How can you rejuvenate black and red currants and improve the harvest?

Currant bushes that grow for several years eventually reduce their yield and need to be treated. By using one of the ways to rejuvenate black currants, you will be able to restore fruiting and the appearance of the plants.

Why is rejuvenation performed?

The rejuvenation procedure is carried out for a number of reasons.In particular, the need to revive old plants arises in the following cases:

• the bushes have been exposed to disease or infestation of harmful insects;
• the foliage has grown greatly and creates obstacles to the growth of nearby plantings;
• the plants are not formed correctly, which is why they develop inadequately and bear little fruit;
• some shoots are too long and spread out on the ground;
• currants grow in one place for more than 5-6 years, bring a small harvest and the berries become smaller in size;
• the root system is damaged.

Renewing plants by shaping and removing old branches improves aeration and light exposure to the berries. As a result of processing, resistance to environmental negative factors increases.

How to renew a plant without transplanting

There is a way to rejuvenate an old bush without transplanting it to a new place. To do this, it is necessary, on the eve of the first frost, to thoroughly loosen the soil around the plant and remove old branches, debris and cuttings of shoots. This will help get rid of pests that live in the soil.

Regular pruning is also a prerequisite for the rejuvenation of bushes.. First of all, remove damaged branches and those located in the lower shaded part. Undeveloped annual shoots and branches that bear little harvest should also be removed. The ends of the branches that are left on the bushes are pruned to powerful stepsons in order to enhance growth and increase productivity.

When to rejuvenate currants - in spring or autumn?

Currant bushes can be restored in early spring, before the buds swell, or in the fall, after waiting for all the foliage to fall. It is most advisable to improve the health of plants in the spring, since damaged shoots that will need to be removed are clearly visible.With the onset of warmth, active sap flow begins in the plants, the bushes rise in height, so it is important to have time to cut off the affected parts.

Basic Rules

When wondering how to renew currants, it is important to consider a number of basic rules. Including:

1. It is better not to cut off all unproductive branches at once in one season. It is more correct to do this gradually in order to completely renew the bush in a couple of years.
2. If there are no new powerful shoots on the plants, the bushes can be pruned in different places. It is allowed to remove strong old branches in places where the growth of new stepsons is expected.
3. When replanting red or black currant plants, the area where the old bush grew needs to be treated with a disinfectant solution and fertilized.

Preparing tools

To prune and restore currant bushes, you will need a standard set of tools, including garden shears, pruning shears and a small hacksaw. The blades on the tools should be well sharpened, which will simplify the work process and avoid damaging the branches. After forming each planting, it is necessary to treat the cutting edge with a disinfectant solution.

Step-by-step instructions for the procedure

When rejuvenating bushes, you should follow a series of steps step by step. In the process of plant formation, it is worth following useful recommendations from experienced gardeners in order to increase the yield and restore the ability to bear fruit.

Tips on how to rejuvenate red currants

First, you need to inspect the plantings and decide whether minor pruning or radical rejuvenation will be carried out. Red currants up to 7 years old should be rejuvenated gradually, over 2-3 years. In this way, the bushes will temporarily produce a small harvest, but at the same time they will get rid of old branches.When pruning, it is advisable not to leave elongated stumps and sprinkle the cuts with wood ash.

In the case of radical pruning, the plantings are cut off almost completely, which applies to plants aged 8-15 years. In late autumn or spring, after the snow melts, the above-ground part is cut off, leaving 3-4 cm, after which it is treated with a growth stimulant to produce new shoots.

Rejuvenation recommendations for black currants

When growing a large number of blackcurrant bushes, it is better to resort to an annual rejuvenation scheme. To do this, you need to visually divide the bushes into 4 parts and completely cut them off a quarter once a year. Thanks to this approach, old and unproductive branches will be removed with each pruning, and the plants will remain young, producing a large and stable harvest.

As an additional measure, you can cut off some of the strong and healthy shoots and root them in a new place for propagation.

Rejuvenation of neglected bushes

It is possible to completely restore neglected plantings only within a few years. Plants can be shaped during each season to gradually eliminate excess foliage and old branches, which will increase the intensity of fruiting and the quality of the harvest over time. If there are healthy branches, it is easier to root them in a new place and start growing a new currant bush.

A simpler way is to cut the plantings to almost zero. After this, the stumps are intensively fed with nitrogenous fertilizers during the spring to form new shoots. It is enough to grow 5-6 shoots, which over time will form a full-fledged bush.

How to rejuvenate a currant bush and improve the harvest

The yield rate is directly affected by the condition of the plants, so it is necessary to form them regularly. Removing damaged and old branches, as well as trimming thickened foliage, ensures good ventilation of green spaces and opens up access to natural light.

Caring for the bush after pruning

Once the plants have formed, it is necessary to constantly care for them in order to obtain a stable harvest and improve the taste characteristics of the berries. In summer, the restored bushes begin to actively grow, new stepsons are formed, among which you need to select the 4-5 most powerful ones and cut off the rest. You must also adhere to the following care rules:

• the soil under the bushes is regularly inspected and weeds are removed;
• several times during the season, nitrogenous fertilizers and organic matter (sawdust, ash, humus) are added to the soil;
• water the soil as it dries, avoiding excessive moisture and drought;
• Having detected signs of damage by diseases or harmful insects, they are sprayed with fungicidal and insecticidal preparations.

Possible mistakes

Many novice gardeners often make common mistakes when trying to rejuvenate currants. Common mistakes include the following:

1. Pruning only the top part of the plants, which leads to improper formation, thickening of the foliage and crushing of the berries.
2. Not deleting old branches that seem productive. The left shoots continue to absorb nutritional components and do not allow new shoots to develop.
3. Violation of the recommended terms of formation, due to which the plants die when exposed to cold weather.

By avoiding these mistakes, you will be able to grow healthy plants and constantly receive large harvests.Proper rejuvenation and comprehensive care are the key to good yield and high taste of berries.