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A Dutch berry variety famous for its stable immunity to diseases and adaptation to climate is the Rovada red currant. Like most deciduous shrubs, it belongs to mid-season varieties. Most gardeners grow red berries for their medicinal properties, which are superior to those of black currants. The Rowada variety is suitable for amateurs and novice gardeners, because it not only brings benefits, but also grows well in any type of soil.
Description of the red currant variety Rowada
The originator of the variety has not been registered; the shrub began to spread throughout the country in 1980. Rowada currants are not zoned in Russia, but growth and yield rates in the southern and eastern parts of the country are higher than in other regions. According to its external characteristics, the shrub stands out among others for its high productivity. The berries are always smooth and round in shape, with visible veins under the skin. The color can vary from scarlet to dark red with a glossy sheen in the sun.Rowada blooms and ripens in clusters, the berries are dense and crisp.
The bush is medium-sized - long branches grow up to 1 m in height, branches with shoots reach 20 cm. Initially, the currant grows to medium spreading, so fruit-bearing branches must be tied up. The leaves are medium sized and dull green. When a leaf or branch is rubbed, a characteristic aroma emanates from currants. Medium-sized brushes from 10 to 20 cm. The berries are juicy, do not fall off, and do not bake in the sun, which indicates high resistance to the hot season. The growing season depends on the growing region, usually 3 months after the start of flowering.
The Rowada variety is prone to thickening, so at the initial stage of growth it is necessary to form the bush. Currants tolerate temperature changes well and can withstand low temperatures down to -34 °C. The berries are transportable, universally used, and contain up to 52 mg of vitamin C. Tasting rating on a five-point scale is 4.3 points.
Pros and cons of the Rovada currant variety
This variety of red currant has minor disadvantages:
- high sensitivity to sudden changes in climate;
- low percentage of rooting of young cuttings;
- low-quality planting material is often encountered;
- thickening reduces the volume of the harvest.
The advantages of the Rowada variety include:
- bush flexibility;
- versatility of use and application of berries, leaves and young branches;
- abundant yield;
- The variety is winter-hardy, resistant to high heat temperatures;
- high-quality taste and presentation;
- suitable for personal and industrial cultivation;
- resistance to characteristic diseases.
During sudden changes in temperature, conservation measures for the Rowada shrub should be taken accordingly. To obtain high-quality cuttings, you need to monitor the health of the currants and purchase planting material from licensed producers. Overcrowding is prevented by pruning and thinning the bushes.
Growing conditions
Favorable regions for growing the red currant variety Rovada: Southern, North-Eastern, Ural. The time for planting Rowada red currants is at the end of August and September, although some agronomists advise planting cuttings in early spring. Inconsistency in growing seasons is due to climatic zones. To grow the Rowada variety in open ground, it is necessary to measure the temperature, which should be within + 10-15 ° C. In dry microclimates, humidity is maintained by an automatic irrigation system. Also, for the favorable development of cuttings or adult currant bushes, daylight is needed, so the bush is planted in an open and sunny area.
In order for the roots to quickly take root, the soil is supplied with carbon dioxide - regular and complex fertilizers are applied. When growing, it is necessary to monitor the moisture content of the inner layer of soil in order to prevent excess moisture, which leads to disease and death of the Rowada variety. Red currants bloom in May, when the climate is more dry, so the base of the bushes is mulched to create moisture retention and the frequency of watering is reduced. In such conditions, the Rowada variety will develop quickly and produce a bountiful harvest.
Planting and caring for red currants Rowada
The best period for planting seedlings or breeding currants is the end of August or all of September. Until this moment, the choice of site is determined and the site is prepared. The initial development of currants depends on the quality of the prepared site. It is also necessary to adjust the watering and fertilizing regime. It is important to monitor the plant's reaction to fertilizers. Rowada currants cannot be called unpretentious, because the climate, soil condition and timely care require attention and adherence to the regime.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Chernozem and loamy soils are particularly fertile. Heavy soil is dug up with a small amount of sand, which will ensure good moisture permeability. Planting currants in an open and sunny area will have a beneficial effect on the juiciness and quality of the crop of the Rovada bush. The optimal place for growing red currants is the south side of the garden or vegetable garden with a fence on the windy side. Also, currants will grow well in partial shade or next to any fruit tree, except nuts.
The acidity of the soil should be neutral or weak; the soil is softened with wood ash and lime. Preparing the seat can be done at any convenient time. The soil is dug up to a loose state, then disinfected with any available fungicide, you can take a highly concentrated solution of manganese or 4% copper oxychloride. The soil is allowed to rest for 3-4 days, then before planting it is dug up again, mixed with humus or compost.
Landing rules
In the selected area, holes are dug with a depth and a diameter of up to 70 cm. When planting red currant bushes multiple times, a distance of 1-1.5 m is maintained. Before planting, seedlings or part of the Rowada bush are inspected for rot, disease and dry branches. Next, the roots of the plants are immersed in water for 5-6 hours. Gravel or drainage and some soil mixed with fertilizer must be poured into the bottom of the planting hole. Red currant roots are evenly distributed over the soil, then buried in soil.
Seedlings and cuttings are always planted at an angle of 50-45 °. The above-ground part should start 5-7 cm above the root collar. Make a root circle around the planted bush and, if necessary, add soil so that the roots do not peek out to the surface. Many agronomists advise covering the planted cuttings with a large dome to create the necessary microclimate, so the plant will quickly take root and sprout.
Watering and fertilizing
According to the photo and description of the currant variety, Rowada is scrupulous about the watering regime. The rate and time of irrigation depend on the climate temperature and soil conditions. Currants are watered at the root or using the sprinkling method, an automatic watering system outside the root. After each watering, the soil is loosened and weeded to remove weeds. The favorable time for irrigating Rowada currants is early morning, after sunset. Features of seasonal watering:
- In spring, shrubs are watered 1 to 5 times a week. For 1 red currant bush, 10 liters is enough.
- In summer, the variety is watered 1-2 times a month, so Rowada will not rot and will ripen quickly.
- In autumn, the bushes are watered generously to ensure water reserves for the winter, so the bush will easily withstand frosts.
Fertilizers are applied 4-7 times during the entire growing season. Since red Rowada bears fruit abundantly, then watering and fertilizing can be alternated or combined. In the spring, saltpeter is added to the soil, so the shrub quickly adapts to the new season and begins to turn green and bloom. At the time of flowering, currants are supplied with mineral supplements. You can use complex fertilizers in any form, but in small quantities. When preparing shrubs for winter, the top layer of soil is loosened and mixed with humus, compost or bird droppings. Then, every year, the soil is checked for acidity and wood ash is reapplied.
Trimming
Removing excess shoots will save the plant from a small harvest, and the currants will grow better. After 3 years of cultivation, Rowada red currants are pruned. First, spring sanitary pruning is carried out, which will protect the plant from disease and death. Remove dry and fungus-affected branches. Multiple thick shoots are cut, leaving 5-6 of the most powerful branches. Young shoots are thinned out, leaving only flexible and healthy shoots with blossoming buds. In late autumn, only dry and unhealthy shoots are removed, and the entire bush is sanitized.
Preparing for winter
Red Rowada is a fairly winter-hardy variety, but to ensure that its integrity is preserved, the shrub is prepared for winter before the first frost.After sanitary pruning, the variety is mulched with a thick layer of sawdust, covered with spruce branches, the branches are collected in a bunch and tied up. Agrofibre, thermal insulation, cotton fabric, roofing felt or cardboard are used as shelter. In regions with severe frosts, the variety is wrapped in several layers. The shelter is removed with the onset of warming or after the snow has completely melted.
Diseases and pests
Rovada red currants are characterized by fungal and infectious diseases. Septoria causes the spread of rust spots, causing the plant to drop all its foliage. Bordeaux mixture will prevent the appearance of fungus; 15 mg of the substance is diluted in 10 liters of water and sprayed on the bush. Anthracnose is characterized by the complete destruction of currants: foliage, berries, and roots rot. At the first signs of disease, it is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning and spraying with fungicides. Root cancer manifests itself quickly: branches dry out, and when broken, there is nothing living inside; roots have growths when dug up. Cancer cannot be stopped, so to prevent this from occurring, excess moisture in the soil should not be allowed.
Of the pests, the most dangerous are currant glass and gall aphids. In the fall, glasswort infests the larvae of caterpillars, which destroy the buds and damage the branches. By the beginning of spring, the plant is no longer able to fully develop; in most cases, the currant dies after the covers are removed. Before preparing for winter, the plant is sprayed with Karbofos solution. Aphids appear in the summer, so the Rowada variety is sprayed with insecticides 1-2 times before and after flowering.
Harvesting
Rowada bears fruit abundantly, so from 1 bush you can harvest from 5 to 7 kg.The berries ripen in August or September, which also depends on the growing region. After technical ripeness, the berries do not fall off, so harvesting can be postponed to a convenient time. The berries are removed together with the brushes, so the shelf life and presentation will last longer. The weight of the berry is 0.5-1.5 g. The currants are washed and then placed in a container. Usually part of the harvest is dried, frozen, eaten, and the rest is sold. Rowada is suitable for short distance transportation. The harvest is stored fresh in a refrigerator at a temperature from + 10 ° C to 0 ° C; frozen berries are edible for 3 months from the date of freezing.
Reproduction
Red currants can be propagated by cuttings, by dropping layering and dividing the bush. Cuttings are prepared in early autumn after 3 years of currant cultivation. The length of the shoot is 30-40 cm. The cuttings are kept in a solution of growth stimulants until roots appear, then they are planted in the ground and covered with a greenhouse for the winter. To dig in in early spring, a young and fertile branch is sprinkled with earth at a depth of 10-15 cm. As it grows, soil is added, then the main branch is cut off in the fall. The independent development of the bush begins after transplanting the cuttings to a permanent place.
Conclusion
Red currant Rovada is a variety that is valued for the quality and taste of the harvest. Growing shrubs is not difficult if you follow the care regimen and the rules for preparing the plant for winter. Rowada is widespread in industrial and private gardening; many agronomists classify red currants as table varieties. It is universal in use, so its value increases significantly.
