Description and characteristics of the currant variety Izyumnaya, planting and care

The pride of every amateur gardener is the Izyumnaya blackcurrant. Sweet one-dimensional fruits, densely seated on branches and sometimes reminiscent of cherries in size, are a characteristic feature of this variety.

History of selection of currant Izyumnaya

In the second half of the 20th century, American powdery mildew from gooseberries affected black currants. The spheroteka spread throughout Europe, and then Russia. To combat this scourge, research began. Scientists have concluded that inbreeding of samples increases disease resistance in donor varieties. At the same time, new sources of immunity are identified.

Thus, from the family of Goliath and Seedling Black, selection number 12-173 appeared - a source of immunity against powdery mildew (spheroteca). With the participation of this number, a complex hybrid of 37-5 and the Golubka Seedling was created - the Izyumnaya variety. The author is the outstanding Soviet and Russian scientist A. I. Astakhov (1931-2007).

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Izyumnaya blackcurrant variety is endowed with both positive and negative qualities.

Advantages:

• drought- and frost-resistant;
• resistant to bud mite and powdery mildew;
• resistant to air temperature changes;
• does not crumble until autumn;
• easy to care for;
• dessert fruits, honey-sweet.

Flaws:

• poorly resists septoria;
• Difficult to propagate from tree cuttings.

Description and characteristics

Black currant has always been a popular berry in Europe and Russia.

Appearance of the bush

The currant bush is neat, upright, and in its mature stage reaches a height of no more than one and a half meters. The crown consists of branches of different ages. Mostly fresh growth bears fruit.

The leaves are entire, alternate, graceful three-lobed, edged with teeth. The surface is rough and even green in color.On the reverse side of the leaf there are glands that create an extraordinary currant aroma when the leaf is rubbed on the fingers. The currant roots have a fibrous structure and reach a depth of 35 cm.

Flowers and fruits

The five-petalled ovaries (up to 11 pieces) of the Izyumnaya currant, when blooming, create a fragrant cluster of flowers of a pale yellow hue. Flowering is early - in the first third of May. Under unfavorable weather conditions or improper care, unpollinated ovaries fall off.

The fruits are round, large, black, without shine. If good care and favorable weather conditions coincide, they reach a weight of 3.3 g. They ripen almost simultaneously and do not fall off for a long time. The berries taste sweet, honey-sweet, with an amazing currant aroma.

Productivity and fruiting

The genetically declared large-fruitedness of the Izyumnaya currant manifests itself only if the mandatory agrotechnical growing conditions are observed during setting and flowering.

The berries become noticeably smaller as the branches age and differ in size in different soil and climatic zones.

Also, the number of berries in a bunch depends on various factors:

• level of self-pollination;
• the presence of bushes of a different variety in the environment;
• weather conditions before and after flowering, when due to drought or heat some of the ovaries fall off.

Currants bear fruit for up to 15 years. In good years (usually the sixth year), up to 2.5 kg can be removed from the bush. On an industrial scale, the average yield is 11.2 t/ha (1.71 kg/bush), the maximum is 13.6 t/ha (2.0 kg/bush).

Where are raisin currants used?

Currants are consumed in their natural form; they are also good as raisins, not immediately picked from the branches. At home, fruit drinks, juices, jelly desserts, marmalades, tinctures, liqueurs are prepared.To preserve its beneficial properties until the next season, currants are frozen, dried, and preserved using gentle methods.

This is a powerful antiscorbutic, antipyretic and appetite stimulant. Black currant supports the immune system, delays aging, and helps in the treatment of heart disease, skin diseases, and diabetes.

On an industrial scale, high-quality fillings for confectionery products, syrups, extracts, wines, liqueurs, and dry jelly are produced on its basis. In the vitamin industry, raisin currants are used in the production of vitamin C concentrates and preparations.

Drought and frost resistance

Black currant Raisin is drought-resistant and is successfully grown in arid areas. It easily survives frosts down to -39 C. The flowering and fruiting temperature of this variety is 20-25 C.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests

Not afraid of bud mites and powdery mildew. The least of the studied analogues resists septoria. Pests have to be dealt with in a general manner.

Landing Features

Timing of planting work

It is best to plant black currants of the Izyumnaya variety in the fall: in the north of the country - in the third ten days of September, in the southern regions - in October and November. The bush will take root before frost, and in the spring it will already receive the necessary nutrition.

In the spring - as the soil condition allows and before the buds open, there will be little time - the plant should have minimal time to take root before the growing season.

Deciding on a place

The most suitable soil for Izyumnaya currants is loose sandy loam or loam. Swampiness and high soil humidity are unacceptable. In acidic soil, the berries become smaller and the harvest is not satisfactory. The place for planting currants is chosen to be sunny, well-lit, usually along a fence or path.

Ventilated areas are excluded. Northern and north-eastern winds are especially destructive.

Preparing the beds and plot

The beds must be built observing the above conditions. Places for planting seedlings should be prepared in advance.

When planting Izyumnaya currants at a distance of up to 2 m between the bushes, the berries will become larger in size and will surprise you with their aroma. The taste of currants will be sweeter, and the harvest will be higher; accordingly, the bushes will delight with harvests longer.

1. If the soil is fertilized, superphosphate, wood ash and urea mixed with soil are added to the hole in a ratio of approximately 200:350:45.
2. We treat the depleted soil in advance, digging it deeply with the addition of manure, ash and potassium-phosphorus fertilizer.

Selection of seedlings

It is necessary to critically evaluate the condition of the plant:

• there should be no traces of mechanical damage or rot on the roots;
• shoots – not damaged by pests, healthy, flexible;
• the foliage is elastic, without spots and other possible signs of disease.

Sapling planting technology

Guide to action:

• prepare recesses with sides about 50 cm with a distance from each other of at least 1.5-1.8 m;
• add a mixture of superphosphate and humus to the loose soil at the bottom of the hole;
• cover with 10 cm of soil;
• Place the currant roots, pre-soaked for about 4 hours, at an angle of 45 degrees into the recess and straighten them;
• fill the roots and root collar of the seedling with soil 7-8 cm;
• lightly trample the soil around the trunk, water and mulch;
• In the spring, additionally trim the branches to 3-4 buds and water the seedling as needed.

Reproduction of the Raisin bush

Experienced gardeners recommend the method of propagating Raisin currants by regrown cuttings to amateur gardeners. To do this, just press the currant twig to the ground with a hairpin and fall asleep.When the cuttings take root, the cuttings and roots are cut off and planted.

You can propagate Raisin currants by dividing the mother bush.

Organization of competent care

Irrigation and fertilization

Currant Raisin is drought-resistant. But for a good, large harvest, the soil must be moistened abundantly. It is preferable to water in the evenings. Then - mulching. The crowns of the bushes themselves, due to the lack of rain, need irrigation twice a week.

Experienced gardeners know the secret to getting large berries: water the bushes generously in the spring, but be even more careful when the buds are swelling. They need increased humidity in the air at this time. Using a hose with a divider, you will solve this problem easily, and the currants will gratefully respond to care at the end of the season.

Immediately after planting, young bushes do not need fertilizing, but later in the spring, 45 g of urea will significantly affect the yield.

During the period of active fruiting, currants need feeding: when setting berries - a good bucket of solution, complex, mineral fertilizer for a large bush. After harvesting, you should feed the plants with superphosphate and a glass of ash.

Experts recommend covering the bushes with humus at least once every 2 years, followed by adding soil.

Loosening the soil

The Izyumnaya currant variety, like any garden crop, requires loose soil. It must be maintained throughout the season. It is important not to damage the roots close to the surface by loosening. Loosening is not needed if the tree trunk circle is lined with mulch.

Bush formation

• The general rule for forming a bush is to leave 3 new shoots every year, cutting off 2 buds from each.
• In the first season, young shoots are pruned to 3 buds.
• In the following years, each of the remaining 3 young shoots is shortened by 2 buds.
• In addition, in the 3rd and 4th seasons, last year's branches are cut back by 10 cm to stimulate branches.
• Branches five years old and older are pruned close to the trunk.
• Then, every year, the old ones are cut out, leaving the same number of young ones.
• After 10 years, the bush is divided and replanted.
• A good mature currant bush should have 10-15 strong main branches of different ages.

Shelter for the winter

Raisin currants practically do not require shelter, only in case of frosts over 39˚C or:

• young bush up to 2 years old;
• recovered from an illness or dropped its leaves early;
• in anticipation of a snowless or very frosty winter.

Preventative treatments

To prevent diseases and pests in the garden, the following is required:

• timely pruning to prevent thickening of branches;
• burning cut damaged branches;
• digging up row spacing in late autumn to destroy pests that have prepared for winter;
• Early spring treatment of each branch with boiling water before flowering.

You can collect more onion and garlic peels in winter and scatter them under currant bushes in the spring: they will not be afraid of many common misfortunes.

Why don't currants bear fruit?

1. Not enough sun.
2. Acidic soil.
3. There is not enough moisture during the budding period.
4. Reversion is a disease in which fruiting stops.
5. The butterfly is a glass glass.
6. Wood ants eat away the inside of the flower, leaving empty sepals.
7. Soil salinity, even the slightest.
8. Excess fertilizer.
9. Grows in thickets of garden trees.

Reviews from gardeners about culture

Kriulev Yu.P., test gardener from Nizhny Novgorod

Gardeners would like to pay special attention to the Izyumnaya currant variety.The variety has excellent taste (4.7-4.8 points), is resistant to diseases, and has good winter hardiness. It does not fall off when fully ripe, but gradually dries out on the bush, as if “raisinizing,” which is where it got its name.

Sergey Chudopalov, gardener-varietal tester:

The Izyumnaya variety is even better. It's much sweeter. This variety is early, but the berries adhere so firmly to the branches that they can hang withered until winter if birds do not peck them. Their high sugar content (10-12%) makes them resemble raisins, hence the name. In addition, Izyumnaya is winter-hardy, resistant to powdery mildew and bud mite.