Content
Currant Dream is a domestic variety with a good harvest of red berries, bred several decades ago. It tolerates frost and drought well, is easy to care for, and is immune to some diseases. The culture needs standard, but comprehensive care.
History of selection
Red currant Mechta was bred by specialists from the South Ural Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable and Potato Growing. The authors are A.P. Gubenko and V.S. Ilyin. The new species was obtained thanks to open pollination of the Chulkovskaya variety, which has been known in many Russian regions since the middle of the last century.
Description of the red currant variety Dream
State tests of the Mechta red currant began in 1980. In 1987 it was included in the State Register. This variety is recommended for cultivation in the Volga-Vyatka and Ural regions.
Before purchasing and planting, it is important to study the description of the red currant variety Dream with photos and reviews. The culture forms vigorous and dense, but slightly spreading bushes.They reach a height of 0.8-1.2 m. During growth, the shoots are thin and green in color. Buds are solitary, medium in size. Their shape is elongated-ovoid, the apex is pointed, and the pubescence is weak. There is a slight deviation from the escape.
Dream currant has three-lobed leaves of medium size. They have a green color and a matte wrinkled surface. The plates have an average density and a straight or slightly curved shape. The blades are pointed, the lateral ones are narrower and slightly smaller, widely spaced. The bases of the leaves can be straight or with small notches. There are sharp teeth along the edges. The cuttings are of average thickness and length, slightly drooping, green in color and have an anthocyanin coating at the base.
Medium-sized red currant flowers Dream. They have a saucer shape and a noticeable ridge. The sepals touching each other are slightly bent. They have a light yellow color and a faint pink coating.
The color of the buds of this variety is yellow-green, the brush is drooping. The flowers are bell-shaped, pink-gray.
The Dream currant has drooping clusters. They have average density, length 6-7 cm. The axes are sinuous green, with pubescence. The petioles are thin, green in color.
This variety has one-dimensional berries. Their main characteristics are:
- round shape;
- the color is bright garnet, dark red when fully ripe;
- glossy shine;
- Size medium or large;
- weight on average 0.5-1.1 g;
- stalks are thin, medium length;
- calyxes are small and closed, round in shape;
- the skin is dense but thin;
- seed content is average.
The purpose of the fruit is universal. They can be eaten fresh or used for freezing and processing - making desserts, drinks, preserving them for the winter.
100 g of Mechta red currant berries contain more than 48 mg of ascorbic acid. Titratable acidity 3.5%.
Mechta red currant berries ripen together
Characteristics
Currant Dream is suitable for growing in an urban environment. This variety is resistant to dust, gas contamination, and smoke.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
In terms of frost resistance, red currant Mechta belongs to the fourth zone. The variety can withstand temperatures dropping to -29-31.7 °C. Maximum frost resistance is observed at the beginning of winter; by spring it decreases. If the winter is harsh and contrasting, the flower buds may freeze.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Red currant Mechta has good self-fertility. It does not require pollinators.
Flowering begins in May.
The ripening period of this variety is average. The harvest can be harvested from mid-July.
Productivity and fruiting, keeping quality of berries
The yield of Mechta red currant is 2.5-7 kg per bush. On an industrial scale, 8 tons are collected per hectare. This is a long-term indicator. Thanks to the dense skin, the fruits have good transportability and keeping quality.
Taste qualities
Red currant Mechta has a sweet and sour taste. It is estimated at 4.0 points. The fruits of this variety are universal, but are recommended mainly for processing. In this case, the tasting score increases to 4.5 points.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Currant Dream is resistant to powdery mildew. Immunity to anthracnose is weak.
Advantages and disadvantages
Red currant Mechta has a dry tear - the berries are removed along with the stalk.The harvested crop retains its fresh appearance for a long time.
Dream is drought-resistant, but lack of moisture during fruiting can cause the berries to shred and fall off.
Pros:
- unpretentiousness to soil composition and maintenance;
- good yield;
- resistance to frost, drought;
- immunity to powdery mildew;
- good indicators of transportability and keeping quality;
- versatility of fruit use.
Minuses:
- susceptibility to anthracnose.
Features of planting and care
Red currant Dream feels better on sandy, loamy soils, black soil, podzolic soil with a neutral reaction or weak acidity. The area should be well lit, although this variety can withstand some shading.
It is better to plant the crop with 2-3 year old seedlings. Choose healthy specimens with a well-developed root system. The absence of mechanical damage, rot and other signs of disease is important.
It is better to plant Dream currants in September. The plant manages to take root before winter. Work can also be carried out in the spring - in the second half of April.
Before planting Mechta currants, you need to prepare the hole several weeks in advance. Deepen to 0.4 m, diameter 0.5-0.6 m. If planting is planned for autumn, add humus or peat with wood ash. In spring you only need organic matter. The further algorithm is as follows:
- Remove all leaves from the seedling.
- Place the roots in water for 2-3 hours.
- Place the seedling in the planting hole.
- Spread out the roots.
- Fill the hole with soil mixture, deepening the root collar by 5-6 cm.
- Compact the ground.
- Make a circular furrow 20 cm from the seedling. Sprinkle it with water in several stages.
- Mulch the tree trunk circle. You can use peat and humus.
After planting, the seedling must be trimmed to 10-15 cm, so that 2-3 buds remain.This stimulates the development and strengthening of the root system and the formation of new branches.
Dream currant bushes should be planted at intervals of 1.5. The same distance should be to the fence and other buildings.
Caring for currants The dream consists of the following activities:
- Regular watering. Until the seedling takes root, at least twice a week, then every seven days. If autumn is dry, then pre-winter watering is needed.
- Weeding every 2-3 weeks.
- Loosening and mulching the tree trunk circle.
- Feeding. In April, urea, in June and autumn, organic matter and microfertilizers
- Sanitary pruning and formation of bushes in early spring.
- Autumn pruning after leaf fall.
Mechta currant has poor resistance to anthracnose, so its prevention is important:
- cleaning and burning fallen leaves and other plant debris;
- sanitary digging of the soil in spring and autumn;
- regular weeding and thinning of plantings;
- fungicide treatment;
- removal of diseased and old branches.
Anthracnose manifests itself as brown and brown spots, starting from the lower leaves
To treat anthracnose you need Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate, Gamair, Fitosporin, Ridomil Gold, Fundazol, Previkur.
To prevent pests, it is recommended to treat Mechta currants with insecticides - Actellik, Rovikurt, Karbofos - during the formation of buds. Repeat the procedure after harvesting.
Conclusion
Currant Dream is one of the varieties of domestic selection included in the State Register. Its red, round fruits can be eaten fresh or processed.The variety is resistant to frost, drought, and powdery mildew. It is unpretentious in care and requires a standard set of measures.
Reviews with photos about the red currant variety Dream
