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Currants have always been one of the most popular berries, and the variety of existing varieties makes it possible to choose according to local conditions. Currant Dachnitsa is one of the successful hybrids, as evidenced by the description of the variety, photos and reviews.
The Dachnitsa variety was obtained by Siberian breeders by crossing two varieties with similar characteristics, and was zoned for cultivation in the Volga-Vyatka region and in the north-west of the country.
Characteristics of the variety
Currant Summer resident produces low compact bushes of medium density with green, hairless shoots. Lignified branches take on a grayish-brown color. The green, five-lobed leaves are slightly bronzed. Each bush is capable of producing up to 1.5 kg of ripe berries. Despite the early ripening, the harvest is harvested in several stages, which allows you to have fresh berries before later varieties appear.
Currant Black Summer resident produces large berries weighing from 2 to 5 g and are characterized by:
- round-oval shape;
- delicate, thin skin;
- dark blue, almost black, color;
- aromatic sweet pulp - their sugar content is 9.3%;
- high tasting score - 4.6 points out of 5 possible;
- early fruiting - fruiting begins in the third year after planting;
- early ripeness - already in June you can harvest the first currant crop;
- versatility of application;
- frost resistance;
- good yield.
Currant Dachnitsa, as evidenced by the description of the variety, also has minor drawbacks - under the weight of the berries, the bushes bend strongly, and overripe fruits fall off.
Site selection
When planting currants, it is important to choose the right site. It should be open and well lit. A little shading does not prevent the bushes from developing, if you do not overdo it. Currants grow well in fertile, loose soils; light loams are the best choice. However, with proper care, it can be grown on poorer soils. They are pre-enriched with humus and mineral fertilizers, and acidic soils are limed.
Young seedlings of the Dachnitsa variety should not be planted in an area where currants and gooseberries previously grew, since the soil becomes depleted over time and harmful substances accumulate in it. Since the Dacha currant is moisture-loving, low-lying areas protected from the winds would be a good option. But there should be no stagnation of water, otherwise the plants will die.
Planting seedlings
The area chosen for currants must be leveled and dug up, thoroughly cleared of weed. Holes 40 cm deep are located at a distance of one and a half meters to provide each bush with an optimal feeding area.The holes are filled three-quarters full with a mixture of fertile soil and complex fertilizer. You can plant black currant Summer resident in the spring, but seedlings take root faster and develop better in the fall, around mid-October. During the winter months, the soil around the seedlings will settle, become well compacted, and in the spring the bushes will begin to grow.
After planting, currant seedlings are watered abundantly and mulched. The currant root system is located close to the soil surface, so it needs to be provided with sufficient moisture. Mulching helps preserve it, thereby reducing the frequency of watering.
Reproduction methods
Reviews from summer residents indicate that the currant variety Dachnitsa reproduces well vegetatively - using layering, cuttings or dividing the bush.
Preparation of cuttings
Cuttings can be taken from woody or green shoots. You can start harvesting them in early autumn. Young green cuttings of the current year take root especially well. A well-ripened shoot is cut into cuttings 20 cm long. The cuts should be oblique. They are deepened into the soil in an inclined state, leaving 2-3 buds above the surface. If you follow the care recommendations, they quickly take root and by next spring they will be ready to be transplanted to a permanent place.
Rooting by layering
When propagating the currant variety Dachanitsa by layering, reviews from gardeners recommend choosing a healthy mother bush, characterized by higher fruiting and large berries. The procedure should be carried out in the spring, before the leaves appear:
- a shallow groove is dug next to the bush in a radial direction from it;
- clean it of weeds, fertilize and moisturize it;
- They select the longest shoot on the bush, bend it to the ground and place it in this groove;
- fix it in the groove using wooden slingshots, after cutting off the top to stimulate the remaining buds;
- sprinkle the shoot with moist, loose soil, and when the soil dries, periodically moisten it;
- shoots growing from the buds are spud, leaving their tops open;
- the procedure is repeated until the groove is completely filled with earth;
- You should not stop watering, loosening and removing weeds until the fall, when the roots have completely taken root.
Around mid-autumn, rooted cuttings can be dug up. They are carefully, as shown by the description of the variety and photo of the Dachnitsa currant, cut into pieces and planted in a permanent place.
Dividing the bush
At propagation of currants by cuttings or by layering, it takes root faster and begins to bear fruit. Dividing the bush is usually done when replanting currants into a new area in autumn or spring. The bush is completely dug up and lightly shaken off the ground. By carefully examining the entire bush, you can identify places where it will be easier to divide it into parts. Each part must have strong shoots and developed roots.
At the same time, all old or damaged shoots and roots must be removed, and young branches should be cut to 20 cm. Parts of the plant are planted in a new place, in pre-prepared holes and watered abundantly. New bushes will begin to bear fruit only after a year, when they have recovered from the resulting stress.
Berry garden care
The rules for caring for black currant summer resident are quite simple according to the description and consist of carrying out timely procedures for watering, pruning, and preventive treatments.
Bush pruning
Systematic pruning of black currants allows you to maintain the stability of yields and increases the period of fruiting. It is required:
- to stimulate the growth of young shoots;
- removing old diseased branches;
- pruning of five-year-old shoots that no longer bear fruit, but consume nutrients and water;
- sufficient aeration of the bush and eliminating the likelihood of fungal diseases and the formation of shoots of different ages.
Pruning should be carried out starting from the first year after planting currants, during a period when there is no sap flow - late autumn or early spring. It should be taken into account that black currant Dachnitsa, according to reviews, does not form tall and spreading bushes. In order to get a voluminous bush, after planting, cut off all the shoots, leaving 3-4 buds on them.
The next year, from the numerous young branches, a few of the strongest ones are left, which do not interfere with each other. Their tops are pinched at the beginning of summer to form new side shoots. Further pruning consists of:
- in removing dried or diseased branches;
- eliminating thickening by pruning excess shoots;
- pinching annual shoots;
- shortening 2-3-year-old shoots to 4 buds.
Organization of watering
Lack of moisture negatively affects the development of currant bushes of the Dachnitsa variety:
- they slow down their growth;
- the fruits become smaller;
- harvest decreases;
- bushes can freeze in winter.
The currant root system is located close to the surface, so it needs moisture, especially during active development:
- during the flowering period;
- formation of ovaries;
- fruit ripening;
- after harvesting, before wintering.
In dry seasons, currants need to be watered abundantly every week - up to 2 buckets for each bush. It is better to pour water into circular grooves dug at a distance of 20-30 cm from the stem. On hot days, it is recommended to spray the leaves of the Dachnitsa currant with water.
Disease Prevention
The Dachnitsa variety is quite resistant to powdery mildew and some pests, but without preventive treatments the entire harvest may be lost. To counter their negative effects, you need to:
- carry out regular inspection of the bushes and removal of all affected parts of plants - leaves, buds, twigs, followed by their destruction;
- in early spring, before the soil thaws completely, hot dousing the bushes with a watering can is useful - it will destroy pests under the bush and protect against powdery mildew;
- during bud break, treat the bushes with Bordeaux mixture;
- before flowering, spray with tobacco infusion;
- Treatments with soap solutions with ash or dry mustard will help against aphids.
Reviews from gardeners and summer residents
Conclusion
The Dachnitsa currant variety is quickly gaining popularity due to its merits and is spreading far beyond the borders of Siberia, where it was bred.
