Content
Black currant Sevchanka is far from the highest-yielding and large-fruited variety. However, gardeners value it for its “reliability,” general endurance and very good immunity. In addition, summer residents are attracted by the self-fertility and good taste of the berries. The variety also has other advantages that have allowed it to successfully “compete” with new breeding products for several decades.
History of selection
Black currant Sevchanka is the result of free pollination of seedlings of the Golubka variety, which has long been well known to gardeners, as an “intermediate” result of selection under the code name “hybrid form 32-77”. It was created by specialists from the V.R. Williams Federal Scientific Center VIC, A.I. Astakhov and L.I. Zueva at experimental stations in Bryansk.
The Sevchanka currant appeared in 1991 and entered the State Register of Breeding Achievements three years later. The necessary official variety trials were completed fairly quickly.
Description of the blackcurrant variety Sevchanka
The appearance of the Sevchanka currant is definitely not “outstanding”; it can well be described as “average”.There is nothing original either in the bushes or in the berries.
Bush
The Sevchanka currant bushes are quite tall and characterized by rapid growth rates. But at the same time they are relatively compact, not spreading: most of the shoots are erect or almost erect. Approximate dimensions are up to 1.5 m in height and 1-1.2 m in diameter.
The branches are “naked” (without edge), of medium thickness, often slightly bending. The leaves are medium-sized, leathery to the touch, with a strongly “wrinkled” surface. They are characterized by a slight convexity along the central vein and deep “cutouts”.
The crown is not prone to thickening, which makes caring for the bush and harvesting much easier
Berries
Sevchanka currant berries are quite large, varied in size (2-3.5 g), and have a regular round shape. They are collected in medium-length and long brushes (8-14 pieces each) with a slightly curved “axis”. The skin is black, with a glossy sheen. It is thin (you can’t feel it when eating), but strong and elastic enough to provide the berries with good shelf life and transportability for the crop.
On the “sunny” side of the bush, the berries are usually larger
Characteristics of the variety
The main feature that gardeners value in Sevchanka currants is its “stress resistance.” The endurance of the crop is successfully complemented by the very good taste of the berries and stable fruiting.
Taste qualities
The official assessment of Sevchanka currant berries from professional tasters, recorded in the State Register, is 4.6 points with a maximum of five. The taste is described as “good,” but most gardeners who have tried the berries consider this definition unfair.In their opinion, Sevchanka currants can be called dessert currants: the taste is very harmonious, sweet and sour. The berries also have a rich aroma.
Ripening time
According to the ripening period, Sevchanka currants belong to the early ripening varieties. In central Russia, the harvest is harvested in the last ten days of June or early July. Depending on the climate in the region and the weather, the ripening period may “shift” by 7-10 days forward or back.
Productivity
The yield of Sevchanka currants, demonstrated by the variety during official tests, is 104 centners per hectare. In terms of bushes, this is approximately 1.6-2.2 kg per adult plant. It reaches its “peak form” by the age of 3-4 years.
Fruiting is annual, without “rest” seasons. The berries of the Sevchanka currant ripen together and “en masse.”
The harvest is easy to harvest thanks to the dry separation of the berries from the stalks
Frost resistance
The State Register recommends cultivating Sevchanka currants in the Central and Central Black Earth regions. But gardeners “experimentally” quickly expanded its habitat, proving that it is quite capable of taking root and bearing fruit everywhere in central Russia. Cold resistance down to -25-27 °C allows it to successfully winter in temperate climates.
Disease resistance
Currant Sevchanka has immunity against a whole “bouquet” of typical and dangerous diseases for the crop - true and downy mildew, rust, anthracnose. Other pathogenic microflora also rarely affect bushes, allowing gardeners to do without even preventive treatments with fungicides.
Sevchanka currants also have protection against bud mites, which can destroy a significant part of the crop at the beginning of the season. In general, pests do not have much “love” for it. Many of them do not like the pronounced aroma of the leaves, due to the high concentration of essential oils.
The bud mite, which eats the buds from the inside, is one of the most dangerous crop pests
Advantages and disadvantages
Currant Sevchanka is distinguished by a fairly high content of ascorbic acid in the berries (277 mg per 100 g). A harmonious taste is achieved by the presence of natural sugars in a concentration of about 7%.
The culinary versatility of Sevchanka currant berries is specially emphasized in the State Register
Pros:
- cold resistance sufficient for the European part of Russia;
- the presence of immunity against some diseases and pests typical of the crop;
- fairly high drought resistance;
- self-fertility;
- good keeping quality and transportability for currants;
- annual fruiting, “massive” ripening of berries;
- yield, little dependent on the weather in spring and summer;
- comparative compactness of bushes;
- balanced, very pleasant taste, pronounced aroma of berries, their fairly large size;
- absence of a “tendency” of currants to shed after ripening;
- versatility of crop purpose.
Minuses:
- average yields.
Landing rules
Most often, gardeners, taking into account the characteristics of a temperate climate, plant Sevchanka currants in the spring, waiting until the likelihood of return frosts is minimized. In principle, autumn planting is also possible, but there is a much higher risk that the seedling will not survive the first winter.
The location for the bush is chosen taking into account the “requirements” of the crop:
- good lighting without direct sunlight during the hottest hours;
- normal air circulation;
- fairly fertile but loose substrate (loam, sandy loam);
- neutral or slightly acidic soil pH (5.0-5.5);
- absence of prerequisites for constant waterlogging of the soil.
A place at the foot of a hill or a lowland is not suitable for the bush - melt water, rain water, and humid air constantly stagnate there.
The pit for planting Sevchanka currants has been prepared since the fall. The approximate depth is 50-60 cm, diameter is 60-70 cm. A drainage layer is required at the bottom (up to 8-10 cm thick). Fertile soil is poured on top of it.
When disembarking, you must follow the standard algorithm of actions. The main thing is to water the soil well before and immediately after the procedure. It is equally important to check the position of the root collar and roots.
It is easier to plant seedlings with a closed root system; if the roots are “bare”, it is more convenient to work together
Features of care
Even an inexperienced gardener can provide competent care to Sevchanka currants. Agricultural technology is limited to a basic minimum of activities:
- Watering. Due to its drought resistance, Sevchanka currant can get by with rare but abundant watering.The substrate must be moistened during the active growth of green mass, at the stage of flowering and the formation of fruit ovaries, as well as about a month after harvesting. If autumn is dry and warm, moisture-recharging irrigation is also added.
- Loosening and weeding. To ensure normal air exchange, it is enough to loosen the soil every 1.5-2 weeks, while simultaneously getting rid of weeds. Or you can save time on these procedures by mulching the tree trunk immediately after planting Sevchanka currants.
- Feeding. Fertilizers are applied according to the standard scheme: nitrogen soon after “awakening” in the spring, complex preparations at the budding stage, 7-10 days after flowering and at the end of summer or early autumn.
- Trimming. Sevchanka currant is not prone to thickening the crown; usually the bushes need sanitary pruning at the beginning and end of the season. Plants older than 10-12 years gradually rejuvenate, getting rid of 1-2 oldest branches in the spring.
- Preparing for winter. The cold resistance of Sevchanka currants allows you to do without “major” shelter in temperate climates. It is enough to clean the tree trunk circle, loosen it deeply and cover it with fresh mulch (10-15 cm layer).
Leaving the bushes without watering, relying on natural precipitation, is still not recommended
Conclusion
Currant Sevchanka is a variety that requires minimal, standard care for the crop. The “return” from the plant far exceeds the time and effort spent on it during the season. The bushes have immunity against many diseases typical of the crop and protection from pests.
Reviews from gardeners about Sevchanka currants
