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There are a large number of blackcurrant varieties. Some of them are young, but there are also “old” varieties that are still popular due to their unique properties. Thus, blackcurrant by Veloi, created in the last century, does not leave indifferent connoisseurs of culture.
In some sources, the variety is called Leningrad sweet. Perhaps because one of the parents was the Leningrad giant currant, and the other was Ojebyn. The variety was created by breeders E.V. Volodina, S.P. Khominskaya, N.N. Khabarova. Almost immediately, the Veloy currant was entered into the State Register and recommended for cultivation in the northern and central regions of Our Country.
Description
In the description of blackcurrant Veloy, given by breeders, it is indicated that the variety belongs to a culture of medium-late ripening. Experienced gardeners can recognize a plant by its external features and botanical properties.
Bushes
A distinctive feature of the blackcurrant variety Veloy is the semi-spreading of the bush. Thickening, according to gardeners, is not observed.
The shrub consists of upright shoots of different years:
- Shoots of the first year of life are pubescent, thick with an uneven pinkish color.
- Twigs of older currant are gray-brown or beige. The lower part of the shoots is thick, slightly thinner towards the top.
On the branches of chokeberry Veloy or Leningradskaya sweet, thick buds of medium size are clearly visible. They are pink or pink-purple in egg shape. The location of the kidneys is parallel to the shoot. The base is pressed against the branch, and the pointed tip is slightly rejected.
Leaf blades
Blackcurrant leaves are rounded with five lobes. They are matte, dark green in color with a bronze tint. Pubescence is observed along the veins in the upper part of the leaf. The underside is completely pubescent. Leaf blades are vesicular-wrinkled, dense, even rough.
The leaf blades are convex, the tops of the lobes are slightly folded along the midrib. The veins are not distinguished by color. Blade blades of different lengths. The middle lobe protrudes far forward, the lateral parts of the leaf are shorter. Leaves sit on thick green petioles.
Flowers
The buds of the currant variety Veloy are large, glass-shaped, greenish-white in color with a barely noticeable pink. The rounded petals are collected in an ovoid cup. Bisexual flowers are located on strong brushes of different lengths.
Up to eight berries are tied in each brush of Veloya. They are evenly spaced and firmly held on the brush itself. The photo below shows a flowering chokeberry variety Veloy.
berries
According to the description, currants of the Veloy variety have large rounded black berries with a thick, medium-shiny skin. The sizes of berries are from 1,6 to 3,5 grams. Each berry contains a large number of seeds. The stalk is thick, small. Separation of ripe fruit dry. These characteristics of the Leningrad sweet currant are confirmed by the reviews of gardeners and the photos they send.
Berries to taste correspond to the name Leningradskaya sweet. They really are, because there are about 9,9% of various sugars in black fruits. Berries of the Veloy variety with a true currant aroma.
Characteristics
Blackcurrant of any variety has its advantages and disadvantages. That is why, in order to decide whether Veloy is needed on the site, you need to know the characteristics of the variety with all the pluses and minuses.
Positive sides
- Precocity. Currant variety Leningradskaya sweet immediately after planting gives a good increase in the form of young shoots, which already next summer begin to please the harvest.
- Large fruit and palatability. Berries of black color attract with their size, but, most importantly, sweet taste and aroma.
- High and stable yield. Blackcurrant varieties Leningradskaya sweet are grown not only in summer cottages, but also on an industrial scale. Subject to agricultural technology, up to 4 kg of tasty and fragrant berries are harvested from one bush.
- Versatility of use. Berries of blackcurrant Veloy are delicious fresh, and are also used to make marmalade and preserves, jams and marshmallows, juices and compotes. The fruits can be dried and frozen.
- Variety Veloy is a self-fertile currant, it does not need pollinators.
- Transportability is good. Dense berries, if not overripe, are removed with a dry separation, so they do not flow during transportation.
- Winter hardiness. Already initially, when the Veloy currant variety was created, breeders thought about the immunity of the plant. It was just bred for cultivation in the harsh conditions of the north and central Our Country.
- Resistance to diseases and pests. Powdery mildew and bud mite infect currant bushes of the Veloy variety very rarely.
Disadvantages
The Leningradskaya sweet variety does not have any special drawbacks. Although some nuances are still worth paying attention to:
- berries do not ripen at the same time, so they have to be collected in several stages;
- although the description says that the separation of the fruit is dry, when overripe, the berries burst and flow.
As you can see, the advantages are several times less than the disadvantages. This is what gives the variety Leningradskaya sweet popularity for several decades.
About the blackcurrant variety Veloy:
About planting currants
For planting blackcurrant, high-quality seedlings are needed. They are not cheap. Of course, if you don’t have a variety, you can buy one or two seedlings. And only then to receive planting material on their own.
How to propagate
According to the description and reviews of gardeners, as well as the photos sent, the Veloy blackcurrant variety breeds traditionally:
- green cuttings;
- horizontal and arc layers:
- division of the bush.
Blackcurrant quickly builds up the root system. Work can be done in spring, summer or autumn. But experienced gardeners prefer autumn reproduction. Planted in late September, early October (depending on the climatic conditions of the region), seedlings begin to grow in spring, the bush develops well.
Preparing for planting
Before planting, you need to decide on a place for the bushes. If you want the Leningrad sweet blackcurrant to fully justify its name, the bushes should grow in a well-lit place.
Veloy black currant is a lover of fertile soil with a weak alkaline reaction. Loams are considered the best option. The planting hole should be large so that there is plenty of room for the root system – a depth of at least 40 cm and a diameter within 50 cm.
The excavated soil is piled next to the pit. Humus and wood ash are also prepared. Drainage is placed in the hole down. It is best to use pieces of wood, which, when rotting, will warm the root system and feed the plant.
The excavated earth and the prepared components are mixed and the pit is covered by a third. Then it is filled with water. In this state, the pit should stand for at least a week so that the soil settles.
Planting a seedling
Seedlings, especially those purchased in a distribution network, must be soaked for a day in a growth stimulator. If there is no such remedy, ordinary honey will do. Add a tablespoon of sweets to a bucket of water. Plants will be fed with useful substances, and the stress from the transplant will be less.
A little fertile soil is poured into a pre-prepared pit, a seedling is placed at an angle of 45 degrees. The roots are well straightened. If the root system of the seedling is too long, it is shortened. The optimal length of the roots is 20-25 cm.
The seedling is covered with soil, watered abundantly. A large amount of water at this stage is important. It “carries” the soil throughout the pit, fills the air pockets and provides better adhesion of the roots to the soil.
When planting a seedling, the pit is not immediately filled to the full depth. After watering, when the earth sags, the bush is slightly raised so that the root neck is above the surface. Then the soil is again poured and watered. In order for the moisture to work longer for the rooting of the seedling, the plantings are immediately mulched. Peat, humus or sawdust can be used as mulch.
Planted blackcurrant bushes must be pruned. 3-4 buds are left on the shoot, the height of the stem should be no more than 15-20 cm. This not only increases the stress resistance of the plant, but also gives the seedling the opportunity to grow the root system. After all, the currant does not have to spend energy on the “maintenance” of a large above-ground part.
You can see about the reproduction of black currant by dividing the bush here:
Bush care
No special rules are required when caring for Veloy blackcurrant, everything is traditional
Watering
Water-charging watering is carried out in early spring and autumn before wintering. Currant requires more water during flowering and tying berries. In other periods, the bushes are watered moderately.
Additional fertilizing
Meals are laid for the first time upon landing. Then top dressing is done annually. Today, gardeners strive to grow an environmentally friendly crop, so they try not to use mineral fertilizers.
From organic matter, blackcurrant bushes are more fond of mullein, infusions of green grass, nettle. Sprinkling wood ash under the root provides plants with useful trace elements. Many gardeners advise putting grated potatoes or peelings under the bushes in spring and autumn.
Top dressing is carried out in spring and autumn, as well as at the time of filling and ripening of berries, combining them with watering.
Loosening and removing weeds
After watering, the surface under the blackcurrant bushes must be loosened, while removing the weeds. Loosening should be superficial so as not to damage the root system.
Trimming
In order for the currant to bear fruit well, it is pruned annually. Work is carried out in spring, summer and autumn. During autumn pruning, old branches and extra shoots of the first year of life are removed. In the spring, broken branches are removed and each of them is cut by 5 centimeters. Shoots with signs of disease are also subject to removal.
Since the blackcurrant of the Veloy variety, according to the description and reviews of gardeners, has an average growth of young shoots, the extra shoots are also cut out. Otherwise, the bushes will thicken greatly. This can cause a decrease in berries, a decrease in yield and the appearance of diseases and pests. Leave a few of the strongest shoots to replace.
Pruning rules:
Diseases and pests
According to the description and characteristics, blackcurrant of the Veloy variety is resistant to many diseases. But, since there may be other bushes nearby, you will have to carry out preventive treatments with special preparations.
If we talk about pests, then most of all blackcurrants are annoyed by aphids. For spraying, you can prepare an extract from wood ash. A glass of ashes is poured with three liters of boiling water and insisted for a day.