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Currant Katyusha is a high-yielding Belarusian variety that has taken root well in many regions of Our Country, including the middle lane, the Volga region, the North Caucasus and the Urals. Gives tasty marketable berries. Used fresh, frozen, and also for preparing blanks for the winter.
History of breeding
The Katyusha variety was bred on the basis of the Belarusian Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Sciences by a team of breeders: Voluznev A.G., Zazulina N.A., Rainchikova G.P. The varieties Pilot and Paulinka were taken as the basis. The variety has been successfully tested and is included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements.
Katyusha blackcurrant is characterized by high winter hardiness, therefore it is approved for cultivation in different regions:
- Middle Volga;
- North Caucasian;
- Ural.
The culture is unpretentious, it can be cultivated in the middle lane, including in the Moscow region.
Description of the currant variety Katyusha
In the description of the Katyusha variety, the main characteristics of the bush and fruits are given. The main indicators are described below.
Bush
Currant bushes Katyusha have great growth strength, the crown is slightly spreading, compact. Medium branching. Shoots of small thickness, green in the first year, with a shiny surface. Then they become lignified and become gray-brown, retaining their luster. Surface without pubescence, internodes long.
Currant buds Katyusha are medium in size, pink-violet in color, fusiform in shape, apex is sharp. They are located parallel to the shoots. In this case, the apical buds are both free and non-free. They are quite large, cylindrical in shape. Adjacent to them are several other kidneys of a very small size.
Currant leaves of the Katyusha variety are five-lobed, small or large in size. The color is light green with a yellowish tint. The surface is shiny, slightly corrugated, there are small wrinkles. The plates are arranged horizontally, almost parallel to the surface. The edges of the leaf plate are wavy. Between the blades there are deep cuts, and the corners are sharp.
The middle blades are practically the same in size as the side ones. They are pointed and long, the veins are located at an acute angle. The basal lobes are clearly visible. The veins spread or fall down, “look” towards the top of the leaf plate. The notches near the plate are small, but wide; the base is almost straight. There are sharp serrated teeth. Petioles are colored, without pubescence.
Berries of blackcurrant Katyusha are quite large
Flowers are medium sized, bright red. The pistils of the Katyusha currant are located at the level of the stamen or slightly lower. The brushes are not too dense, hang down, rather long.
Berries
The fruits of the currant variety Katyusha are large – the average weight is 1,4 g. The color is black, the surface is shiny. The shape is elongated oval. The skin is quite dense, few seeds appear, and they are small in size. Peduncles of medium length.
Characteristics of currant Katyusha
Among other important characteristics of the variety, it is necessary to highlight the taste, yield, resistance to frost, diseases, as well as ripening time.
Palatability
The taste of Katyusha currant berries with an optimal balance of sour and sweet is very pleasant. At the tasting assessment, it received an almost maximum score – 4,9 out of 5,0. The fruits contain:
- sugar – a total of 7,8%;
- acids – 2,1%;
- vitamin C – more than 190 mg / 100 g;
- pectins – 1,4%;
- the total amount of dry matter is 15%.
The purpose of blackcurrant berries Katyusha is universal. They can be used fresh, as well as make jams, wipe with sugar, cook fruit drinks and other preparations for the winter.
Terms of maturation
In terms of maturation, the culture belongs to medium-late varieties. The berries begin to ripen already in the second – third decade of July. Fruits reach full maturity in early August. The speed of ripening and harvesting depends on the number of sunny days, weather conditions and care features.
To preserve the maximum amount of nutrients, it is recommended to freeze the crop. Can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.
Productivity
The yield of the variety is very high and is about 11 tons per hectare, which corresponds to 110 kg per hundred square meters or 3-4 kg per adult bush. Such good performance is largely associated with self-fertility. For the formation of berries, the Katyusha currant does not need pollinators. To maintain the yield at a consistently high level, it is necessary to regularly fertilize and periodically water the bushes abundantly.
Blackcurrant Katyusha brings 3-4 kg per bush
Frost resistance
The variety is winter hardy. It is adapted to the climatic conditions of the Middle Volga and Ural regions. In Siberia, it can freeze slightly, although it is allowed to grow with mandatory shelter for the winter.
Resistance to diseases
The blackcurrant variety Katyusha is not immune to fungal diseases. It can suffer from common infections:
- powdery mildew;
- anthracnose;
- columnar rust;
- gray rot and others.
Therefore, the bushes are recommended to be periodically inspected for the presence of mold, stains, mealy plaque and other extraneous signs. Every spring, preventive treatments are carried out with fungicides (Bordeaux Liquid, Oxyhom, Abiga-Peak and others). If necessary, spraying is repeated in the summer.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Katyusha currant variety has important advantages. It gives very tasty, fragrant berries of universal purpose. The culture is productive, tolerates winter frosts well even in the Urals.
Berries of a trade dress, possess excellent taste
Pros:
- increased productivity;
- universal purpose;
- high degree of self-fertility;
- fruits ripen evenly, not prone to shedding;
- high winter hardiness.
Cons:
- exactingness to the soil;
- bushes need to be protected from the wind;
- it is necessary to regularly do foliar top dressing;
- weak immunity to fungal infections;
- may be affected by pests.
How to plant
Currant Katyusha is planted in open, well-lit places. A small penumbra is allowed. It is desirable to have protection against drafts. Best of all, the culture grows on small hills. Lowlands should be avoided due to occasional stagnant water. The soil should be light, loose, moderately fertile. Loam with a slightly acidic pH of 6,0 to 6,5 is well suited.
Since planting is planned for autumn (from late September to mid-October), the soil should be prepared in the spring. Compost or humus is added to it (a bucket per square meter), if necessary, sand, sawdust are sealed (up to 3 kg per 1 m2).
When choosing a blackcurrant seedling Katyusha pay attention to the state of the root system. She must be healthy, without signs of disease. Several formed kidneys are required.
Pits are dug in advance, their diameter and depth are 50-60 cm each. The minimum interval between adjacent seedlings of Katyusha currant should be 1,8 m. Small stones, pebbles, and expanded clay are laid on the bottom. Then follows a layer of fertile soil, mixed with humus and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1.
When planting a seedling of currant varieties Katyusha act as follows:
- During the day, the roots are soaked in a mash with water, clay and a few drops of a solution – a growth stimulator, for example, Heteroauxin.
- They dig up the soil, put a seedling of Katyusha currant in the center.
- Place it at an angle of 45 degrees to the surface.
- Dip in soil and tamp.
- Watered with a bucket of settled water.
- Spend a total pruning of the shoots, leaving 2-3 buds on each.
- Spread mulch – it can be wood chips, hay, sawdust, straw, peat.
Step-by-step scheme for planting a seedling
Features of care
Katyusha currant gives a good harvest even with minimal care. Seedlings are watered twice a week, then reduced to one. Adult bushes moisturize as needed. At one time they are given 2-3 buckets.
Starting next spring (after autumn planting), Katyusha currants need to be fed regularly. In the spring, nitrogen compounds are given, for example, urea or ammonium nitrate. During the formation of buds, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are added. After harvesting give the same composition.
Mineral fertilizers for blackcurrants of the Katyusha variety should be alternated with organic ones:
- bird droppings;
- decoction based on nettle greens;
- manure slurry.
Periodically, the soil is loosened, weeding is done. In frosty regions, be sure to lay mulch for the winter.
Conclusion
Currant Katyusha is characterized by high yield, pleasant taste and good winter hardiness. The culture is unpretentious, responds to top dressing and periodic watering. Not immune to diseases and pests. Therefore, periodically plantings should be inspected, and every spring it is necessary to carry out sanitization.
Reviews of gardeners about currant Katyusha
