Description and characteristics of the Viksne currant variety, planting and care rules

Red currants are valued by Russian gardeners for their pleasant taste and the presence of beneficial microelements. It contains many vitamin elements. However, breeders do not often develop new varieties of this berry. The newest variety known today is Viksne currant, bred in Latvia. Viksne currants can often be found in Russian vegetable gardens.

Variety selection

The variety was bred by Latvian breeders at the Ogre fruit and vegetable station, which is engaged in the creation of new types of berries. Researchers Zvyagina and Viksne took part in the selection. The variety was obtained from seed material of the Varshevich variety, characterized by an unusual fruit color.

Description of the hybrid

The berries can be red or light. The difference between them lies not only in color, but also in taste characteristics. Bushes with light berries do not belong to a separate subspecies. This is a normal albino.

Bushes

The branches of the bushes are spreading and have a height of 100 to 150 centimeters. The shoots are thick and brownish in color. The buds are small, oblong and slightly deviated from the shoot.

The leaves include 5 lobes, a wavy edge, and are greenish in color. The plate is straight, slightly pubescent in the lower part. The teeth are ordinary, blunt, crenate-type. The flowers are standard, reminiscent of a saucer of great depth. They are located on large brushes, growing up to 110-160 millimeters in length. The sepals are light, with lilac-colored stripes.

Berries

The average weight of the fruit is 700-900 milligrams. They are round, slightly elongated, with noticeable veins. The berries smell pleasant and have a sweet and sour taste. Gardeners' rating is 4 points. The pulp contains some seeds. The skin is thin and has high strength.

If you plant the bushes in September, then by the summer season the fruits will be suitable for consumption.Flowering begins in late spring, and berries can be picked in mid-summer. Productivity – up to 10 kilograms of fruit from one bush. Typically, gardeners collect about 6 kilograms of berries from one bush.

Advantages and disadvantages

Viksne has the following advantages:

• resistance to low temperature conditions. The bushes easily tolerate cold even without shelter;
• resistance to drought conditions and temperature changes;
• good yield;
• resistance to anthracnose;
• pleasant taste;
• lack of tendency to shedding.

The disadvantages of the variety are as follows:

• susceptibility to red gall aphids;
• decrease in yield due to freezing of buds;
• deterioration of taste characteristics due to non-compliance with irrigation rules;
• inability to store fruits for a long time.

Varietal features

Viksne is a mid-early variety with high yield. It is resistant to cold, common diseases and pests.

Cherry currant

Cherry currants are universal. It can be eaten fresh, frozen and processed. Since the fruits contain a lot of pectin, they can be used to make jam and preserves. Dark red fruits are used to reduce heat and prevent inflammation.

White Viksna

From light berries, gardeners make homemade wine that has an excellent taste. The juice from them quenches thirst and contains elements that help normalize blood clotting. The fruits are also used to prevent heart attacks.

Characteristics of culture

The berries are picked together with brushes. If you tear the fruits from the branches, their skin may become deformed. Currants can remain on the stalk for a long time without deteriorating their appearance and taste.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests

Vixne is resistant to most known diseases and pests, but is often affected by red gall aphids.

Resistance to low temperatures and drought

Currants tolerate dry weather well (remember to follow the watering rules). The sudden onset of cold weather will not cause much harm to the bushes.

Ripening period and yield

The berries ripen in summer. From 1 hectare it is possible to obtain about 17 tons of berries. This is a pretty good indicator.

Transportability and use of berries

Viksne currants are not intended for long-term storage. At the same time, it is considered a transportable variety. The fruits can be used for preparing homemade dishes (jelly, mousse) and for medicinal purposes (prevention of cardiovascular diseases, lowering temperature).

How to plant a variety on a plot

If you follow key agrotechnical standards when planting bushes and properly care for them, you will be able to harvest a large harvest of berries.

Timing of planting work

The best time for landing is September. The time reserve before the arrival of severe cold should be 14-21 days. During this time, the plant will be able to take root. The ambient temperature during disembarkation should not be less than 6 degrees.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

Planting material must be purchased from reliable suppliers. Seedlings must have normally developed roots, strong and woody branches. There may be cracks in the bark. The bark may peel off in some places; this is normal.

Preparing the site

When choosing a place to plant currants, remember the following:

• the site should be open, have access to the sun and protection from cold winds.The plant can be grown in partial shade, but Viksne will never grow in full shade. The best option is to plant near a hedge;
• the ground should be slightly moistened. Do not plant currants in wetlands. Groundwater should not be located closer than 0.8 meters to the surface;
• It is better to plant Vixna in light, sandy or loamy soil;
• The planting area should not have any unevenness.

Landing technology

Before you begin to root the planting material, inspect it and trim off parts that are dry or damaged.

The landing algorithm is as follows:

1. Digging trenches or holes 400-450 millimeters deep and wide. The distance between plants should be at least 150 centimeters. If you plant bushes closer to each other, their growth will slow down.
2. Fill the recesses 2 thirds with the prepared mixture. The mixture includes 1 part humus, 2 parts peat or compost, 0.25 kilograms of superphosphate, 60 grams of fertilizer with potassium. You can add a little wood ash.
3. Water the hole with 5 liters of water.
4. Straightening the roots of the planting material.
5. Lowering the seedlings into the recesses at an angle of 45 degrees.
6. Covering bushes with soil. The root collar needs to be deepened by 60 millimeters.
7. Lightly compact the soil around the bushes, watering abundantly with water that has settled.
8. Shortening shoots. On each of them you need to leave a maximum of 4-5 buds (150-200 millimeters from the earth’s surface).

The ground around the plants needs to be mulched. This will prevent moisture from evaporating quickly.

Seasonal Care Basics

Although Viksne is an easy-to-care variety, it still needs to be looked after. It is required to follow the rules of irrigation, fertilizing and formation of shrubs.

Regular watering

Currants need to be watered every 3-4 days. Bushes especially need irrigation when they bear fruit and bloom. Water must be poured onto the trunk circle of the bushes (2-3 buckets per 1 plant).

Fertilizing bushes

Vixna is fertilized 2 times. Before the fruits begin to ripen (in the spring or early summer), nitrogen fertilizers (urea, ammonia nitrate) are used. After flowering, the plants are fertilized with bird droppings and cow manure. In the autumn season, when the soil is dug up, fertilizing with potassium and phosphorus is used. Vixne is highly sensitive to chlorine elements, so it is better not to use fertilizers that contain chlorine.

Formative pruning

Mature shrubs do not require constant pruning. However, every spring it is necessary to get rid of branches that are damaged or withered.

Protection from winter cold

Despite the fact that this type of currant is considered winter-hardy, young shrubs must be covered for the winter. In addition, it is necessary to mulch with hay or straw. If there is heavy precipitation during the winter season, you need to pour snow into the depression near the trunk and compact it.

Reviews from gardeners about culture

Next, you can see what gardeners think about Viksna currants.

Tatyana, Moscow

“I have been growing Vixne for a long time for myself and for sale. I was attracted by the versatility and unpretentiousness of this type of currant. The fruits are large, strong, practically without seeds, and have a marketable appearance. I grow bushes with cherry berries. Once a year, around the beginning of May, I spray the plants with a special aphid repellent.”

Victor, St. Petersburg

“2 years ago I purchased planting material for Viksne. I liked the color of the fruit and the excellent taste.Now I make simply delicious fruit drinks and juices every year. I collect about 6 kilograms of berries from each bush. Unfortunately, last year the bushes began to bloom very early, which caused freezing. Not all the clusters were set, so I didn’t collect as many fruits as I would like.”

Viksne currant contains a large amount of vitamins and other microelements. If you properly organize activities for fertilizing and caring for shrubs, you will be able to regularly harvest a large harvest.