Content
Currant Romantika (Perezvon) is one of the reliable chokeberry varieties. This species is characterized by large fruit size, excellent taste and early ripening. Therefore, many gardeners prefer to grow it on their site. But in order to achieve the desired results when growing Romantica currants, it is necessary to study not only its strengths, but also its weaknesses.
Currant Romantika is suitable for small garden plots
History of selection
This blackcurrant variety was bred at a breeding station located in Sverdlovsk. Its author is considered to be senior researcher T.V. Shagina. Romance was obtained as a result of free pollination of the Leningrad giant currant. Subsequently, attempts were made to improve the characteristics of the resulting seedling. As a result, a resistant variety was formed, which successfully passed tests and was entered into the State Register in 2004. It is recommended for cultivation in the Volga-Vyatka region.
Description of the currant variety Romantika
This type of crop is characterized by a low-growing, medium-spreading bush with a sparse crown. Young shoots are initially erect, green in color, with a slight anthocyanin tint, 0.7-1 cm in diameter. As they mature, they noticeably thicken, become lignified and acquire a brown-gray tint. There is no edge on the branches of the Romantika currant.
The buds of this variety are large, with a blunt tip, deviated from the shoot. They are solitary and located opposite on the branches. The leaf scar has a rounded wedge shape.
The leaves of the Romantika currant are three-lobed. The surface is matte, wrinkled. The central part is wide triangular with a pointed end. It has additional protrusions and is slightly longer than the others. The lateral lobes are wide and directed to the sides. The basal parts of the leaf are underdeveloped. At the base of the plate there is an open heart-shaped notch of medium size. The teeth on the leaves of Romantika are large. The petiole is long, thickened with anthocyanin, attached to the branches at a right angle.
The flowers are large, with bent round petals. The sepals are freely arranged and colored creamy pink. The fruit clusters of the Romantika currant are short and thick. Six to ten berries are formed on each of them. The peduncle is short, brown-green in color, thickened.
Currant Romantika is characterized by large fruits with a regular round shape. The average weight of the berries varies between 4-6 g. When ripe, they become uniformly black. The skin is thin and dense. When eaten, it is felt, but only slightly.The pulp is juicy and contains a moderate amount of seeds. The taste of the fruit is sweet with a slight amount of sourness. The harvest is suitable for fresh consumption and further processing.
The berries of the Romantika currant are densely packed in the cluster
Characteristics
When choosing this variety, you must first study its characteristics. This will allow you to properly care for the bush and get a good harvest.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
Currant Romantika exhibits resistance to short-term drought without loss of commercial qualities. But with a long absence of precipitation, it needs regular watering, especially during flowering and ovary formation.
The shrub easily withstands frosts in winter down to -28 degrees. In this case, an adult plant does not need special shelter.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Black currant Romantika - medium ripening period. The shrub blooms in late May - early June, depending on weather conditions. This period lasts 5-10 days. This variety is self-fertile within 70%. The berries ripen at the end of July.
Productivity and fruiting
Romance is one of the high-yielding species. From one adult bush you can collect 3.5 kg of marketable berries. The shrub begins to bear fruit from the second year after planting, and shows maximum productivity in the fifth year. The fruits stay in the cluster for a long time, do not fall off or become smaller. The crop easily tolerates direct sunlight, so burns on the skin do not appear.
Fresh berries can be stored for three days in a cool, dark room. The crop can easily be transported in 5 kg boxes.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The Romantika currant variety exhibits resistance to common crop diseases. But it can be affected by the kidney mite at low air humidity and high temperature. Therefore, experienced gardeners recommend timely preventive treatment of shrubs with fungicides and insecticides. This will keep your immunity at a high level.
Advantages and disadvantages
Blackcurrant Romantika is one of the new modern species that have many advantages. But it also has certain disadvantages that need to be taken into account.
This variety is medium ripening
Main advantages:
- high yield;
- large berry size;
- excellent taste;
- self-fertility;
- frost resistance;
- marketability;
- versatility of application;
- immunity to diseases.
Flaws:
- dense fruit clusters;
- susceptibility to kidney mites;
- breaking of bushes under excessive load.
Features of planting and care
It is recommended to plant black currant Romantika in early spring or autumn. In the first case, the soil should warm up to a depth of 20 cm, and the daytime temperature should be kept at +9 degrees. Under such conditions, the shrub will quickly take root without wasting energy on the growing season. Autumn planting should be done at the end of September, but leave at least three to four weeks before frost. Delaying the deadlines can negatively affect rooting and lead to the death of the shrub.
Caring for this variety involves following standard rules. In the absence of rain for a long time, watering should be carried out with settled water, wetting the soil by 10 cm. The frequency of moistening is twice a week. However, when the berries are ripening, irrigation should be stopped to prevent them from becoming watery.
Romantic currants need to be fertilized twice per season. To do this, organic matter should be added in the spring, and phosphorus-potassium mineral mixtures should be used during the formation of the ovary.
Throughout the growing season, you need to regularly fertilize the weeds and loosen the soil in the root circle. This allows you to maintain soil aeration and nutrients in it.
For this variety you need to choose sunny, open areas.
The first three years after planting, the Romantika currant seedling needs to be insulated for the winter. To do this, in late autumn, lay mulch at the base of the bush, and wrap the crown with spandbond in two layers.
Every spring, the plant should be cleaned of damaged and broken branches. And at the age of six years, the Romantic currant needs to be renewed. To do this, the entire bush should be cut off at the base. It takes one year to restore it.
Conclusion
Currant Romantika is a modern variety of crop, when grown you can get a stable high yield with minimal care. Therefore, many gardeners can already find it in their garden plots. The advantage of this species is that it has compact bushes, so they do not require much free space.
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