Description and characteristics of Pygmy currant variety, planting and care

The black currant variety Pygmy is called one of the most successful achievements of domestic breeding of the last century. Possessing many advantages, it is in great demand both by summer residents and owners of personal plots, and by small farmers and agricultural organizations.

Pygmy currant selection

The variety was created at the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing (YUNIISK). The “parents” of Pygmy are varieties such as Karelian (Bredtorp is the Finnish name) and Seedling Golubki. The creator of the variety is V.S. Ilyin. Included in the State Register and approved for use in 1999.

Main advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of this variety are:

• large fruit;
• dense, crack-resistant skin;
• dessert (sweet) taste of ripe berries;
• frost resistance;
• drought resistance;
• high resistance to dangerous and harmful fungal diseases such as anthracnose and powdery mildew.

The only drawback of the variety is its average resistance to bud mite and white leaf spot (septoria).

Characteristics of the variety

The characteristics of this variety include a description of its appearance, yield indicators, resistance to low temperatures, droughts, timing of berry picking, their transportability and storage.

External descriptions of culture

An adult and fruit-bearing plant of the Pygmy variety is a compact bush 1.5-2 meters high, consisting of erect pale pink shoots. The leaves of this variety are large and deep green. The front part of the leaf blades is shiny, highly corrugated, the back is smooth, matte.

Flowering and yield

The main characteristics of the variety include a description of the timing and duration of flowering, ripening, harvesting of ripe berries, crop yield, transportability and storage of the harvest.

Flowers and pollination

The flowers of this variety are voluminous, pale green in color, collected in large clusters of 5-10 pieces each. Pygmy is a self-fertile variety that does not require pollinating insects. However, proximity to such varieties as Yadrenaya, Bagira, Luciya allows, with additional cross-pollination, to increase the yield of the Pygmy plantation by 10-15%.

Ripening time

The rapid ripening of the berries of this variety is observed in late June and early July. This process is delayed when it is cool at the beginning of summer, prolonged rains, strong hurricane winds, and prolonged drought.

How and when to pick berries

Collection is carried out in dry and warm weather, early in the morning (after the dew has disappeared) or in the evening. It is not recommended to pick berries during the peak heat of the day, after heavy rainfall. When the berries ripen smoothly, they are picked not one at a time, but in whole bunches. In case of uneven ripening, a large number of small and green berries in the clusters, they are picked off one by one.

To prevent the berries from being injured under their own weight, wide and shallow plastic containers are used for collecting and transporting them.

Transportability and storage of fruits

Ripe berries of the Pygmy variety are resistant to cracking. Thanks to this advantage, the berries, when picked correctly, can withstand transportation well over long distances. They also store well: fresh, in the refrigerator, their shelf life, on average, is 3-4 weeks, when frozen – up to 2 years.

Frost resistance and drought resistance

According to these two characteristics, black currant of the Pygmy variety has very good performance:

• healthy and mature bushes of this variety can withstand spring frosts down to -5-7 ⁰, and severe winter frosts down to -35 ⁰;
• The variety is resistant to prolonged droughts in the spring and autumn. This phenomenon has the most detrimental effect on the yield of the variety during the flowering and berry setting phases.

Thanks to these features, this variety can be cultivated both in the middle zone and in the more severe climate of Siberia.

Susceptibility to diseases and insects

The variety is highly resistant to powdery mildew, septoria, and leaf terry. Pygmy is relatively resistant to damage by diseases such as septoria. Among pests, this variety is relatively resistant to currant bud mite, aphids, moths, and moths.

Planting currant bushes on the site

When growing Pygmy currant bushes, it is very important to choose the right seedlings, select the most suitable location for the plantation, dig a planting hole, and carry out the planting process itself.

How to choose the right seedlings for planting

When choosing a seedling, you must be guided by the following requirements for the condition of its above-ground and underground parts:

• age - for planting, use well-formed two-year-old seedlings with 2-3 healthy shoots, without foliage, with healthy, non-swollen buds;
• the height and condition of the above-ground part are the most viable, and seedlings with an above-ground part 40-60 centimeters high and a shoot thickness at the base of at least 8 millimeters take root best;
• length and condition of the root system - to provide the above-ground part with the necessary nutrients, the root system of the seedling should consist of 4-5 roots, with a minimum length of 20 centimeters;
• condition of the shoot bark – the bark on the shoots should be healthy and not mechanically damaged.

Also, a sticker indicating the nursery and reproduction must be attached to the seedling.All requirements for blackcurrant seedlings are regulated by a document such as GOST R 53135-2008.

Drop off location

For this variety of black currant, choose well-lit areas located on hills with the following characteristics:

• soil type in terms of mechanical composition – cohesive sandy loam or well-drained light loam;
• the level of fertility is high, characterized by a humus content of more than 2%, available forms of phosphorus and exchangeable potassium - at least 180 milligrams per kilogram of soil;
• soil (ground) water level - no closer than 1 meter from the surface;
• acidity (pH) – 5.5-6.0.

All soil indicators of the selected area can be found out by paying a soil sample analysis at a local agrochemical laboratory.

Planting dates and technology

Pygmy sor seedlings are planted either in early spring or late autumn. In this case, the autumn period is more preferable, since a seedling that has taken root and overwintered will already begin to grow in early spring, and with normal care it will hurt less and begin to bear fruit faster.

Planting technology consists of the following stages:

1. Pre-planting soil preparation - the area is treated with general glyphosate-containing herbicides (Rainbow, Hurricane), dug up or plowed to the depth of the fertile layer.
2. Digging planting holes - holes are made in the selected area with a diameter of 50 centimeters and a depth of 40 centimeters.
3. Preparation of a mixture of organic and mineral fertilizers - to fill the hole, in addition to fertile soil, use a mixture consisting of 2 buckets of compost, 170 grams of simple superphosphate, 75 grams of potassium sulfate, 300 grams of wood ash.
4. Moistening the bottom of the hole - 10-12 liters of water are poured onto the bottom of the hole and lightly sprinkled with fertile soil.
5. Placement of the seedling in the hole - the seedling in the planting hole is placed strictly vertically or at an angle of 45 ⁰. The root collar of the seedling should be located 6-8 centimeters below the soil level.
6. Filling the hole - placing the seedling in the center of the hole, it is filled first with a mixture of compost and mineral fertilizers, and then with fertile soil.
7. Watering - after the hole is filled, a ring-shaped groove is made around the seedling, into which 8-10 liters of water are poured.
8. Mulching - after the moisture has been absorbed, the soil around the seedling is covered with a layer of mulch (peat, sawdust, humus) 5-7 centimeters thick.

The scheme for planting black currants using this technology (distance between plants x row spacing) is 1.5 x 2.5 meters.

How to properly care for shrubs?

Caring for a seedling consists of watering, fertilizing, tillage, pruning, protection from pests and diseases, and shelter for the winter.

Irrigation and fertilizing

Currant bushes are most demanding when it comes to watering during the following growth phases:

• flowering – formation of ovaries;
• ripening of berries.

During these periods, the bushes are watered 2-3 times a week. Also, abundant watering is carried out in case of moisture deficiency, insulating the bushes before winter (moisture-recharging watering). The irrigation rate in any of these periods should ensure that the soil under the bushes is moistened to a depth of 40-45 centimeters. On average, on sandy and loamy soils it is 25-30 liters of water per 1 adult bush.

During the first 2 years, young currants are fed only in early spring, before the buds open.In this fertilizer, 65 grams of ammonium nitrate or 45-50 grams of urea are added in dry form to each bush. Urea must be sealed by loosening.

Fruiting bushes over 3 years old are fed with nitrogen fertilizers 2-3 times per season:

1. In the spring (before buds open) - at this time, fertilizing is done on moist soil with ammonium nitrate in a dose of 65-70 grams of ammonium nitrate per 1 bush.
2. During the green ovary phase, currant bushes are fed during this phase with a urea solution (50 grams of fertilizer per 10 liters of water) or dry ammonium nitrate at a dose of 70 grams per 1 bush.

Phosphorus and potassium are added every year, during the autumn digging or loosening of the soil, in the form of 210 grams of simple superphosphate and 70 grams of potassium sulfate per 1 bush.

Soil care

Soil care on a currant plantation of this variety consists of the following operations:

• early spring loosening to a depth of 10-12 centimeters;
• summer loosening and weeding near bushes to a depth of 5-10 centimeters;
• autumn digging of row spacing and loosening of the soil near the bushes to a depth of no more than 10 centimeters.

When using mulch, summer loosening is not performed.

Trimming and shaping

In the first 3 years, to give the bush the required shape, height and productivity, formative pruning is performed:

• 1 year – the aerial part is shortened at a height of 20 centimeters (cut at the level of 3 buds);
• 2nd year - lateral branches of the 2nd order are shortened at the level of buds 4-5;
• 3rd year - thin out the root shoots, removing shoots that thicken the bush.

In subsequent years, the bush is pruned 3 times:

1. In spring, cut off all shoots and side branches damaged by frost, rodents and wind.
2. In summer, when foci of aphids and viral diseases are detected, the affected shoots are removed at ground level, and then immediately burned.
3. In autumn, all unripe annual, broken, creeping and old shoots growing inside the bush are removed from the bush.

A properly trimmed and formed bush should consist of 15-20 shoots 2-3 years old.

Preventive treatment against pests and diseases

To control pests (bud mites, aphids, moths and moths), the following insecticides are used:

• Kinmiks;
• Preventative;
• Fitoverm;
• Tanrek for aphids.

Against fungal infections, bushes are treated with fungicides such as:

• Bordeaux mixture;
• Topaz;
• Byleton;
• Thiovit Jet.

Currants are treated against pests in early spring and during the period of mass appearance of pests. Fungicidal treatments are carried out when more than 5% of the leaf surface is damaged by pathogenic microorganisms.

Protection from winter cold

To protect against frost, after the leaves have fallen, in late autumn the bushes are carefully prepared for the upcoming cold as follows:

1. Pruning is done by removing old, broken, immature shoots.
2. They apply mineral fertilizers, dig up row spacing, and loosen the soil around the bushes.
3. Water the bushes.
4. Healthy stems are collected in bunches of 3-4 pieces, wrapped in agrofibre and, bending to the ground, pressed down with bricks.
5. The shoots insulated in this way are additionally sprinkled with a layer of earth 4-5 centimeters thick.

Currant bushes prepared and insulated in this way can withstand frosts down to -40 ⁰.

Reviews of the Pygmy variety

Reviews from summer residents and owners of personal plots testify to the popularity and numerous advantages of this variety.

Oleg:

“Very good variety.I’ve been growing it in my summer cottage for 7 years now, and I don’t regret the work I spent on it. I collect up to 5 kilograms of large and sweet berries from one bush. I not only freeze the harvest and use it for various homemade preparations, but also sell it. There’s no end to buyers.”

Anastasia Pavlovna:

“Of all the varieties of black currant that grow in my dacha, Pygmy is the most productive and unpretentious. Its berries are very tasty and large. In addition to jams and preserves, my picky city grandchildren eagerly eat it fresh. In general, I recommend this variety to all fellow gardeners and gardeners.”

Stanislav:

Pygmy is my favorite blackcurrant variety. Its beautiful bushes, reaching 2 meters, produce a harvest of sweet and very large berries, which are well suited for various preserves and for fresh consumption. I recommend it to all summer residents who are tired of looking for a universal variety.”