The variety of fruit and berry crops at their summer cottage is difficult to imagine without currant bushes. White, black and red varieties have a bright taste with a noticeable sourness. Berries are rich in vitamins and trace elements and are perfect for any kind of preservation. In addition to nutritional value, high resistance to major diseases found in horticultural crops is of value.

Among the variety of types of black currant, one can distinguish the variety - black currant Vologda. High dessert quality, coupled with the large size of the berries, make the variety especially attractive.

The history of the creation of the variety

Domestic breeders were engaged in breeding the variety in the early 90s. In 1995, the final name of the variety "Vologda" was recorded in the State Register, thanks to the works of V.M. Litvinov and A.N. Zarubin. The currant variety Vologda was obtained by hybridization of the known varieties Compact and Bredthorpe.

 

Currant Vologda

According to the recommendations, the variety is suitable for growing in the northwestern part of the Russian Federation, the Far East, in the central part and in the middle Volga.

Characteristics of the variety

The description of the Vologda currant variety is based on its characteristics. The first distinctive varietal feature is the spreading of the bush. The height of the bush ranges from 1.3-1.5 meters. A dense, medium-sized bush has thick light green shoots, the tops of which have a slight curvature. With lignification, the shoots are bent with a color change to gray-brown.

Medium to large leaves are divided into five lobes. The matte sheet plate is green with a bluish tint. There are slight wrinkles on the leathery surface of the leaves. The leaf is attached to the shoot with a medium-sized stalk of a bluish-purple hue.

Cup-shaped currant flowers Vologda medium size. The yellowish green flowers form a long raceme up to 10 cm in length. The brush is of medium density. The purple axis has no pubescence. The emerging buds look like a pink spindle without edges.

On average, 8-14 berries ripen on one brush. Fruits are black with a dense skin. The average weight of an individual berry is 1.7 grams; the fruits are large (up to 3 grams) located at the base of the brush.

Sweet and sour taste is due to the high sugar content (8.1%) with a low content of ascorbic acid (137 mg per 100 grams of berries). The berries ripen unevenly throughout August. When ripe, the fruits do not fall off, however, ripe berries may crack.

Vologda currant belongs to self-fertile varieties. This means that there is no need to plant other pollinating plant species nearby. You can get 3-4 kg of berries from one bush per season. Being fast-growing, the variety allows you to get the first full harvest in the second season after planting.

 

Vologda currant belongs to self-fertile varieties

Important! Due to the high strength of the immune system, Vologda currants are resistant to the main diseases of fruit and berry crops: powdery mildew, kidney mites and other pests.

Features of agricultural technology

For growing Vologda black currant, it is preferable to opt for moist soils. A shrub grows well in lowlands, provided there is no swampiness.

Note! With a close location of groundwater, it is necessary to form a hill for planting.

The currant is loyal to the lighting conditions.The variety grows more actively when located in a well-lit place, but it will feel good in partial shade conditions. Despite its tolerance to the composition of the soil layer, Vologda does not tolerate acidic and stony soils.

The distance between adjacent bushes should be at least 1.5 meters. When located next to a tree, the distance should be 2-2.5 meters.

You can plant a young plant both in spring and autumn. Moreover, in the autumn, it is better to plant a month before the onset of frost. When planting in spring, you need to wait for the ground to warm up.

The planting hole should be at least 40 * 60 cm. When placing the seedling, it must be installed at an angle to the soil level. Having carefully straightened the root system, it is necessary to cover the seedling with soil. For better survival, you need to add 40 liters of water for each bush.

Important! The inclined arrangement of the seedling is necessary for the faster formation of the lateral roots.

When preparing the planting pit, you will need to prepare a fertilizer mixture. To do this, mix 1: 1 compost with humus, 130 grams of superphosphate, 30 grams of potassium sulfate. This mixture will provide the plant with nutrients for the next 2 years.

Fertilization after the first two years is required twice a season. In the spring, the plant needs organic fertilizers, urea and superphosphate. After harvesting, in preparation for wintering, the bush should be fertilized with complexes containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Vologda currant bushes need rare but abundant watering. On average, one plant requires 40 liters of water. For better penetration of moisture to the root system, it is necessary to make grooves 10 cm deep in the soil, which are filled with water during irrigation. To prevent water spreading around the bush, you can build a roller.

Important information! For a prolonged effect of fertilizers, you can apply them to the soil surface, and then mulch. During each watering, some of the substances will flow to the roots and nourish the plant.

 

For prolonged action of fertilizers, you can apply them to the soil surface

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The advantages of the variety include:

  • high taste;
  • early onset of fruiting;
  • high level of productivity;
  • resistance to pathogens;
  • good winter hardiness;
  • adaptability to environmental conditions.

Among the disadvantages are:

  • volumetric dimensions of the bush;
  • ripening of berries scattered in time;
  • tendency to cracking the fruit.

Based on all of the above, we can say that Vologda currant is one of the popular varieties in Russia and, with proper care, will delight you with an abundant harvest of juicy berries.