There are a large number of blackcurrant varieties. Some of them are young, but there are also “old” varieties that are still popular due to their unique properties. Thus, the Vela blackcurrant, created in the last century, does not leave cultural connoisseurs indifferent.
Some sources call the variety Leningradskaya sweet. Perhaps because one of the parents was currant Leningrad giant, and the other - Ojebyn. The variety was created by breeders E. V. Volodina, S. P. Khominskaya, N. N. Khabarova. Almost immediately, Velaya currants were included in the State Register and recommended for cultivation in the northern and central regions of Russia.
Description
The description of the Velaya black currant given by the breeders indicates that the variety belongs to a medium-late ripening crop. Experienced gardeners can recognize the plant by its external features and botanical properties.
Bushes
A distinctive feature of the Velaya blackcurrant variety is the semi-spreading nature of the bush. According to gardeners, there is no thickening observed.
The shrub consists of erect shoots of different years:
- The shoots of the first year of life are pubescent, thick with an uneven pinkish color.
- Older currant branches are gray-brown or beige. The lower part of the shoots is thick, slightly thinner towards the top.
On the branches of chokeberry Velaya or Leningradskaya sweet, thick, medium-sized buds are clearly visible. They are pink or pink-purple in color and egg-shaped. The location of the buds is parallel to the shoot. The base is pressed against the branch, and the pointed tip is slightly deflected.
Leaf blades
Blackcurrant leaves are round in shape with five lobes. They are matte, dark green with a bronze tint. Puberty is observed along the veins in the upper part of the leaf. The underside is completely pubescent. The leaf blades are bubble-wrinkled, dense, even rough.
The leaf blades are convex, the tips of the blades are slightly folded along the midrib. The veins are not distinguished by color. Leaf blades of different lengths. The middle blade protrudes far forward, the lateral parts of the leaf are shorter. The leaves sit on thick green petioles.
Flowers
The buds of the Vela currant variety are large, glass-shaped, greenish-white in color with a barely noticeable pink tint. The rounded petals are collected in an ovoid cup. Bisexual flowers are located on strong racemes of different lengths.
Each cluster of Veloy bears up to eight berries. They are located evenly and are firmly held on the brush itself. The photo below shows a blooming chokeberry variety Veloy.
Berries
According to the description, currants of the Veloy variety have large, round, black berries with thick, medium-shiny skin. The berry sizes range from 1.6 to 3.5 grams. Each berry contains a large number of seeds.The peduncle is thick and small. The tearing of ripe fruits is dry. These characteristics of the Leningradskaya sweet currant variety are confirmed by reviews from gardeners and photos they send.
The taste of the berries corresponds to the name Leningradskaya sweet. They really are, because the various sugars in black fruits are about 9.9%. Veloy berries with a true currant aroma.
Characteristics
Chokeberry of any variety has its advantages and disadvantages. That is why, in order to decide whether Veloy is needed on the site, you need to know the characteristics of the variety with all the pros and cons.
Positive sides
- Precociousness. Immediately after planting, the Leningradskaya sweet currant variety produces good growth in the form of young shoots, which begin to produce a harvest the following summer.
- Large fruit size and taste. The black berries are attractive due to their size, but most importantly, their sweet taste and aroma.
- High and stable yield. Black currants of the Leningradskaya sweet variety are grown not only in summer cottages, but also on an industrial scale. If agricultural techniques are followed, up to 4 kg of tasty and aromatic berries are harvested from one bush.
- Versatility of use. Velaya black currant berries are delicious fresh, and are also used to make marmalade and preserves, jams and marshmallows, juices and compotes. The fruits can be dried and frozen.
- The Veloy variety is a self-fertile currant and does not require pollinators.
- Transportability is good. Dense berries, if not ripe, are removed with a dry tear, so they do not leak during transportation.
- Winter hardiness. Already initially, when the Velaya currant variety was created, breeders thought about the plant’s immunity.It was precisely bred for cultivation in the harsh conditions of the north and central Russia.
- Resistance to diseases and pests. Powdery mildew and bud mite very rarely affect currant bushes of the Veloy variety.
Flaws
The Leningradskaya sweet variety has no particular disadvantages. Although some nuances are still worth paying attention to:
- the berries do not ripen at the same time, so they have to be collected in several stages;
- Although the description says that the fruit is picked dry, when overripe the berries burst and flow.
As you can see, the advantages are several times less than the disadvantages. This is what gives the Leningradskaya sweet variety its popularity for several decades.
About the Velaya blackcurrant variety:
About planting currants
To plant black currants, high-quality seedlings are needed. They are not cheap. Of course, if you don’t have a certain variety, you can purchase one or two seedlings. And only then get the planting material yourself.
How to propagate
According to the description and reviews of gardeners, as well as the photos sent, the Velaya blackcurrant variety is propagated traditionally:
- green cuttings;
- horizontal and arc layers:
- dividing the bush.
Black currant quickly grows its root system. Work can be done in spring, summer or autumn. But experienced gardeners prefer autumn propagation. Planted at the end of September, beginning of October (depending on the climatic conditions of the region), seedlings begin to grow in the spring, and the bush gets good development.
Preparing for landing
Before planting, you need to decide on a place for the bushes. If you want the sweet Leningrad blackcurrant to fully live up to its name, the bushes should grow in a well-lit place.
Black currant variety Veloy is a lover of fertile soil with a weak alkaline reaction. Loams are considered the best option. The planting hole must be large so that there is plenty of space for the root system - a depth of at least 40 cm, and a diameter within 50 cm.
The excavated soil is placed next to the hole. Humus and wood ash are also prepared. Drainage is placed down into the hole. It is best to use pieces of wood, which, when rotted, will warm the root system and feed the plant.
The removed soil and prepared components are mixed and the hole is filled one third of the way. Then fill with water. The pit must remain in this state for at least a week for the soil to settle.
Planting a seedling
Seedlings, especially those purchased in a retail chain, must be soaked for a day in a growth stimulator. If there is no such remedy, ordinary honey will do. Add a tablespoon of sweetness to a bucket of water. The plants will be saturated with useful substances, and the stress from transplanting will be less.
A little fertile soil is poured into a pre-prepared hole and the seedling is placed at an angle of 45 degrees. The roots are well straightened. If the root system of the seedling is too long, it is shortened. The optimal root length is 20-25 cm.
The seedling is covered with soil and watered abundantly. Plenty of water at this stage is important. It “spreads” the soil throughout the hole, fills the air pockets and provides better adhesion of the roots to the soil.
When planting a seedling, the hole is not immediately filled to its full depth. After watering, when the soil shrinks, the bush is slightly raised so that the root collar is above the surface. Then the soil is poured again and watered. In order for moisture to work longer for the rooting of seedlings, the plantings are immediately mulched. Peat, humus or sawdust can be used as mulch.
Planted blackcurrant bushes must be pruned. 3-4 buds are left on the shoot; the height of the stem should be no more than 15-20 cm. This not only increases the plant’s resistance to stress, but also gives the seedling the opportunity to build up the root system. After all, currants do not have to waste energy on “maintaining” a large above-ground part.
You can see about the propagation of black currant by dividing the bush here:
Bush care
No special rules are required when caring for black currants of the Vela variety, everything is traditional
Watering
Moisture-charging irrigation is performed in early spring and autumn before wintering. Currants require more water during flowering and berry setting. In other periods, the bushes are watered moderately.
Top dressing
Nutrition is provided for the first time upon landing. Then fertilizing is done annually. Today, gardeners strive to grow environmentally friendly crops, so they try not to use mineral fertilizers.
Among organic materials, black currant bushes prefer mullein, infusions of green herbs, and nettles. Sprinkling wood ash under the roots provides plants with useful microelements. Many gardeners advise planting grated potatoes or peelings under the bushes in spring and autumn.
Fertilizing is carried out in spring and autumn, as well as at the time of filling and ripening of berries, combining them with watering.
Loosening and removing weeds
After watering, the surface under the blackcurrant bushes needs to be loosened, while removing the weeds. Loosening should be superficial so as not to damage the root system.
Trimming
In order for currants to bear fruit well, they are pruned annually. Work is carried out in spring, summer and autumn. When pruning in autumn, old branches and excess shoots of the first year of life are removed. In the spring, remove broken branches and trim each of them by 5 centimeters. Shoots with signs of disease must also be removed.
Since black currant of the Veloy variety, according to the description and reviews of gardeners, has an average growth of young shoots, the extra shoots are also cut out. Otherwise, the bushes will become very thick. This can cause fewer berries, lower yields, and the appearance of diseases and pests. Leave a few of the strongest shoots for replacement.
Trimming rules:
Diseases and pests
According to description and characteristics, black currant of the Veloy variety is resistant to many diseases. But, since there may be other bushes nearby, it will be necessary to carry out preventive treatments with special preparations.
If we talk about pests, then most of all black currants are bothered by aphids. For spraying, you can prepare an extract from wood ash. A glass of ashes is poured with three liters of boiling water and left for 24 hours.
