Content
Late Altai currant is a Russian variety, known for more than 20 years. It has a pleasant taste and produces a stable harvest. The main fruiting occurs at the end of July - beginning of August, for which the variety got its name. The crop is unpretentious, tolerates frost well, grows normally even on depleted soils. Therefore, almost any gardener can cope with cultivation.
History of selection
Altai Late is a blackcurrant variety bred by Liliya Nikiforovna Zabelina on the basis of the Federal Altai Scientific Center for Agrobiotechnologies. The culture was obtained on the basis of the varieties: Klussonovskaya, Slozhnokistnaya and Seyanets Golubki.
The application for admission was submitted in 1997. The variety was included in the State Register in 2004. Currants are recommended for cultivation in regions with unfavorable climates:
- Western Siberia;
- Eastern Siberia;
- Ural.
The name of the variety is associated with a later ripening period compared to most other varieties.The Altai late harvest begins in early August.
Description of the Altai late currant variety
The currant bush is medium-sized (130–150 cm), with straight shoots. Young branches are light green, over time they become fawn, with a glossy surface. The shoots are thin, the thickness is average. The buds are pinkish, small, ovoid, on a short stalk, arranged singly.
The leaves of the Altai late currant are five-lobed, light green in color, tender, without roughness. There is a small notch at the base of the leaf, with small sharp teeth along the edges. The petioles of the leaf blades are thin and long, light in color, forming an acute angle (30 degrees) with the shoots.
The flowers are small, the sepals are scarlet and crimson in color. Petals are deflected, cream-colored. The clusters of Altai late currant are thin and long, each of them contains 6–13 berries. The stalks have slight pubescence and are of medium length.
Main characteristics of berries:
- rich black color;
- large – 1.1 to 1.2 g;
- round shape;
- there is a tubercle in the area of the stalk;
- tear off dry (the pulp does not remain on the branch);
- the number of seeds is small;
- grain size is medium;
- the skin is elastic and thin.
The Altai late variety is valued for its pleasant taste and stable yield.
The taste of currant berries is pleasant, with pronounced sweetness and a characteristic aroma. The fruits contain the following components:
- dry matter – 9.2%;
- sugar – up to 8.0%;
- acids – up to 3.4%;
- vitamin C – up to 200 mg per 100 g;
- pectin – 1.1%.
Characteristics
The Altai late variety was specially bred for the climatic conditions of the Urals and Siberia. Therefore, currants are unpretentious; they tolerate frosts and temperature changes well during the warm season. If you follow the basic rules of cultivation, it gives a stable harvest that does not depend on weather conditions.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The Altai late currant variety is winter-hardy and can withstand Siberian frosts below -35 °C. The crop has average drought resistance, so in the hot season it is necessary to ensure regular weekly watering.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Late Altai currant is a self-fertile plant, and therefore does not require pollinators or group planting of other varieties. Flowering occurs in the second half of June - early July (total duration 10–14 days). The harvest ripens at the end of July, the main wave of fruiting occurs in the first ten days of August.
Productivity and fruiting
The yield is quite high: on average, 2.5–2.8 kg of tasty berries are collected from a bush. The variety can also be grown on an industrial scale: the yield per hectare is 8–9 tons. Fruiting later - early August. Harvesting can be done manually or mechanized.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The Altai Late currant variety is often affected by powdery mildew; this problem is observed when grown in the Central region. The plant is resistant to major diseases and pests: anthracnose, columnar rust, septoria, bud mite.
When affected by powdery mildew, all affected shoots are removed, after which several treatments are carried out at intervals of 7–10 days.
As a preventative measure, it is recommended to spray the bushes with fungicides in early spring. For this, effective drugs are used (one to choose from):
- Bordeaux mixture;
- "Topaz";
- "Fitoverm";
- "Skor";
- "Maksim".
When insects are detected, insecticides are used:
- "Biotlin";
- "Decis";
- "Confidor";
- "Aktara";
- "Match" and others.
Late Altai currant bushes are treated with a solution of ash and soap, an infusion of tobacco dust, chili pepper, onion peel, mustard or a decoction of marigold flowers.
Advantages and disadvantages
The variety is valued for its high yield, pleasant taste, winter hardiness and unpretentiousness.
Late Altai blackcurrant produces large and tasty berries with a pleasant aroma
Pros:
- the yield is high and stable;
- the taste is harmonious;
- the berries are strong and keep their shape;
- convenient to assemble manually and mechanically;
- good winter hardiness;
- resistance to a number of diseases and pests;
- undemanding to soil composition;
- self-fertility.
Minuses:
- may suffer from powdery mildew;
- bushes need preventive treatment.
Features of planting and care
Currants of this variety are grown on any soil. But if the soil is depleted, then in the fall, when digging, add humus or compost in the amount of 5–7 kg per 1 m2. If the soil is clayey, it is recommended to add sawdust or sand at the rate of 500 g per 1 m2. The area should be sunny and protected from the winds, for example, along a fence.
Planting is carried out in the second half of April or early May. The standard algorithm is to dig several holes 50–60 cm deep with an interval of 1.5–2 m.Plant a late Altai currant seedling at an angle of 45 degrees, deepen the root collar to a depth of 3–5 cm, water well and mulch with peat, humus, sawdust or other materials.
During cultivation, follow a few simple rules of care:
- Watering weekly, in drought - 2 times more often. Water is used from settled tap water or rainwater.
- In hot weather, it is advisable to spray the crown in the late evening.
- Starting from the second season, fertilizers are applied. In April, give 1.5–2 tbsp. l. urea for each bush. In June-July (flowering phase) they are fed with superphosphate (50 g per bush) and potassium sulfate (40 g per bush).
- After watering, the soil is loosened.
- Weeding is done as needed.
- Young bushes are covered with burlap or agrofibre for the winter. The branches are first bent to the ground and tied. You can simply cover it with material and secure it with a rope at the base, as shown in the photo.
Young Altai late currant seedlings are recommended to be insulated for the winter
Conclusion
Late Altai currant is a variety suitable for cultivation in almost all regions of Russia: from the middle zone to Eastern Siberia. Even with minimal care, the bushes produce a fairly high yield. The berries are sweet and have a pleasant taste. They can be used both fresh and for various preparations (jams, fruit drinks, preserves and others).
Reviews with photos about the Altai late currant variety
