Characteristics and description of the Dachnitsa currant variety, features of planting and care

Black currants used to be very popular among gardeners. Delicious berries were used to make compotes, jams, and pie fillings. It then fell out of favor because it suffered greatly from pests and diseases. Today, the berry is successfully regaining its lost positions; many modern varieties have appeared that give excellent yields. Currant Summer resident is one of such successful works of breeders, and we will talk about it.

A little about the history of the Dachnitsa variety

A modern variety of domestic selection was developed by the Siberian Horticulture Research Institute.

The variety was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2004. The hybrid was obtained by crossing 2 varieties: Blueberry seedlings and Bredtorp currants. The group of breeders consisted of Knyazev, Ogoltsova, Bayanova and Zotova. The result of the work was a blackcurrant variety suitable for areas with the harsh Siberian climate. The summer resident grows well in the Urals and the Far East, does not like heat and tolerates frosts down to -30 ° C.

Description and characteristics of culture

Black currant is a very popular berry in Russia; it is especially valued in the northern regions for having a large amount of vitamin C and useful microelements. The berry is used to make wines and liqueurs, consumed fresh, in the form of preserves, compotes and jams.

Blackcurrant leaves have long been added to tea and various pickles to add a piquant taste and aroma. The berries contain a high content of potassium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and other trace elements. They contain a lot of pectin, so the berries make a delicious jelly.

Currants are widely used in folk medicine as a general tonic for vitamin deficiency, as a diuretic and expectorant.

Bush, shoots, root system

The Dachnitsa variety has low-growing, not too dense, compact bushes with bright green, not pubescent and shiny shoots.Mature woody branches lose their shine and turn gray-brown. The bush has small five-lobed bright green leaves that darken over time, and a not very powerful root system. The fibrous roots correspond horizontally to the radius of the bush and go 20-40 centimeters deep.

Flowering and berries

The plant blooms in the middle or end of May (depending on weather conditions), blooms with inconspicuous yellowish flowers, similar to clusters of bells. Each brush contains 6-8 small flowers. At the final stage, the flowers become cherry-purple.

Dachnitsa belongs to the early varieties and is characterized by high sugar content of berries. Tasting rating of the fruit – 4.8 points out of 5. The fruits ripen in June, the berries are large, blue-black in color, with a thin skin. They taste sweet; the sourness characteristic of currants is practically absent. The oval, shiny berries lose their shelf life if you miss the picking time. The summer resident will be pleased with the first harvest 3 years after planting.

Features of currants

Modern varieties of currants, including Dachnitsa, are resistant to diseases and pests; the bushes, with their compact size, provide a high yield; they also have other advantages.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests

The modern blackcurrant variety, Dachnitsa, was bred for several specific purposes. The main task for breeders was to obtain a plant resistant to various types of infection. The variety turned out to be highly resistant to any type of infection, and has average resistance to pest damage. The summer resident can be damaged by moth caterpillars and glass. In this case, the currants are sprayed with Karbofos or Fufanon.

Resistance to low temperatures and drought

The variety can withstand temperatures down to -30 °C.Young plants suffer greatly from drought. Mature currants of this variety become resistant to lack of moisture, but still do not like the southern regions too much.

Ripening period and yield

Summer resident is an early ripening variety. The harvest can be harvested at the end of June. Each compact young bush produces up to 2 kilograms of berries. The peak of fruiting occurs in the 5-7th year of the plant’s life. The bush bears fruit for up to 15 years; with age, the berries become smaller and the yield decreases. The variety is self-fertile, but planting 2 blackcurrant bushes next to each other will ensure stable fruiting and improve yield.

Transportability and use of berries

The summer resident is characterized by the friendly ripening of berries. They are well transported if they do not have time to overripe. If necessary, the harvested crop can be stored at +4 °C for several days.

Berries do not lose their taste characteristics during shock freezing. Used for home and industrial production of fruit drinks, preserves, jams. Very tasty and aromatic when pureed with sugar.

How to plant a summer resident on a plot

In order for the currant bushes to take root well, produce a good harvest and not suffer from diseases, it is necessary to follow several rules when planting Summer Residents on the site.

Selecting a location

For Summer Residents, choose light, fertile and well-drained neutral soil.

Tip: soil with high acidity must be deacidified; lime or wood ash is suitable for this.

Young bushes are planted in sunny areas; currants tolerate partial shade well. Areas where raspberries, gooseberries, and sea buckthorn previously grew were not allocated for currants. This allows you to protect young seedlings from diseases characteristic of berry bushes. Currants should not be planted under fruit trees and in lowlands; they do not like waterlogged soil.

Recommended planting times

Young currant bushes are planted in open ground either in the fall - after harvesting, while the days are still warm, or in the spring - after the soil has warmed up. Autumn planting is preferable because the bushes become more hardy.

Important: bushes must be planted in warm weather, in September, when autumn frosts are at least 3 weeks away. During this time, the seedlings have time to adapt to the new location.

In spring, bushes are planted after the soil has warmed up. Moist soil promotes better rooting of seedlings.

Preparing the plot and seedling

Varietal seedlings should be purchased from trusted suppliers; you must familiarize yourself with the product certificates.

They must have a strong root system; 2-3 skeletal roots and a large number of branched lateral roots are required.

When selling, the roots should be moist, without rot, and the branches should be elastic, with dense healthy bark, 30-40 centimeters long. You should pay attention to the condition of the buds when purchasing a seedling. If the buds are dry, you should choose another specimen.

For planting, choose flat or slightly sloping areas, in the sun or partial shade. Plant pits are placed at a distance of 2-2.5 meters from each other. Usually several currant bushes are planted on the site. Currants do not like crowding. If it is planted in rows, there should be at least 1.5 meters between the bushes in the row, and the row spacing should be 2-3 meters.

A hole for a currant seedling needs to be 60 centimeters in diameter and 50 centimeters deep.

Landing technology

It is better to prepare holes for planting in advance to ensure soil shrinkage.A drainage layer of small pebbles is poured onto the bottom of the hole, the hole is filled 2/3 with humus, adding 200 grams of wood ash.

When planting a Summer Resident, you should:

• inspect the roots, remove damaged areas with pruning shears;
• if complex mineral fertilizer is used during planting, it must be mixed with the soil to prevent burns to the roots;
• place the seedling in the hole at a slight angle to provoke the growth of new shoots;
• the root collar is placed 5-6 centimeters below the level of the planting hole;
• Carefully fill the hole with soil and compact it;
• water at the rate of 0.5 buckets per seedling.

The planting is mulched, and during autumn planting it is hilled up high to protect the roots from freezing.

Seasonal care for currants

Further, the development of the bush and productivity depend on the care of the plantings.

Irrigation of bushes

Blackcurrants are watered depending on the weather, usually once a week or a week and a half, 3 liters of water are used for each bush, the berry does not tolerate overwatering. It is better to water in the evening; the moisture will saturate the bushes overnight. When filling the berries, watering is stopped to avoid cracking of the fruit.

Loosening the soil

Currant roots are located close to the surface, so loosening must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system.

Fertilizer application

In the spring, azofoska is applied under each bush. The fertilizer is simply mixed with the soil. Then the plant is watered every 10 days with plant infusion, humus diluted in water.

Formative pruning

It is carried out in early spring. Remove dried and frozen branches, cut off diseased areas. Eliminate shoots growing inside the bush to prevent thickening. For pruning, use a clean and sharp garden tool.In addition, the Summer Resident needs a garter - the branches bend strongly under the weight of the berries. Tie up immediately after trimming; It is convenient to use special hoops for shrubs; they can be found in gardening stores.

Cold protection

Covering helps protect berry bushes from frost. The branches are divided into bunches. They are carefully bent to the ground and tied to pre-prepared pegs, wire, or hoop. The bush is mulched using sawdust, spruce branches, and fabric covering material. Snow is piled on top to insulate the plant.

How to propagate a bush

Currants can be propagated independently; this can be done by cuttings, layering or dividing the bush.

By cuttings

Cuttings are made with green cuttings, 10-15 centimeters long. Each one requires 3-4 buds. The cuttings are placed at an angle in open ground, and the plantings are periodically weeded and watered. In autumn, the grown bushes can be planted in a permanent place.

By layering

The soil is first loosened, fertilized and a furrow is made. A currant shoot is placed in it, carefully bent. Secure with staples (wooden or metal) to press the branch tightly to the ground. Cover with a thin layer of earth. After emergence, the shoots are spudded, and in the fall they are divided, producing independent plants.

Dividing the bush

This method is used when replanting a plant. The mother bush is dug up and, using an ax or sharp shovel, divided into several parts, each of which must have a good root system and shoots.

Old and diseased branches are cut off with pruning shears, leaving young growth. Plants are transferred to the desired location.

Reviews about culture

Anna, 41 years old

“I love currants, I remember from childhood this unique taste of berries pureed with sugar, spread on a fresh loaf.I wanted to plant a sweet variety on the plot. I imprisoned the Summer Resident and did not regret it. The berries are large, sweet and aromatic. The harvest is good. It needs to be replanted often, it degenerates quickly, but this is the only drawback.”

Olga Nikolaevna, 56 years old

“I uprooted all the old currants - they have grown a lot, but there are no berries. I took 2 Dacha bushes from a neighbor, and I couldn’t be happier. Unpretentious, tasty. I don’t spray it with anything, my grandchildren eat it straight from the bush; It ripens early, when there is still little greenery. It helps a lot."