Content
Red currant Rondom is found in many gardens and vegetable gardens. The variety is valued for its productivity and strong immune system. Proper care and planting will provide the owner of the shrub with large and tasty berries.
History of selection
The variety was obtained in Holland. When breeding the crop, Versailles red currant was used as the basis. Since 1985, the authors of the plant have submitted the Rondom variety to state testing. Currants have been included in the register since 1995 in the Central and Volgo-Vyatka districts. But more often the whole plant can be found in Europe. In Russia, currants are grown mainly for personal purposes on plots.
Description of the red currant variety Rondom
The perennial shrub is vigorous, with weak branches. Its shoots are more pressed to the center and extended upward compared to other types of currants.
According to the description of the variety and reviews with photos, the growth of the crop reaches 1.5 m.Red currant Rondom is distinguished by its intensive growth rate at a young age. As soon as it begins to bear fruit, the rate of shoot formation decreases.
The branches of the Random red currant are strong and thick. Annual shoots coming from the base of the bush gradually replace old ones, thereby renewing the plant.
The leaves of the Rondom variety are dark green in color, jagged along the edges, palmate-lobed in shape, leathery and dense to the touch.
The flowers, which bloom in spring, are medium in size, light green in color with a pink tone, collected in inflorescences in the form of brushes.
The variety is high-yielding and during the fruiting period it pleases with long, thick clusters of berries. Each of them contains 16-17 pieces. The berries are large, smooth, similar in size. Their surface is dark red and shiny. The pulp inside is juicy, with a pronounced aroma and sweet and sour taste. According to the tasting assessment, the red currant variety Rondom received 4.6 points. The weight of each berry reaches 0.7 g. Ripe fruits contain a large amount of ascorbic acid, at least 67 mg.
As the currants ripen, they do not fall off the bush and are well transportable
Characteristics
Studying planting requirements and the growth characteristics of a crop is an integral stage in choosing a variety. The Rondom red currant exhibits its maximum qualities if it is given proper care.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
Red currants cope relatively well with dry periods. The plant is moderately demanding of moisture. This is due to the strong root system.But these qualities are not applicable to young and sick plants: without sufficient nutrition and moisture, the seedlings will not survive.
The yield level of shrubs planted at higher elevations also decreases. With a regular lack of water, currant growth decreases and it becomes less winter-hardy.
If the soil is waterlogged or the seedling is placed in a lowland, then there is a high risk of frost damage to young shoots. With proper care, the variety has good winter hardiness. The optimal climatic zones for red currants are the territory of Ukraine: from Transcarpathia to Lugansk and Crimea. In Russia, when planting a seedling, weather conditions should be taken into account.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
The variety is late-ripening; gardeners in most regions begin picking berries only in July. Flowers appear on the bush in the last weeks of April.
Depending on weather conditions, Rondôme red currant buds can be seen in mid-May
Productivity and fruiting, keeping quality of berries
From one bush you can collect from 15 to 25 kg of ripe fruits. Brushes should be picked in dry weather. During the rainy season, it is better to postpone harvesting; the berries do not fall off the crop.
If currants need to be transported over long distances, the clusters should be picked slightly unripe. Proper harvesting will allow you to preserve the harvest for 2-3 weeks without the need for processing.
It is recommended to collect clusters from the bush, rather than individual berries: the skin of currants is thin and easily damaged
The harvest can be processed in various ways: frozen, used for preservation, sold for sale.Compotes and jam made from Rond red currants are delicious. The berries can also be consumed fresh.
Resistance to diseases and pests
If the bushes are not treated for pests in a timely manner, the Rondom red currant can be destroyed by sawfly, aphids, and mites. Among the diseases dangerous to the plant are rust and powdery mildew.
The sawfly larva destroys leaf blades and young shoots, the seedling dies from lack of nutrients
No less harmful are aphids that drink the sap from the bush. First of all, the leaves suffer. Externally, this is manifested by a change in their color; they become brown, lumpy, and often curl and fall off.
Externally, the aphid looks like a translucent small bug that lives on the inside of the leaf.
It is more difficult to detect the bud mite on currants. Despite its small size, the pest is very dangerous for shrubs. The mite destroys the buds, which leads to the premature death of the Rondom red currant. If treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, the insect may spread to neighboring plants.
You can suspect a pest when examining the bush: damaged buds are large in size
In early spring, when the buds open, currants should be treated against aphids and sawflies with Actellik or Enzhio. The drug Aktara in combination with Tiovit Jet is effective against ticks. During fruiting, to protect against rust and powdery mildew, the bush must be treated with a mixture of Actellik and Topaz.
It’s easy to detect signs of disease on Rondom red currants: brown dots appear on the underside of the leaf
As rust progresses, young shoots dry out. The leaf blades turn completely brown, curl and fall off.
The appearance of a white coating on the bush is a sign of powdery mildew. The fungus damages leaves and young shoots. The crop slows down, bears fruit poorly and becomes less winter-hardy.
Next year, the new crown affected by powdery mildew will not develop correctly
Advantages and disadvantages
Red currant Rond is recognized as a standard in Europe. The crop is valued for its productivity and large fruit.
The berries of the variety are aromatic, with pronounced sourness, and approximately the same in size.
Advantages:
- fruits do not fall off the branches;
- good transportability of currants and keeping quality;
- winter hardiness;
- strong immune system.
Flaws:
- the shrub is difficult to propagate from woody shoots;
- To obtain a good harvest, it is necessary to comply with agrotechnical rules.
Features of planting and care
Prepare the soil before all manipulations: remove weeds, dig up with the addition of manure and compost. The depth of the hole should be at least 30 cm and the width from 0.5 m. The size of the seedling should be taken into account: its roots need space.
Landing algorithm:
- Prepare a hole for planting.
- Remove the seedling from the container, place it in a hole, and cover the roots with soil.
- Form a trunk circle.
- Pour Rond generously over the red currants.
Success in rooting and further fruiting depends on the quality of the seedling; it must be characterized by a strong root system
When further growing the variety, it is necessary to adhere to agrotechnical rules. Watering is carried out every 5-7 days using three buckets of water. The soil under the bush must be mulched using straw or cardboard.
After planting, Rond red currants need to be fed.To do this, nitrogen should be added to the soil during the first two weeks of May. The second portion of fertilizer is used in mid-June. If there is excessive growth of the above-ground part, then reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizing next year.
After planting in open ground, the first pruning is carried out. You should leave no more than 4-5 large root shoots on Rondom red currants. In subsequent years, the shrub needs to add 2-3 branches. An adult plant should have up to 12 well-developed branches of different ages.
Depending on the purpose, pruning should be done in spring and autumn, before buds open and before frost sets in.
Conclusion
Red currant Rondom is a large-fruited and high-yielding variety. The plant is frost-resistant, but light-loving, and bears fruit abundantly with proper care. The shrub has a strong immune system, but needs protection from pests and diseases.
Reviews with photos about red currant variety Rondom
