Blackcurrant Enchantress: variety description, photos, reviews

Currant Enchantress is a relatively new hybrid, which was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Federation in 2006. This variety of black currant was bred by crossing two species: Minai Shmyrev and Brodtorp.

Subject to the necessary standards for planting, care and proper processing from pests, the shrub will delight its owners with a rich harvest of tasty and healthy berries for a long time.

Description currant Enchantress

Description of blackcurrant varieties Charovnitsa:

Features 

The blackcurrant of the Charovnitsa variety differs markedly from its counterparts in a number of characteristics and descriptions, because thanks to the achievements of modern breeding technologies, scientists have brought this variety to a fairly high level in terms of its unpretentiousness and high yielding abilities.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

The frost resistance of blackcurrant of the Charovnitsa variety is above average, namely:

• the roots of seedlings can withstand temperatures up to 15 degrees below zero;
• closed buds during the return of frosts in spring can withstand temperatures up to 5 degrees below zero;
• open flowers of this variety during the period of spring frosts will survive at temperatures up to minus 3 degrees;
• the resulting ovary will persist if the temperature does not fall below 2 degrees below zero.

The drought resistance of blackcurrant Enchantress is also above average. In a hot climate and high soil temperature, the shrub will give a good berry harvest.

Productivity of the variety

Blackcurrant Enchantress belongs to the high-yielding varieties of blackcurrant. On average, about 3,2 kg of berries can be removed from one bush per season.

The berries ripen around mid-July. Fruit ripening does not take place at a time, so the harvest must be carried out in several stages, and it will be possible to completely pick the entire bush only in August.

Blackcurrant Enchantress is not prone to shedding, however, under the influence of some natural factors, this phenomenon can still be observed. These include:

• too frosty and little snowy winter, when the shrub is not covered with a snow cap for a long period of time (which can cause the plant buds to freeze);
• strong spring frosts;
• cool weather in the presence of strong wind during the flowering period of the shrub can disrupt the process of pollination of the shrub, which means that the likelihood of berry set is reduced.

Transportation of blackcurrant berries Enchantress is a rather difficult task. If it is necessary to transfer the crop over a relatively short distance, then it is preferable to do this at night, when the ambient temperature is much lower than daytime indicators. If we are talking about transportation over a long distance, then it must be carried out in special vehicles equipped with refrigerators. Otherwise, the harvest will be irretrievably lost.

Crushing is not typical for a variety of berries, however, in the case when the shrub is not properly cared for or it is planted in an inappropriate place for it, this phenomenon is quite possible. If the bush is located in the shade and has a thick, unthinned crown, then the berries will begin to shrink rapidly, especially for those fruits that are located inside the thickets. In addition, the same applies to old and damaged branches that do not cope with their function of feeding fruits, which is why the berries on such branches will also differ significantly in size from their neighbors on healthy branches. In order to avoid such phenomena, it is necessary:

• timely and correctly trim the shrub;
• get rid of diseased branches in a timely manner.

Application area

Blackcurrant berries of the Charovnitsa variety have a fairly wide scope, ranging from fresh consumption of the crop to the technical processing of raw materials. To implement all of the above, it is necessary to take into account the limited ability of Charovnitsa blackcurrant berries to be stored and the need to transport them over long distances exclusively by means of transport specially designed for this.

Pros and cons of the variety 

Like any other variety of currant, blackcurrant Enchantress has its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of the variety include:

• high yield, which is stable;
• precocity
• resistance to fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew.

Of the possible disadvantages of the blackcurrant variety Charovnitsa, only one can be distinguished – low resistance to such a parasite as a kidney mite.

Methods of reproduction

Reproduction of blackcurrant of the Enchantress variety can occur in several ways.

Planting and caring for currant Enchantress

Planting blackcurrant varieties “Charovnitsa” is recommended in spring or autumn. At the same time, in order to properly perform this event, it is necessary to observe a number of important rules:

• landing should be carried out in a well-lit and fairly dry place;
• it is preferable to plant the crop along the fences in order to protect the shrub from the wind.

The landing procedure should be as follows:

• plant a blackcurrant seedling of the Charovnitsa variety should be planted at a depth of approximately 7 – 10 cm;
• the branches of a young plant should be cut to half the length (or 2/3);
• in the immediate vicinity to improve the quality of the crop (the size of the berries, their taste), it is recommended to plant several different varieties of currants;
• the distance between landings must be at least 1,5 m;
• when planting, it is important to nourish the soil with organic fertilizers.

Aftercare

The health of the plant and the quality of the resulting crop directly depend on the quality of further care for the Charovnitsa blackcurrant after planting. The main bush care activities should include:

• timely pruning of branches (thinning and removal of “sick” and old (more than 5 years) shoots);
  Important! Branches should be cut near the ground.

• The “correct” bush should include about 15 shoots (3 from each year);

  

• It is recommended to water the plant approximately 2 to 3 times a week. An adult bush will require 1 bucket of water. Watering can be done 2 times a day. Especially abundant watering is recommended during the fruiting period of the shrub;
• Baiting the Enchantress with organic fertilizers is recommended to be carried out annually in the spring;
• Despite the frost resistance of the variety, for the winter it is worth warming the trunk circle with horse manure. Thus, protection is provided against winters with little snow and too early frosts;
• For the winter, it is also recommended to bend the currant branches to the ground, and fix their ends with bricks.

Since this variety is very fond of rodents, it is worth taking care that they do not harm the shrub. For this purpose, you can use one of the following methods:

• mechanical (tie the stems with coniferous spruce branches, use a special plastic mesh, compact the snow around the bush, treat the bush with a mixture of clay and horse manure, put poisoned baits);
• chemical (use special chemical compounds that have a detrimental effect on rodents).

Pests and diseases 

The most important pest of the black currant of the Charovnitsa variety is the bud currant mite.

In addition to this pest, the following can also harm the shrub:

• kidney moth;
• redcurrant aphid;
• spider mite;
• currant gall midges;
• currant goldfish;
• glass currant;
• gooseberry fire.

For pest control, both folk methods and special insecticides are used.

Conclusion 

Currant Enchantress – the discovery of breeders. This berry shrub is very unpretentious in its care, gives a plentiful harvest of berries and, moreover, is quite frost-resistant. All these qualities distinguish it favorably from the total mass of species and varieties of blackcurrant and indicate the possibility of stopping the gardener’s choice in his favor.

Reviews about the variety of black currant Enchantress