting, the soil around the plant is compacted and abundantly moistened.

At the end of the manipulations, the bush is pruned so that no more than three buds remain. After this, the soil is mulched using peat or straw. This procedure must be repeated three days later.

Care requirements

Most varieties of pink currants withstand the negative effects of the external environment. However, without proper care, the plant will die.

Watering and fertilizing

The plant requires plenty of moisture. During the dry period, each bush should be watered weekly, using up to 50 liters of water, and the currants should be sprayed. After such treatment, the soil should be loosened.

Organic and nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are used to fertilize the crop, which are applied no more than four times during the year: in the spring, during flowering and berry laying, and after harvesting.

Bush formation

It is recommended to prune pink currants shortly before frost or in early spring. Every year, old and dried branches should be removed, leaving no more than 15 shoots on the bush. After this treatment, you need to coat the cut areas with garden varnish.

Preventive treatment against insects and pests

To prevent infection, bushes are treated with boiling water in the spring. If affected leaves are found, they are removed. If parasitic insects appear on the bush, the plant must be treated with insecticides.

Features of culture propagation

This culture propagates by dividing the bush or by young layering. In the second case, the shoots are pressed to the ground.As soon as the cuttings take root in a new place, the plant is dug up and replanted.

The crop is also propagated by cuttings and seeds. The first option is the simplest. New cuttings need to be cut from the bush in early spring and planted in a new place, deepening 4 or more buds into the soil. After this, the plant is watered and mulched.