Description of black currant variety Leningrad Giant, its planting and care

In temperate climates, the black currant variety Leningrad Giant bears fruit well. This plant loves sun and watering. The variety is self-pollinating, but in the presence of pollinators growing nearby (other mid-early varieties), the yield increases significantly. Currant bushes require little care and grow well without human intervention. It is true that under supervision, productivity improves.

Description and characteristics of currants

The Leningrad Giant (giant) variety was specially bred in the USSR in the 70s for cultivation in regions with a temperate climate. Obtained from pollination of Stakhanovka Altai with currant pollen Exhibition and Non-shattering. Authors of the variety: Glebova and Potashova. The berries are sweetish (7% sugar) and slightly sour (high in vitamin C).

Distinctive features of the Leningrad giant:

• the taste of the berries is dessert (sweet and sour);
• ripened fruits do not fall off the branch;
• the berries are round, black, shiny, with thin skin;
• the pulp is juicy;
• fetal weight - 2.2-5 grams;
• on one brush - 8-13 berries;
• yield per bush - 4.5 kg;
• the beginning of fruiting - in the second year after planting;
• ripening period - mid-summer.

Description of the variety:

• bush - spreading, upright, 1.6 m high;
• branches - pubescent green young shoots and woody grayish-beige adult shoots;
• leaves - 5-lobed, matte, vesicular-wrinkled;
• buds - pink, oval;
• flowers - pale red, large;
• clusters are of medium length, contain 6-13 fruits;
• ripe berries are black, round, large, with a dry detachment.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Pros:

• large fruits;
• dessert taste;
• good frost resistance;
• do not crumble after ripening;
• retain their shape for a long time;
• do not wrinkle during mechanized cleaning;
• are rarely affected by diseases and pests.

Minuses:

• low self-fertility (barren flower - 50%);
• to increase productivity, planting mid-early pollinating varieties is required;
• branches often break under the weight of berries (a garter is needed);
• in spring flowers are affected by frost;
• Prevention from diseases (powdery mildew) and pests is required.

Features of growing the Leningrad giant

Currant seedlings of this variety can be purchased from any agricultural company that grows and sells plants. Usually young bushes with clusters of berries are sold in plastic cups (with a closed root system). You can buy germinated seedlings from April to October.

After purchasing, a young bush with 2-3 shoots (40-50 cm high) must be immediately planted in the ground using the transshipment method (without destroying the earthen ball around the roots).

Selecting a location

This variety loves a lot of light and warmth. In a shaded area, the berries will be sour and small. It is advisable to plant young bushes in a place protected from the wind, for example, near a building or fence. A hole is prepared for planting, a hole 0.5 meters deep is dug, and the composition of the dug soil is improved. You cannot plant bushes under the roof slope and in wetlands. The distance to the neighboring plant is at least 1 meter.

Planting stages

A seedling germinated in a container is immediately planted in a prepared hole using the transfer method (without destroying the earthen ball). Planting of young bushes can be done from April to October. The faster the plant takes root, the better it will survive the winter.

Instructions for planting a seedling:

• dig a hole 0.5 meters deep;
• mix the excavated soil in equal proportions with peat and sand;
• add humus (0.5 buckets), lime (100 grams), ash, mineral fertilizers (50 grams each), fungicides and insecticides;
• pour part of the soil mixture into the hole;
• place a seedling on top (roots with a lump of earth);
• fill the roots and root collar with the remaining soil mixture;
• pour 1 bucket of water under the bush.

Plant care rules

The variety does not need constant attention. True, during the dry period it is better to water the bush, otherwise the berries will be small.In early spring you can get rid of old branches. For the winter, the bush is insulated with humus and fallen leaves.

Watering, fertilizing

Currant bushes need additional watering only during dry periods. The plant needs to be watered in the spring, during flowering, in the first half of summer, when the berries ripen, and also in late autumn, before wintering.

Fertilize the bushes 1-2 times a year. In early spring, the ground around the bush is watered with a solution of potash and phosphate fertilizers. In late autumn, the tree trunk circle is fertilized with humus.

Garter, trimming

Bushes are pruned only in early spring, before the buds awaken. The tops of the branches are not touched; clusters of berries grow on them. Trim old shoots with cracked bark. Such branches bear fruit poorly and take away nutrients from the plant. Be sure to cut off diseased, dry, rotten shoots.

Frost protection, preparation for winter

It is better not to trim branches before wintering. Pruning weakens the plant. Before winter, the bush can be watered generously. It is recommended to insulate the trunk circle with humus and dry leaves. In winter, it is advisable to constantly add snow under the bush.

Diseases and pests

The variety has excellent innate immunity. In unfavorable areas, prevention from diseases and pests is desirable. In the spring, the tree trunk circle can be disinfected with a weak solution of Bordeaux mixture, and the shoots can be whitened with slaked lime. During the growing season, fungicides are used (Skor, Topaz). Spraying is carried out a month before harvesting. Insecticides (Iskra, Actellik) save you from pests.

Reproduction methods

A currant bush growing on a plot can be propagated in several ways. It is better to start propagation in the spring in order to get a young seedling by autumn.

Examples of currant propagation:

1. By layering. In spring, woody branches growing on the sides of the bush bend to the ground. A light soil mixture is poured into the middle of each shoot. The top of the branch is left outside. Throughout the summer, the ground above the bent shoot is watered. The branch takes root and turns into a seedling. In the fall, the young bush is separated from the mother plant and transplanted to a permanent place.
2. Lignified cuttings. In the spring, a two-year-old branch is cut from a bush and divided into cuttings 10-20 cm long. The branches are placed in a glass with water, a growth stimulator (Kornevin) and a plant with a well-developed root system (chlorophytum). After 1-2 months, the cuttings will have roots. The branches are planted in cups with soil and watered regularly. The grown seedlings are transplanted into the garden.
3. Dividing the bush. In autumn, the old bush is carefully dug up and divided into several (2-3) parts. Each division should have a root with basal buds and 3-4 shoots. The separated parts are planted in a permanent place.

Harvest and storage

The berries are collected as they ripen. Harvest usually occurs in mid-summer (July). Collected currants are stored in a cool, dark place for 1-3 months. Jams, jams, and juices are made from the berries. Currants can be frozen. After defrosting, the berries do not lose their taste and shape.