Description of the best varieties of white currants, planting, cultivation and care

Growing and caring for white currants is not too difficult. The shrub is simple in agricultural technology. But to get a good harvest, it is recommended to follow the advice of agronomists. The plant is very decorative: some gardeners cultivate the bush not only to obtain tasty fruits, but also to decorate the site. Planted along paths, they act as a living barrier.

Biological features

White currant is a plant of the Currant genus of the Gooseberry family. The first representatives of the bush are a product for “taming” wild red currants. Today, breeders have created many interesting plant varieties.

Description of the plant:

• shrub up to 1.5 m high (with good care, some varieties grow up to 3 m);
• the shoots are covered with greenish-brown bark (its color darkens over the years);
• berries are round or slightly elongated;
• taste: from sour to sweet;
• colors: all shades of yellow, pink, cream;
• flowers are green-yellow, collected in a brush;
• the leaf has 3-5 lobes, the edges are serrated.

Gardeners like that the plant is resistant to shedding: after ripening, the berries stay on the branches for a long time.

Popular types

Breeders create varieties with different characteristics. They are suitable for successful fruiting of currants in various regions, so before purchasing a shrub for planting in the garden, it is recommended to study the characteristics of the most common varieties.

English white

Plant characteristics:

• compact bushes;
• excellent frost resistance;
• ripens early;
• refreshing berry taste.

Gardeners like that the fruits grow large: up to 1.5 g.An adult plant pleases with stable yields: up to 5 kg. But the bush is not self-fertile: it needs pollinators.

White squirrel

It holds first place in terms of early fruiting of species: the first berries can be tasted the next year after planting. The shrub is not affected by insects and does not get sick. Gardeners love the frost resistance. The species is self-fertile, but when planted next to a pollinating variety, the yield increases by 20-30%.

White grapes

Advantages of the variety:

• frost resistance;
• drought resistance;
• compactness of the bush;
• sweet taste of berries.

The ripening period of berries is average. But when planting, it should be taken into account that the variety is not self-fertile. Pollinators will be needed to produce crops.

Dutch white

Characteristics of the bush:

• compactness;
• not susceptible to major diseases;
• ripening period is mid-early;
• gives up to 4 kg per plant;
• the pulp is juicy;
• taste sweet and sour;

The advantages of currants are: preservation of ovaries during return frosts and self-fertility.

Dessert

High-yielding (yields up to 6 kg) shrub with large berries. Ripens early. The habit is compact, the fruits are honey-like. The shrub does not get sick and tolerates weather changes well.

Cream

Features of the bush:

• does not get sick, is not damaged by pests;
• ripens early;
• low frost resistance;
• compactness;
• high yield (up to 6 kg per bush);
• due to the thin skin, low transportability;
• cream colored berries;
• the taste of the berries is sweet and sour;
• The pulp of the fruit is juicy.

When planted in areas with cold winters, the shrub freezes.

Jüterborg

The shrub was bred by European breeders. It passed tests perfectly in the Urals and Siberia. Characteristics:

• high frost resistance;
• mid-early ripening;
• excellent drought resistance;
• high yield (up to 8 kg per bush);
• resistance to fruit shedding;
• compactness;
• tendency to thicken;
• berries are not aligned.

Low resistance to anthracnose should be taken into account when planting.

Primus

Product of Czech breeders. Distinctive features:

• average ripening period;
• resistance to all known currant diseases;
• high yield (up to 10 kg per plant);
• compactness;
• resistance to berry shedding after ripening;
• high frost resistance;
• large, leveled berries (weight up to 1 g);
• The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour.

The variety has virtually no disadvantages.

Boulogne

Medium early ripening variety. Distinctive features:

• compact bushes;
• the variety is resistant to dense planting;
• low frost resistance;
• mid-early ripening;
• refreshing (sweet and sour) taste of berries.

The variety is weakly resistant to anthracnose.

Belyan

A variety with slightly spreading bushes. Characteristics:

• high frost resistance;
• excellent drought resistance;
• self-fertility;
• friendly return of the harvest;
• the taste of the berries has an excellent rating;
• thin skin;
• the pulp is juicy.

The berries are poorly transported over long distances due to the thin skin of the fruit.

Minusinsk white

The variety was obtained in Eastern Siberia. Its characteristics:

• excellent frost resistance;
• drought resistance;
• resistance to diseases and pests;
• large seeds in berries;
• low yield (up to 3 kg per bush);
• average ripening period;
• large berries (up to 1 g);
• The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour.

The variety feels good in the middle zone.

The most productive varieties

White fruit has different yields. It is recommended to carefully evaluate this characteristic before purchasing.

Diamond (White Fairy)

Distinctive features of the species:

• the plant produces abundant annual growth (prone to thickening);
• ripening period is average;
• fruit color is yellow-white;
• long brush;
• leveled berries;
• taste sweet and sour;
• no aroma;
• fruit weight up to 0.8 g.

The plant has a consistently high yield (up to 6 kg per bush).

Bayana

The full name is Dessert Bayana. Plant characteristics:

• late ripening period;
• yield up to 6 kg per bush;
• berries are round, white;
• the taste is sweet, refreshing;
• resistant to major diseases and pests;
• shoot height is average;
• the plant tends to thicken.

Gardeners love the versatility of the fruit. They make excellent compotes, jellies, and jams. It's nice to eat berries fresh.

Versailles white

With proper care, it produces a harvest of up to 5 kg per bush. Characteristics:

• heat resistance;
• drought resistance;
• poor frost resistance;
• average ripening period;
• the plant is not early-bearing (it begins to bear fruit in the 4-5th year of planting);
• tall bush (up to 15 m);
• the taste of the fruit is sweet and sour;
• leveled berries (up to 1.3 g).

The plant has poor disease resistance.

Belaya Potapenko

A distinctive feature of the variety is its sweet berries. Plant characteristics:

• compact bush;
• early-fruiting variety;
• resistance to fruit shedding;
• the taste of the fruit is sweet and sour;
• yield up to 6 kg per bush;
• berries are medium (up to 0.8 g).

The plant is resistant to diseases and pests.

Ural white

Plant characteristics:

• the bush is of moderate size;
• curved branches;
• bark color is light green;
• gives abundant growth (the bush is prone to thickening);
• the leaf is large, light green;
• fruit color is yellow;
• the number of seeds is small;
• the taste is sweet, slightly sour;
• ripening period - mid-early.

The bush has high frost resistance, so it can be grown in regions with cold winters. Productivity - up to 6 kg per plant.

How to choose a variety depending on the region

In order for white currants to please you with stable fruiting, you should choose the right variety for planting. In this case, it is recommended to give preference to zoned species that have passed tests and are included in the State Register of Agricultural Plants.

The best varieties of white currants for the Moscow region

Breeders recommend planting in the region: Smolyaninovskaya, Primus, Versailles, White Fairy, Cream, Bayana. The plants have sufficient frost resistance to grow in the region. A warm period is enough for them to ripen the berries.

For the middle band

The region produces stable harvests: Smolyaninovskaya, Versailles, Kremovaya.

For the Urals and Siberia

The difficult climatic conditions of the Urals and Siberia are perfect for: Belyana, Versailles, Ural Belaya and Smolyaninovskaya.

For Southern regions

The following are included in the State Register for cultivation in the Southern regions and the Black Earth Region: Kremovaya, Smolyaninovskaya, White Fairy, Primus, Bayana, Versailles.

Features of planting and care

White currant is an unpretentious plant. But to obtain consistently high yields, it is recommended to observe certain features.

Optimal timing and landing scheme

Autumn is ideal for placing shrubs with an open root system in the garden: late September - early October. If it is impossible to plant a bush in the fall, you can plant it in early spring (before the buds awaken).

Seedlings with a closed root system can be planted at any time (if the soil is sufficiently warm).

When planting several shrubs, it is recommended to take into account their habit.The branches of neighboring plants should not overlap. The average distance between plantings is 1 m.

Soil preparation and fertilization

Before planting the plant, it is recommended to prepare the planting hole in advance. It is done six months before the expected planting.

The size of the pit is 60 x 60 x 60 cm. The excavated soil is mixed with mature organic matter (a bucket of compost, humus). Then the soil is returned to its place and the hole is closed.

Before planting, it is recommended to deoxidize the soil (if necessary): add ash, fluff lime, and dolomite flour.

When planting, fill the hole with a complete mineral complex (potassium, phosphorus).

Technology for planting white-fruited cuttings

When growing white currants in open ground, it is recommended to perform proper planting. How to proceed:

1. First you need to inspect the seedlings. Remove damaged and dead roots. If the root system has dried out, it is recommended to soak the plant for 2 days in the Kornevin solution.
2. Leave 2-3 strong shoots, cut the rest at the base. Shorten strong shoots to 2-3 buds.
3. Lower the bush into the prepared planting hole, tilting it to the north at an angle of 45 degrees. Deepen the root collar by 2-3 cm. It should be planted this way for better root formation and active shoot growth.
4. Compact the soil around the plant and water it. Then mulch the tree trunk circle with peat or dried grass.

A correctly planted bush begins to grow quickly and bear fruit.

How to care for white currant bushes

For regular fruiting, white currants require proper care.

Bush processing

White currants are affected by pests and diseases. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out preventive spraying.

The first spraying is carried out in early spring, as soon as average daily temperatures become positive.Copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture or concentrated urea solution are used as a working solution.

Before wintering, it is recommended to spray the white fruit again. Processing is carried out in October. The weather is chosen to be calm and windless.

If it rains within 3 days after spraying, the treatment must be repeated.

Irrigation regime

It is necessary to maintain a hydration regime to obtain high-quality berries. Without sufficient moisture, the berries become smaller and dry out.

In summer, the bushes should be watered as the soil dries. The soil should become wet to a depth of 30-40 cm. It is convenient to water along the depressions made along the perimeter of the tree trunk circle.

After moistening and absorbing water, it is recommended to loosen the soil (to destroy the formed capillaries). Mulching the tree trunk circle allows you to reduce the number of waterings.

Sanitary and shaping trimmings

Formative pruning is usually carried out in the spring. But the white fruit is distinguished by weak scarring of sections. Long flow of sap in spring weakens the plant. Therefore, it is optimal to prune in the fall.

The bush is formed within 5 years. During this time, he should receive 20 skeletal branches of different ages. Every year 3-4 strong shoots are left, the rest are removed. It is not recommended to shorten the branches: this will reduce fruiting.

Sanitary pruning is carried out throughout the year (if necessary).

Regularity of fertilization

Beloplodka pleases with the harvest only if the bushes are regularly fertilized. In spring, the plant requires nitrogen. To do this, add a bucket of chicken manure or mullein infusion under every 2 bushes.

At the end of May, the bush is fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer. Application rate: 15 g per plant.

In humid summers, comprehensive foliar feeding gives excellent results. The bushes are sprayed with a fertilizer solution according to the instructions.

Row cleaning

White currant row spacing should be kept free of weeds. To retain moisture in the soil, the soil must be mulched with cut and dried grass, peat, and rotted sawdust.

Transfer

Mature bushes do not tolerate transplantation well. It is better to propagate the plant and plant a young bush in a new place.

Sheltering plants for the winter

The whitecap spends the winter without shelter. But in regions with harsh winters, it is necessary to ensure that the plant is completely covered with snow.

Characteristics of crop yield

Crop yield is one of the main indicators of a variety. Breeders are creating new high-yielding species. This indicator is related to when currants ripen.

Early varieties do not produce significant yields. Their value is to give berries when the rest of the fruits are just being poured.

Currants of mid-early, late and mid-late ripening are 20-25% more productive.

When growing white fruit on a plot, the gardener must be able to assess the real yield of the variety. Productivity is considered high when the variety produces 6 kg per plant. If a gardener collects from 4 to 6 kg of currants, then the yield is average. It happens that a summer resident gets 2.5-3 kg of berries from a bush. This is low yield.

It is recommended to compare the actual yield with that characteristic of the variety. If there is a significant difference, the rules for caring for the plant should be reconsidered.

Ways to propagate a bush

White currants reproduce quite easily. A novice gardener can do this.

By cuttings

With this method of propagation, preparation of planting material begins at the end of winter.1-2 year old semi-lignified cuttings are suitable for rooting. How to proceed:

• in February you need to cut cuttings (use only a healthy plant);
• treat the upper straight cut with wax or paraffin;
• treat the lower (oblique) cut with a growth stimulator (“Kornevin”);
• place the cutting in a jar of water so that the liquid only slightly covers the oblique cut;
• After rooting, the plants are planted in a school for growing.

In autumn, young bushes can be planted in a permanent place.

By layering

Reproduction by layering is the easiest way. An annual currant shoot is pinned to the ground and covered with soil. The top of the shoot is cut off. Flowers or ovaries are removed. The potential rooting site is regularly moistened.

At the end of the season the branch will take root. The bush is planted in a permanent place in the spring.