Content
Every gardener grows currants on his plot, but it can be difficult for a beginner to decide on the choice of variety, since there are more than two hundred of them. In the 90s, breeders developed the Black Pearl currant variety, which received the title “Masterpiece of Russian selection.” Let's look at its photo, description and reviews.
Origin
The authors of the Black Pearl variety are breeders T. S. Zvyagina and K. D. Sergeeva. The currant variety was obtained at the All-Russian Research Institute named after I.V. Michurin by crossing two varieties of berries: Minai Shmyrev and Bredtorp.
In 1992, the Black Pearl currant hybrid was added to the State Register, and the opportunity arose grow it in the following regions: Central Black Earth Region, Western and Eastern Siberia, Middle Volga region, the Urals and the Northern Caucasus.
Description
Black pearls with their characteristics and description looks like a gooseberry and is also a representative of the golden type of currant. The similarity is manifested in the downward inclined branches and leaves. Some gardeners also note that the appearance of currant fruits resembles blueberries.
Bushes
Shrub of this variety of currant has an average height, on average from 1 to 1.3 m. Its branches are spreading. Young shoots are distinguished by their bright green color and curved shape. Over time, they become lignified and change their color to gray with a yellowish tint.
The oblong buds grow on short stems and are pink in color. Currant flowers are glass-shaped and the sepals are reddish in color. The plant appears in clusters with 6-8 berries, which are located on strong petioles.
Currant leaves have a bright green color and an acute-angled blade with 5 lobes. Its surface is smooth and matte, and the edges are slightly bent. The teeth are serrated and large, with white tips. In the photo you can see that there is little foliage on the Black Pearl currant bushes.
Berries
Currant variety Black Pearl has an average ripening time. The average weight of berries can vary from 1.2 to 1.5 g. Particularly large ones can reach 3 g. They are characterized by a round shape and the same size. The berries have a pleasant sweet and sour taste. Gardeners rate it 4.2 points out of 5. Currant fruits are black in color, which glitters in the sun and resembles pearls. The thick skin envelops the pulp with large seeds.
The composition of the Black Pearl berry variety differs from other types in its high level of vitamin C - 133.3 mg%, pectin - 1.6% and organic acids - 3.6%. It also contains various sugars - 9% and about 18% dry matter.
Ripe fruits hold tightly to the stalk and do not fall off for a long time. The cutting of currants is dry, which makes it easy to transport. The strong petioles on which the brushes are held make it possible to mechanize the harvesting of Black Pearl currants.
Varietal features
As a result of crossing, a variety was obtained that has proven itself well among summer residents. He inherited the best qualities of his predecessors.
Productivity
This variety of blackcurrant produces a good and regular harvest. After planting the seedling in the soil Black pearls will begin to bear fruit in 1-2 years. If you plant a young bush in the fall, you can harvest the first, albeit small, harvest (1.5-2 kg) in the summer. But before this, the plant must overwinter, take root and gain strength. Flowering occurs in May, and the berries ripen in July.
The maximum fee is received for 5-6 years, can be removed from one bush up to 5 kg of aromatic berries. The average yield is 3-4 kg. These are significant indicators, but there are varieties in which they are higher.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Black Pearl currant variety has a number of advantages:
- has winter hardiness, the plant does not freeze at temperatures down to -350WITH;
- resistant to anthracnose and kidney mite invasions;
- able to tolerate unfavorable environmental conditions, such as sudden changes in air temperature, aridity;
- early fruiting and stable harvest;
- preserves well during transportation and freezing.
The winter hardiness and hardiness of the plant is explained by the fact that currant selection took place in Siberian latitudes.
Disadvantages include the vulnerability of Black Pearl to powdery mildew. As well as a weak aroma and sour taste, which not everyone will like. The variety is considered obsolete, as many improved species have already been bred. But thanks to its many advantages, the Black Pearl variety is still popular among gardeners.
Application
The berries of the Black Pearl variety are consumed both fresh and processed. Even after processing, blackcurrant retains most of its beneficial substances.
It is widely used in cooking, added to cakes, pies and desserts. Due to the high content of pectin in the fruits, jelly, marmalade, jam, preserves and marshmallows are prepared from them. Used for the production of wine and tinctures.
Currant leaves add a rich taste to canned vegetables and also protect them from spoilage. They make tea, which has antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. And for the treatment of childhood diathesis, tea compresses are prepared.
Agricultural technology
Despite the unpretentiousness of the Black Pearl currant variety, you need to adhere to some rules of agricultural technology and take into account its features. The strength, productivity and resistance of the plant to diseases depends on this.
Landing dates
You can plant berry bushes throughout the growing season.
For autumn, this is the end of September or the first days of October. In order for the currants to have time to take root and gain strength before the onset of frost, the air temperature during planting should not fall below +100C. Then in July it will be possible to harvest the first small harvest.
In spring, it is recommended to plant the shrub before the buds swell. Throughout the first year it will grow and strengthen. The first currant fruits can only be tasted in the second year. In this case, you can remove no more than 2 kg of berries from one plant.
Site selection and preparation
In order for the Black Pearl bush to feel comfortable and develop quickly, you need to allocate a suitable place for it:
- It should be sunny and open, but away from strong winds. Currants do not like shade and cramped conditions, so the branches of the bushes should grow freely.
- The crop grows best in nutritious, loose and slightly acidic soil.
- A slightly moist area is suitable for the plant. Water stagnation and drought should not be allowed.
If currants grow in the shade and receive insufficient water, their fruits will become very sour and noticeably smaller.
A couple of months before planting the seedling, the area chosen for it must be cleared of weed and roots. The soil must be dug to a depth of 50 cm so that it is loose and easily allows water and air to pass through. If the soil is poor, it is recommended to add 1 bucket of humus or compost under each root. Some gardeners also add potassium fertilizers and superphosphate. If planting is planned in the spring, all work should be carried out in the fall.
Landing rules
If the root of the currant seedling is a little dry, it needs to be soaked in water for a couple of hours so that it absorbs it. You can also add a growth stimulator to it, which will help the plant strengthen its root system.
To plant Black Pearl currants you need:
- In the prepared area, dig a hole 0.5 meters deep and wide.
- If no fertilizer was added during digging, add it and mix with the soil. This can be humus, sand, compost and various potash fertilizers.
- Water the hole to keep the soil moist.
- Straighten the roots and lower the seedling into the hole, tilting it slightly to the side. In this case, the angle between the stem and the ground should be 45 degrees.
- Cover it with soil, shaking the roots slightly so that there are no voids left between them. In order for more new shoots and roots to form, the ground level should be 5-7 cm higher than the root collar
- Compact the soil around the currants and water with a bucket of settled water.
- Trim the shoots 10-15 cm from the ground, leaving 5-6 green buds on them.
- Place a layer of peat, branches or grass on top of the ground. Before frost, the bush must be covered with dry soil and mulched.
Currants of this variety should be planted when the air temperature has not yet dropped below 80C. Then it will have time to take root and easily survive the winter.
Care
Black pearl currants will produce a stable and high-quality harvest if you provide it with proper care:
- During flowering and fruiting, it is recommended to water the plant abundantly, 2-3 buckets of water per root. During preparation for winter, the bush must receive a sufficient amount of moisture.
- When grass appears around the currants, it must be removed immediately. To saturate the soil with oxygen, this process can be combined with loosening, but it is important not to damage the roots.
- If fertilizer has already been added to the soil during planting, you can start feeding the plant after 3-4 years. In spring - urea, and in autumn - potassium and phosphorus.
- The currant bush needs periodic pruning. The first is carried out during planting; 5-6 buds should remain on the shoots.In the future, broken, diseased and excess basal branches are cut off, and new ones are shortened.
Every year shoots that are older than 3 years are removed. The formation of the bush ends in 4-5 years. There should be branches of different ages left on it.
Pests and diseases
Currants of the Black Pearl variety can be affected by powdery mildew. This is a fungal disease that usually affects young bushes. Shoots, leaves and fruit branches are covered with a white coating, which over time changes color to brown. The greens fall off, and the currants become crooked. If measures are not taken in time, the plant will die.
Copper sulfate is used to combat powdery mildew. Gardeners treat Black Pearl shrubs before flowering or after harvest. Among non-chemical remedies, an infusion of mullein or hay dust is popular. The mixture is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 3. Leave for three days and add the same amount of water. The resulting infusion is filtered and the currants are sprayed with a spray bottle. Repeat after 15 days and in mid-June.
Typically, Black Pearl berries are rarely attacked by pests. But if not properly cared for, spider mites, aphids or sawflies can settle on its bush. You can get rid of them using special preparations, for example, “Fitoferm” or “Dichlorvos”.
Well-groomed and strong currants are rarely attacked by pests; they have good immunity to diseases.
Reviews from gardeners
Conclusion
The Black Pearl currant variety is already outdated, as many new and improved species have appeared that can compete with it and even surpass it. But some gardeners prefer it because it is time-tested.
