Blackcurrant Gross

Blackcurrant is one of the most delicious and healthy berries in the garden. Probably, in every summer cottage there is at least one bush of this culture. Modern selection includes more than two hundred varieties of blackcurrant, among them there are foreign and very successful domestic hybrids. One of the best developments of scientists is the Gross variety. This currant has a lot of advantages, the most important of which are considered high yields and resistance to external factors (from climatic and weather conditions to immunity to dangerous infections). Definitely, the Valovaya currant deserves the closest attention, its qualities are quite enough to become the favorite of the gardener and summer resident.

A description of the currant variety Gross, with photos and reviews of farmers is given in this article. Beginning gardeners will find recommendations for planting and caring for a crop, learn how to propagate it.

Characteristics of a variety

The Valovaya currant variety was “born” back in 1998. Despite a huge range of more modern hybrids and varieties, Gross remains one of the most popular crops and is successfully grown in a wide variety of volumes.

Blackcurrants were bred at the Breeding and Technological Institute. To obtain a new species, the well-known currant Large was pollinated with pollen from such hybrids as Bredthorp and Khludovskaya. The resulting variety Gross is classified as a member of the Kryzhovnikov family.

Description of the variety Gross:

• bushes are medium-sized and medium-leaved, but rather sprawling;
• the thickness of the shoots is medium, young branches are painted green, old ones are brown;
• there is no pubescence on the shoots;
• the shape of the leaves can be either five-lobed or three-lobed;
• the size of the leaves is medium, the shade is matte green, there is a small fluff on the reverse side;
• a characteristic feature of the Gross variety is wrinkling and even bulging of the leaves;
• the root system of blackcurrant is very well developed, the length of old roots can be 150 cm or more;
• inflorescences are bisexual, therefore the Gross culture is considered self-fertile;
• the size of the flowers is large, their shade is pink, the shape is saucer-shaped;
• the length of each brush with berries is 8-10 cm;
• petioles on brushes of medium thickness, green;
• the shape of currant berries is round, the surface is glossy, the size of the fruit is large;
• the average weight of berries is 1,5 grams, there are fruits and 2,5 grams in weight;
• the taste qualities of the Gross variety are excellent – the pulp is dense, the aroma is strong, a pleasant sweet-sour taste;
• commercial qualities of blackcurrant are good, all the berries are beautiful about the same size and shape;
• the separation of the berries is dry, so they do not drain, withstand transportation;
• the yield of the variety is high – from 3 to 4 kg from each bush;
• the duration of the “life” of the plant is large – about 25 years;
• the peak of productivity falls on the 3-4th year of fruiting, then the volumes gradually fall;
• early ripening – currant berries ripen in early July;
• from the moment of flowering to the maturity of the fruit, it usually takes 35-40 days (the exact timing depends on weather conditions);
• Gross is considered a frost-resistant variety – this crop will withstand temperatures down to -35 degrees without shelter;
• not terrible for the variety and summer heat, a short drought;
• currants have excellent immunity to anthracnose, powdery mildew and bud mites – the most dangerous diseases of the crop.

Advantages and disadvantages

Reviews about currant Gross are the most positive: gardeners and summer residents love this crop and rarely replace it with more modern varieties. It is profitable to grow this variety of blackcurrant both in summer cottages and on an industrial scale – Gross has a lot of strengths.

Pros of domestic blackcurrant:

• • high yield;

• resistance to weather conditions;
• excellent frost resistance;
• immunity to the most common infections;
• good commercial qualities;
• large berries;
• long growing season;
• early maturation;
• self-fertility;
• excellent taste and strong aroma.

There are no major flaws in the variety. Some gardeners note a decrease in yield as the bush “growing up”. As practice shows, the number of fruits in Gross over the years decreases quite a bit and, anyway, the yield remains at a decent level.

Peculiarities of growing

Gross currant is completely unpretentious, and it must be grown in the same way as any other variety of chokeberry. One of the qualities of this variety is unpretentiousness to the type and composition of the soil: with the right top dressing, Gross currant can be grown on almost any land.

Shrub planting

There is nothing difficult in planting currant bushes, the most important thing in this matter is to purchase high-quality varietal seedlings. Buy planting material should be in good nurseries, then the result will please.

Shrubs of the Gross variety cannot be called compact, they are low, but sprawling. Therefore, the interval between neighboring plants must correspond: at least two meters, otherwise it will be inconvenient to take care of the culture.

It is better to prepare pits for planting bushes in advance and fill them with fertilizers, at least a couple of months in advance. The dimensions of the pits for the Gross variety are small: 50x50x50 cm. It is recommended to pour a complex of fertilizers into each hole:

• 1 bucket of humus or compost;
• two handfuls of superphosphate;
• half a glass of potassium salt;
• about a liter of wood ash.

Gross currants can be planted both in spring and autumn. Given the good frost resistance of this variety, autumn planting of shrubs is preferable over most of the country: the roots must have time to take root, and the young plant will not burn out under the hot summer rays.

In the process of planting, the earth in the pit is watered abundantly. Gross roots are carefully straightened and their direction is monitored: the roots should not “look” up. After the plant is planted, the ground around it must be mulched (with organic material or, in extreme cases, just dry soil).

If the planting was carried out correctly, in a year the first berries will ripen on the bushes.

Proper care

It is not difficult to care for currants of the Gross variety, because it is completely unpretentious. The gardener will need the same actions as in relation to any other currant bushes:

1. Watering during periods of prolonged drought. To prevent water from spreading, it is recommended to make a small rim around the trunk circle of the currant. At the stage of formation and pouring of berries, the number of waterings can be increased. When the berry begins to turn black, it is better not to water the plant – the fruits may crack.
2. The soil under the shrub should loosen after every rain or before watering. Mulch will help facilitate the care of currants, it will retain moisture in the soil and prevent the formation of a crust, the growth of weeds.

   

3. Feeding Currant Gross must be performed competently. Aronia crops need little organic fertilizer, because their excess will only lead to an increase in green mass. It is enough to make organic matter every three years, it is better to do it in the fall. Mineral fertilizers are recommended to be used in the spring, top dressing with them should be annual.
4. In order for Gross to bear fruit for a long time, and its productivity does not drop sharply, the bush needs to be properly cut. In the first five years after planting, currants need formative pruning, during which every spring all shoots are cut except for the 3-4 largest ones. From the sixth year of “life”, the oldest branches are cut out at Valovaya, leaving instead of them large young shoots – the number of cut and left branches should be the same. Such a substitution of shoots contributes to the rejuvenation of the shrub, the yield of berries does not fall.

   

5. Variety Gross is resistant to currant diseases, but pests can cause great harm to the shrub. Therefore, in late autumn and early spring, the soil under the currant must be dug up, the top layer of soil or mulch must be replaced. As a preventive measure, it is recommended spray Gross bushes with chemical and insecticidal preparations, you can use folk remedies (for example, in early spring, water the plants with boiling water).

Reproduction of culture

The Gross variety is very easy to propagate: even one purchased bush can turn into a whole blackcurrant plantation in a few years. Branches of sprawling bushes often lie on the ground, and if the soil is not regularly loosened, they take root and become independent plants.

A low-lying branch can be deliberately lowered to the ground and buried – after a while, roots will appear, and the bush can be separated from the mother plant (it is better to do this in the spring).

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Conclusion

The attractiveness of the fruits of the Gross Currant is confirmed by the photo – the love of gardeners for this variety is fully justified. In addition to good taste and large berry size, the culture has a lot of advantages, including resistance to drought, frost and infections. Gross is unpretentious, there are usually no difficulties with growing, propagating and caring for this currant.