Description of varieties of white currants
White currant does not differ from red currant in terms of useful properties, but it is suitable for allergy sufferers. The berries are sweet, you can eat them fresh, make jellies, compotes and wines.
This is a perennial shrub that is adapted to the climatic conditions of Russia. The currant is frost-resistant, lives and bears fruit for over 20 years. The first 5-8 years the yield is maximum, then it declines. To keep fruiting at the proper level, you need anti-aging pruning. You can distinguish young branches from old ones by color, perennial shoots of a red-brown hue.
White currant is self-fertile, but if you plant several bushes nearby, then the yield will increase
Popular varieties of white currants
The bushes are elongated, there is one growth bud. Fruits are formed on the shoots of the second year of life. Flowering lasts up to 17 days.
Description of the variety:
- Berries from white to light cream shade are collected in a brush. They have a dessert taste.
- Fruits contain a lot of sugar, potassium, iron and pectins. Ascorbic acid is less than in black currant.
Berries can be stored on the bushes until autumn, they do not crumble and do not lose their taste.
The bushes are not afraid of drought, since they have a powerful root system. During flowering, they are not afraid of frosts down to –1˚С.
There are few varieties, but they have a high yield. Most of them are adapted to the growing region, have a good survival rate, and are resistant to diseases and pests.
When choosing a variety, consider whether the currants are suitable for growing in your area. For example, for Siberia it is better to choose the types “Minusinskaya Belaya” or “Belaya Potapenko”. Universal variety – “Versailles”.
The main criterion when choosing a variety for regions with a cold climate is frost resistance and early ripening. For the central regions, disease resistance is important.
Popular varieties of currants:
- “Smolyaninovskaya”. Spreading currant, up to 2 m in height. Berries about 1 g, clusters up to 10 cm in length. Productivity up to 9 kg per bush. The variety is partially self-fertile. To increase fruiting, you need to plant a pollinator shrub nearby.
- “White Fairy”. The berries are white, weighing up to 0,8 g. They are collected in a brush up to 9 cm long. The yield per bush is up to 7 kg. Currants bear fruit from 2-3 years. The variety is resistant to pests and diseases.
- “Versailles White”. Shrub up to 1,5 m in height. The berries are light creamy, juicy, with a slight sourness. They are collected in clusters up to 9 cm long. Berries are 0,6-1,5 g. You can collect 4 kg of fruits. The variety is resistant to powdery mildew.
- “Bayana”. Late grade. Bushes are tall, up to 1,9 m. Berries weighing 0,5-0,7 g, sweet and sour. Suitable for making jelly. The yield is average, 5-6 kg of fruit can be harvested from the bush. The variety is frost-resistant, resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose, often affected by spider mites.
Other popular varieties are Yuteborgskaya, Belka, Kremovaya and Gollandskaya Belaya. For fresh consumption, the varieties “White Fairy” and “Smolyaninovskaya” are more suitable.
When growing currants, keep in mind that fertile soil with a pH of 5,5 is suitable for it. Plant shrubs in a sunny area in loamy or clayey soil.
By providing your shrubs with proper care, you can harvest them well every year.