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The history of such a berry as black currant begins in the tenth century. The Kyiv monks were the first to cultivate the berry bush; subsequently, currants began to be grown in Western Europe, from there it has already spread throughout the world. One can talk endlessly about the benefits of blackcurrant and its extraordinary taste: one thing is clear - every dacha must have at least one bush of the sweet berry. One of the oldest and most popular varieties among the population is Perun, which does not lose its position even with the advent of the newest hybrids and varieties. The advantages of this variety are considered to be high yield, unpretentiousness and excellent taste. There are also some nuances that are better to find out at the initial stage of cultivation.
Photos, reviews and descriptions of the Perun currant variety are given below. This article will talk about all the features of this crop and the rules for its cultivation.
Characteristics of the species
The Currant variety Perun is the brainchild of domestic breeders, it was bred by A.I. Astakhov back in the 90s. Since 1995, Perun has been included in the State Register and recommended for cultivation in the Central and Central Black Earth regions.
Description of the Perun variety:
- black currants with medium-late ripening - the berries ripen from the end of July to the first half of August;
- the bushes are medium-sized, but spreading and dense;
- young shoots are light green, slightly pubescent;
- growing shoots are slightly curved;
- leaves are three-lobed, dark green, wrinkled;
- the buds on currant shoots are weakly colored and covered with short fluff;
- Perun's inflorescences are bisexual, so currants are considered self-fertile (other varieties of crops are not needed to pollinate flowers);
- the flowers are very noticeable, large, red-violet in color;
- clusters of medium length, each with from 5 to 11 fruits;
- Perun berries are large, their average weight is 2 grams, there are specimens weighing 4 grams;
- the shape of the fruit is round, regular, the peel is shiny, black;
- The commercial attractiveness of currants is high;
- the berries are picked dry - the fruits are not damaged during picking, so they do not flow or wrinkle;
- Perun's tasting scores are very high - 4.9 points (out of a possible 5);
- the aroma is pleasant, strongly pronounced;
- currants have average immunity to powdery mildew, bud mite, anthracnose; Perun bushes are almost never affected by aphids;
- The plant has good frost resistance - the bush will withstand a temperature drop of up to -25 degrees without shelter;
- Perun is not afraid of returning spring frosts; its flowers tolerate short-term drops in temperature;
- blackcurrant yield is high - up to two kilograms per bush;
- the crop is suitable for long-term storage and transportation;
- This variety of blackcurrant can be propagated in any way (by dividing the bush, cuttings, layering).
Advantages and disadvantages
Photos of Perun currants will attract any summer resident - the berries are large, glossy, and approximately the same in size. It is not surprising that this old variety is still relevant, because Perun has many advantages, such as:
- balanced taste and strong aroma;
- ease of reproduction;
- high productivity;
- resistance to common diseases and pests;
- good frost resistance;
- the ability of flowers to self-pollinate and tolerate return frosts normally;
- suitability for long-term storage and transportation;
- universal purpose of currant berries.
Perun is disliked mainly by those farmers who grow currants for sale. Although this variety pleases with its stability, high yields and excellent taste, the size of its fruits is not the same - and this is something that buyers do not really like and spoils the presentation of the product.
Another nuance is the strong dependence of the size and quality of berries on weather conditions. For example, in a dry summer, Perun’s harvest will be worse, the berries themselves will be smaller, but the taste of the fruit will be sweeter and richer.
Agricultural technology and its features
The Perun variety cannot be called capricious - this blackcurrant will require no more care and attention than any other. But you shouldn’t forget about the great relationship between yield and climatic characteristics of the region, weather in a particular season, and soil type. The quality of berries strongly depends on the listed indicators.
Planting shrubs
Very often, summer residents complain about the poor survival rate of currant cuttings. Indeed, this crop can be difficult to propagate and plant on the site. For the result to be positive, you need to make some effort and know some tricks.
The first thing a farmer should know is currant seedlings cannot be sold with an open root system, because such planting material will not take root. The Perun variety from good nurseries is sold in pots.
The second condition is the correct landing site. Black currant loves the sun, therefore it should be planted in a well-lit open place, without shade from trees and buildings. The soil should be nutritious, loose, well permeable to air, and not retain moisture.
And the third criterion for a successful landing is time. It is recommended to plant black currants only in autumn. In central Russia, the second half of September - early October is considered the optimal time for planting mid-late Perun.
Planting Perun currants itself is simple:
- A couple of weeks before the intended planting, a hole about 45 cm deep is prepared.
- The soil taken from the planting hole is mixed with a bucket of humus and 100 grams of superphosphate.
- If there are several bushes, an interval of 180-200 cm is maintained between them, since Perun is a spreading shrub.
- The seedling is placed in the center of the hole and its roots are gradually covered with soil.
- The above-ground part of Perun's cuttings must be cut to two buds - this is a very important requirement that should not be neglected.
- After planting, the shrub is watered abundantly; it is recommended to mulch the soil with a thick layer of organic matter (peat, humus, sawdust, dry leaves).
If you do not prune the shoot of a newly planted currant, the plant will not have enough strength to develop the root system - all the activity of the cutting will be aimed at growing shoots.
Before the onset of severe cold, the currant cuttings are insulated by covering them with agrofibre, a bucket, or covering them with covering material or soil. Before wintering, Perun must receive a sufficient amount of moisture, so watering should be plentiful and frequent, stopping with the first frost.
Competent care
Black currant Perun is not the most capricious “resident” of the garden. There is nothing special about caring for shrubs; it is only important to follow the schedule of activities and not neglect the recommendations of specialists.
You need to care for Perun chokeberry as follows:
- Watering Black currants should be regular and frequent. Perun tolerates drought well, but the yield will be significantly higher if you install a drip irrigation system near the bush. A summer resident should pay special attention to watering during the period of crop formation, ripening of berries and immediately after harvesting.Autumn watering is very important, since the survival of the shrub in winter will depend on the condition of the root system.
- Chokeberry Perun will have to be fertilized infrequently. Autumn or spring feeding once a year is sufficient. If fertilizers are applied in the fall, you can focus on organic matter, such as manure, bird droppings, wood ash, compost. In the spring, it is better to fertilize Perun currants with minerals, with special emphasis on nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
- Shrub necessary form in the process of its growth and development. Every year it is recommended to carry out sanitary pruning, which involves removing dry, damaged and diseased shoots.
- Currant roots lie shallow, so it is important delete weeds around the Perun bushes and regularly loosen the soil to ensure air access to the root system. Mulch will help protect the roots from overheating and drying out.
- The disease resistance of the Perun blackcurrant variety is average. Therefore, in early spring it is necessary to carry out preventative treatment shrubs, repeating it before flowering and after flowering. If insect pests are noticed, additional spraying of Perun bushes with insecticides will be required.
- In most of the country Perun winters without shelter. In regions with a temperate climate and snowy winters, the frost resistance of the variety will be quite sufficient. In more northern regions, it is better not to grow black currants of the Perun variety, since its ripening period is quite late (the berries may not ripen before the onset of cold weather).
Review
Conclusion
Even negative reviews about Perun blackcurrant indicate that this crop has not yet been forgotten and is in demand among farmers. Twenty years is a decent period for any type of cultivated plant, because in the modern world new varieties and hybrids appear every day.
Perun has crossed the twenty-year mark and continues to delight summer residents with abundant harvests of large and very tasty berries. This black currant definitely deserves attention.
