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It is difficult for gardeners to choose blackcurrant today for the reason that the varietal diversity of the crop is too large. Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages. Gardeners are trying to pick up bushes with large berries, unpretentious in care and fruitful.
One of these varieties is the blackcurrant Leningrad giant. The plant was zoned in the Non-Chernozem region in 1974. The variety was recently withdrawn from the State Register for the Federation. But in the garden plots of s, it is still grown.
Variety description
The authors of the variety are scientists from the St. Petersburg State Agrarian University (LSHI) E.I. Glebova, A.I. Potashov. They pollinated the currants of the Stakhanovka variety of Altai with the pollen of the Vystavochnaya and Neosypayuschaya varieties. In the seventies, when the Leningrad Giant variety appeared, the berries were considered the largest and fully corresponded to the name. Today it is a berry shrub with medium-sized fruits.
Bushes
Currant variety Leningrad giant is a tall shrub with upright shoots. But under the mass of berries at the time of ripening, the stems can scatter. The shoots of the first year of life are green, thick, with pubescence. Older branches can be distinguished by a grayish-beige color. Buds on perennial stems are arranged in groups of 6-8 pieces.
In accordance with the description, the currant of this variety is characterized by short and plump buds in the shape of an egg, with a blunt top. They are pink-purple in color, sit on a stalk, slightly deviated from the shoot.
Leaves
Blackcurrant leaves are large, light green. At the tops of a yellow-green hue. The leaves are dull, blister-wrinkled. The veins are dark, well visible. Each leaf blade has five lobes, with the middle lobe being wider and longer than the others, with a sharp apex. The lateral parts of the leaflet are in the shape of a triangle, but the lower blades are slightly oblique.
Berries
On the currant of this variety, brushes of different lengths, each blooms from 6 to 13 flowers. Fruit set is average, so the plant requires pollinators. The berries are round, black, shiny, weighing up to two grams. The calyx is small, the skin is thin. The fruits are juicy, tender, with a pronounced currant aroma and dessert taste. The photo clearly shows that the currant variety is fruitful.
The Leningrad giant variety is valued not only for its excellent taste, but also for its usefulness. Currant contains:
- dry matter – 15,3-23,8%;
- sugar – 7,1-12,7%;
- free acids – 2,4-3,5%;
- ascorbic acid – 155,2-254,8 mg / 100 g of raw berries.
Characteristics
As already noted in the description of the Leningrad giant variety, as well as according to reviews, currants are gradually leaving summer cottages. Although this is the wrong decision, because in some respects it can give odds to new varieties.
Advantages
- Getting early production.
- Berries do not crumble.
- Due to its high winter hardiness, the plant can be grown in harsh conditions.
- From one bush they collect from 3 to 4,5 kg of berries. When growing a berry bush on an industrial scale, the yield reaches 20 tons per hectare of plantings. The harvest is not bad, although compared to many modern varieties of currants, the Leningrad Giant loses a little.
- Good palatability and transportability allow the “old man” to stay on the sites of the s.
- The possibility of mechanical harvesting, since the berries ripen almost simultaneously.
- Terry on plants is practically not observed.
Grade Cons
Since the blackcurrant Leningrad giant was created in the 80s of the last century, the breeders did not have the methods that are used today.
That is why the variety has disadvantages:
- One hundred percent fertilization is possible in the presence of pollinating bushes, since self-fertility is only slightly above 50%
- Excessive fragility of branches that can break under the weight of pouring clusters.
- Currant of this variety is sensitive to spring frosts. Flowers that have fallen under low temperatures are not tied.
- The plant is sensitive to powdery mildew.
But connoisseurs of delicious blackcurrant berries of the Leningrad giant, as gardeners note in reviews, do not stop difficulties. They continue to plant bushes in the plots.
Planting of currant
Currant Leningrad giant – a variety that is demanding on the soil and planting site. It is best to choose a sunny place on the site without drafts. Natural protection can serve as a fence or walls of buildings.
You can plant seedlings in early spring, until the movement of juice begins, or early in autumn, so that the bushes can take root before frost.
Preparing the seat
Unlike many varieties of currant, the Leningrad giant is demanding on the soil. Excellent yield of the crop is possible only on well-filled with organic soils. Poor podzolic soils and chernozems, as well as highly alkaline soils, are poorly suited.
During the autumn planting, the pits are prepared for two weeks. The dimensions of the pits are at least 50x50x50 cm. If they plan to plant currants in the spring, then they are planted in the fall. At the bottom of the pit, drainage is poured from medium-sized pebbles. In addition to ordinary soil, 6-8 kg of compost or humus and two tablespoons of superphosphate are added to each planting pit. The soil and nutrient top dressing are mixed before filling the pit.
Methods of reproduction
New currant bushes Leningrad giant can be obtained in different ways:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- division of the bush.
Young shoots of currant are able to build up the root system. Cut them obliquely on both sides, leaving 4-5 buds. Can be planted directly in the ground or placed in water. Some gardeners grow currants from cuttings in potatoes, as in the photo below.
In the spring, tilt the branch, press it with a bracket and sprinkle it with earth. In summer, monitor the condition of the soil. Drying of the top layer is not allowed. By autumn, a good root system is formed, the seedling is ready for planting in a permanent place.
Division of the bush is the most common method of reproduction. When the bush grows strongly, it is dug up and divided into parts. Each of them must have a good root system.
Step by step guide
Seedlings are inspected before planting. Branches should be alive, flexible. If signs of diseases or pests were found, the seedling is discarded. Not only will you not get products from it in the future, they can become sources of infection and infect all currant bushes.
The pits are located at a distance of at least 100 cm, between rows of 1,5-2 m. This distance will be enough to care for currant bushes of the Leningrad giant variety.
A mound is made in the center of the seat and a bush is placed on it. A feature of planting currants of any variety is the installation of seedlings at an angle of 45 or 60 degrees. So the plants take root better.
The roots are spread over the entire surface of the pit and sprinkled with nutrient soil. The earth is lightly tamped, plentifully watered to a state of mud. This helps the soil to penetrate under the roots. Water will squeeze out excess air, and the root system will better adhere to the ground.
Features of care
According to the description of the variety, as well as the reviews of gardeners, the Leningrad giant currant requires pollinators neighbors.
With regards to the features of care, they come down to standard activities: watering and loosening, weed removal and top dressing, as well as treatment for diseases and pests. Watering the currant bushes, if there is no precipitation, is necessary every week. One plant requires 2-3 buckets of water.
At the same time as watering, top dressing is introduced. It is performed twice during the growing season. When the berries begin to pour, the bushes of the Leningrad giant variety are fed on the leaves with any microfertilizer. At the beginning of the growing season in early spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied in liquid form under the root.
As noted in the description, the variety may suffer from spring frosts. For him, frosts from -2 degrees and below become fatal.
To protect flowers and ovaries, in the evening:
- Landings are abundantly watered not only under the spine, but also around the entire perimeter from above. At night, the water will freeze, and under the ice coat (0 degrees inside!) Tassels with flowers and ovaries will remain alive.
- Bushes are covered with any material under which a positive temperature is maintained.
Gardeners in the reviews often complain that the currant branches of the Leningrad giant cannot withstand a high yield and break. That is why even in the spring the bushes must be tied to a support. You can drive in 4 pegs and tie them around the perimeter with a dense twine or fill the slats.
Useful tips for caring for currants:
Salvation from illness
The Leningrad giant, according to the description and reviews of gardeners, suffers most from powdery mildew. To save the currant bushes, as well as the crop, the use of chemicals will be required, since folk methods in the fight against the disease are too weak.
The first treatment is carried out in early spring, while the buds have not yet blossomed. To do this, you can use drugs Hom, Ordan and others. The next spraying is carried out after 14 days a few more times. Three weeks before harvest, preventive measures are stopped.
Recommended preparations:
- Colloidal sulfur (Thiovit Jet);
- Vectra, Topaz, Raek.
The affected currant bushes are treated with drugs twice, alternating means. 21 days before picking berries, any activities with chemicals must be stopped.