About the history of creation

Currants, especially red ones, are a real storehouse of vitamins. In addition, this shrub serves as a decoration for the site. Novice gardeners often face the problem of which variety to choose. You should pay attention to Viksne currant. This hybrid is the result of the experience of Latvian scientists T. Zvyagina and A. Viksne. The starting material was Varshevich currant seeds. In the late 90s, the berry was included in the State Register and recommended for cultivation in the North-West and in the Black Earth Region of Russia.

Culture characteristics

The Viksne variety is divided into 2 types: red (cherry or pomegranate) and white. All their characteristics are almost the same, only the color and taste of the berries differ.

Viksne white currant is a red albino, or varietal subspecies.

Cherry currant, the description of the variety of which is worth considering carefully, can grow up to one and a half meters. Shoots of a brownish-gray shade, sometimes even black, have a straight shape. The buds are small, oblong. The leaves are wavy, deep green, five-lobed.

Flowers are saucer-shaped, medium. Blossom on 15 cm tassels. Sepals are striped and pale.

Appearance of the variety

The berries are distinguished by a slightly elongated rounded shape and the presence of pronounced veins. They taste sweet and sour, which is pleasantly refreshing in the heat. One fruit can weigh up to 0.9 grams. Bones come across in the pulp. After ripening, the berries do not crumble. But it is recommended to collect them without tearing them off the brush, so as not to damage the skin.

The cherry subspecies is dark red, resembles in color a cherry or pomegranate grain, which is why it is often called pomegranate. White actually has a yellowish tint. This is where the differences between garden beauties end. Otherwise, their characteristics are the same.

Important! Viksne red currant contains a large amount of pectin, which removes toxins from the body. Also, this species is considered the richest in vitamin C.

Viksne is a currant with high yield and frost resistance. It belongs to medium early varieties, it is resistant to diseases and parasites.

Both varieties bear fruit 2-3 years after planting. By planting the plant in early autumn, you can achieve the first harvest in the summer. True, there won't be much of it, about 2 kg per bush.

Cherry currant usually blooms in May, and by July the berries are ripening. The shrub gives maximum fruit at the 6th year of its life. On average, the yield of Viksne reaches 7 kg per bush. Although under favorable conditions, you can collect up to 10 kg of berries. In other words, 1 hectare of crop can bring 17 tons of crops.

Agrotechnics

It is best to plant a seedling in early October or late September. Young currants need to have time to get stronger and take root before the cold comes. Therefore, the margin of time should be 2 to 3 weeks. Ideally, if the air temperature at the time of landing is not lower than +6 degrees. Shoots will appear in the spring, and by July you can count on the first harvest. This shrub can also be planted in spring. The main thing is to be in time before the swelling of the kidneys. But in this case, the berries will appear only in the second year.

Much attention should be paid to the seedling that you plan to plant. It is best to give preference to a two-year-old bush. It already has developed roots, and the branches are stiff and strong. If cracks are visible in some places on the bark, that's okay. This is normal. The main thing is that there are no young shoots and leaves.

The next important stage is the preparation of the site. Several rules must be followed:

  • The landing site should be sunny and protected from the winds, preferably near a fence or any other hedge;
  • It is imperative to choose the soil moistened, but not swampy. Groundwater should be at least 80 cm from the top layer of the earth;
  • The soil is necessarily sandy loam or loamy, light and slightly acidic, otherwise the currant root system may weaken, this will lead to a decrease in yield or even the death of the crop.

Clearing the land of weeds

Before planting Viksne currants, it is necessary to clear the area of ​​weeds and roots. Then dig up the ground so that the moisture is better absorbed. By the way, this method also optimizes aeration. These manipulations need to be done several months before the planned landing. If planting work is carried out in the spring, then it is better to prepare the land in the fall.

It is worth considering in more detail the subtleties of planting Cherry currant:

  1. To begin with, recesses are made in the ground, about half a meter. The distance between the seedlings is approximately 1.5 m;
  2. Prepare a nutrient mixture by mixing humus and peat in a 1: 2 ratio and adding 250 g of superphosphate and a little potassium. Wood ash will not hurt;
  3. Then this mixture is poured 2/3 into the well;
  4. Don't forget about water. When planting, about 5 liters will be needed for each hole;
  5. After watering the hole, you need to spread the roots of the seedling and lower it into the ground at an angle of 45 degrees;
  6. Fill the hole and lightly press down the soil near the roots;
  7. Shorten currant shoots to 15 cm (about 5 buds should remain);
  8. Mulch to retain moisture.

For good development, one correct landing will not be enough. You need to know how to care for currants. Vyksne variety belongs to unpretentious plants. The shrub will have to be watered every 3 days, especially during flowering and berry formation.

Important.Also, be sure to remove weeds regularly. This is the only way to protect the crop from aphids and soil clogging. It is optimal to loosen the soil around the shrub, but do not damage the roots.

As for feeding, it is done three times. The first time - before flowering (with urea or ammonium nitrate), the second - during the formation of berries (usually bird or cow droppings), the third - during the autumn processing (potash and phosphorus mixtures).

Many currant varieties need to be pruned, among other things. Viksne does not belong to them. It is enough just to remove the injured and dry branches in the spring.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any garden plant, Viksne currant has its strengths and weaknesses. The advantages that distinguish this variety from others include the following:

  1. The variety in question, regardless of whether it is a white subspecies or red, can withstand extremely low temperatures even without additional cover;
  2. Viksne currant is able to do without moisture for a long time and easily adapts to climate change, air temperature;
  3. The harvest is always plentiful and pleases not only the eye, but also the taste;
  4. Ripe berries do not fall off and do not lose their attractiveness and aroma.

Unfortunately, the culture is not immune to some disadvantages:

  1. Exposure to reddening of leaves as a result of aphid infestation;
  2. A slight decrease in yield is possible due to early maturation of the buds. Unexpected frosts can harm delicate fruits;
  3. With prolonged drought, the berries become small and acquire a sour taste;
  4. Fresh berries cannot be stored unchanged for a long time - currants quickly deteriorate.

Knowing a few of these tricks, any gardener will be able to grow an amazing pomegranate cultivar culture on his site.