Breeders have developed many varieties of black currants, differing in yield, bush structure and other characteristics. The berries contain a lot of vitamins and are even used for medicinal purposes. Among the many varieties, black currant Vologda has become very popular, the bushes of which can withstand severe frosts, and in the summer they delight with an abundant harvest of delicious berries.
Main characteristics of the variety
A description of the Vologda currant variety, photos, and reviews from gardeners will help you better study the culture. Let's start the review of characteristics with the structure of the bush. Currants grow with spreading branches. The bushes are medium-sized and very dense. The shoots grow with a bent tip. The skin is green. The bark of mature branches becomes gray with a brown tint. The five-pointed leaves on the bush grow in different sizes. The surface of the green plate is matte, and a bluish tint is often observed.
Flowers are collected in clusters. The length of the brush reaches 10 cm. The shape of the flowers resembles a saucer. The petals are yellow with a clear predominance of green. The stalk is purple. A bunch consists of an average of seven berries. Large fruits are located closer to the base. The weight of the berry varies from 1.7 to 3 g. A ripe cluster acquires a rich black color. The shape of the berries is round, slightly oval. The pulp contains many seeds. The skin is strong with slightly pronounced ribbing.The ripe berry is sweet, but the acidity is clearly felt. Vologda currant pulp contains vitamin C - 138 mg/100 g and sugar - 8.1%.
Pollination can occur without the participation of bees, since Vologda blackcurrant is self-fertile. In terms of ripening time, the variety is considered medium-late. The berries are ready to eat in early August. Brushes can hang on bushes for a long time. The berries do not crack even when overripe. The yield of the Vologda variety is 4 kg per bush. Currants have good winter hardiness.
The advantages of black currant Vologda are the following features:
- winter resistance;
- slightly affected by ticks and powdery mildew;
- sweet large berries;
- stable yield;
- self-pollination;
- good adaptability to weather conditions.
One of the disadvantages of the Vologda variety is the large size of the bush, which is not comparable to the amount of harvest. The berries ripen unevenly, which is inconvenient when harvesting.
Planting seedlings
You can grow the Vologda blackcurrant variety in any area, even with poor soil. The shrub does not require special care. However, the Vologda variety has three worst enemies: constant shade, waterlogging of the bed, and rocky soil.
They have been planting seedlings since October. If night frosts in the region begin earlier, the dates are shifted to mid-September. A peculiarity of black currant is the absence of a dormant period in the root system. The Vologda seedling manages to take root in the fall, take root, and quickly grow in the fall.
In spring, Vologda seedlings are planted from March to April. The earth should thaw and warm up a little. The buds on the seedlings may be swollen, but not bloomed. The site for black currants is chosen to be damp, but not swampy. Usually Vologda bushes are planted in lowlands, along fences, but the place should be illuminated by the sun.
When purchasing, it is better to give preference to two-year-old seedlings from Vologda. The choice is made according to the structure of the root system. A good seedling has at least two woody brown roots with many thin threads extending off. A dark color indicates hypothermia or drying out of the root system. Such a seedling will disappear or take a long time to take root. The age of two-year-old seedlings is determined by the length of the root system, which is at least 15 cm.
Seedlings 35 cm long with one or two shoots are considered good. The skin of healthy twigs is not wrinkled, brown in color without spots or mechanical damage.
When planting, maintain the permissible distance between seedlings and other objects:
- Vologda bushes grow spreading and take up a lot of space. The minimum distance between seedlings is 1.5 m.
- You can make a hedge from black currants of the Vologda variety. If bushes are planted along a fence, then maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 m.
- On large plantations, black currants of the Vologda variety are planted in rows. Since the bushes grow strongly, the row spacing is maintained at about 2.5 m. The path is needed for caring for the bushes, watering and harvesting.
- Blackcurrant bushes can be alternated with fruit trees.The distance between young plantings is maintained at least 2 m.
The rules for planting seedlings of the Vologda variety are the same as for other varieties. The whole process can be divided into several points:
- The area for seedlings is dug up using the bayonet of a shovel. Remove roots weed, large stones and check acidity. If the indicator is too high, by 1 m2 sprinkle 500 g of lime, dig it up and leave it for a couple of days.
- Under each bush, holes are dug 40 cm deep. The hole can be made square or round, with a diameter of 50 cm.
- Half a bucket of compost and old manure is poured into the hole. Organics can be replaced with a mineral complex containing potassium, phosphorus and other trace elements.
- The contents of the hole are filled with a bucket of water. After absorption at the bottom of the hole, a slide is created from the soil.
- Vologda currant seedling is installed at an angle of 45O. The root system is spread over the mound and covered with earth. The soil around the seedling is compacted by hand. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system.
- After planting, pour 4 buckets of water into the hole. The Vologda seedling is cut exactly in half with pruning shears. For currants with strong roots, it is fashionable to cut off 1/3 of the top part. Pruning creates optimal conditions for strong growth.
- The area around the seedling is framed with an earthen embankment. The soil in the hole is covered with a thick layer of sawdust or peat mulch.
Swampy areas with close groundwater can also be used for growing black currants. No holes are dug in such areas. After digging up the soil and applying fertilizing, wide mounds 25 cm high are made. Currant seedlings are planted on them.
The video talks about planting black currants:
Features of care
Black currants require careful care immediately after planting so that the seedlings take root well and give rapid growth. If you continue to take care of adult bushes, the Vologda variety will reward you with a good harvest.
Currants need water as a source of moisture and as a preventative measure. In early spring, the bushes are given a hot shower. A bucket of water is heated to a temperature of 60–70OC, dissolve 250 g of baking soda, pour it into a watering can and irrigate the bush. The hot solution is safe for currants, but destroys overwintering pests on the branches.
Vologda currants love moisture, but frequent watering is not needed. There is enough dampness inside the soil. Watering can be increased more frequently in dry summers, when the intense heat causes cracks to appear on the ground. Under each currant bush, a deep depression is raked and up to 6 buckets of water are poured. The ground should get wet to a depth of 40 cm.
Mandatory watering is carried out in the following cases:
- in the spring before the buds open, if the weather is dry outside;
- during flowering and berry filling;
- dry summer;
- in the fall, when the currants shed their leaves.
Many gardeners resort to the simplest method of watering - sprinkling. Splashes of water wash away dust well from currant foliage, but greatly compact the soil. To ensure uniform and deep absorption of moisture, grooves 10 cm deep are cut on the soil surface in the expected root area.
A good effect is obtained from a stone well. Under a blackcurrant bush I dig a hole 40 cm deep and 25 cm wide. Large stones are thrown into the hole. During watering, water quickly passes through the stones and reaches the roots. The top of the stone well is covered with a piece of tin or roofing felt to prevent moisture evaporation.
Soil care includes loosening, weeding, adding wood ash and mulching. Vologda black currant responds well to fertilizing. Fertilizers are applied in the third year after planting the seedling:
- in the fall, after dropping the leaves, 3 kg of organic matter is added under the bush;
- Every year, mineral fertilizers are added along with organic matter: 30 g of nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as 15 g of potassium;
- while pouring berries under the bush, add potassium dissolved in water - 10 g and superphosphate - 40 g;
- in spring, during flowering and after harvesting, currants are fed with urea at the rate of 40 g per bush.
The first pruning of a young Vologda seedling is carried out immediately after planting. By autumn, five shoots about 45 cm long should grow. Next year there will be new growth. Old branches will give birth, and only strong ones will leave new shoots. All weak branches are cut off. In the third year, last year's shoots become fruit bearing. Old branches also bear fruit, but they are cut off in the fall. The further pruning cycle is repeated annually. An adult, normally formed bush should consist of 10–15 fruit branches.
The video talks about autumn pruning of currants:
Reviews
There are many reviews about the Vologda currant variety. Let's read some interesting opinions from gardeners.
