How and when to harvest currants

Currant is one of the favorite berry crops among gardeners. Red, white and black varieties are grown in home gardens. Subject to agrotechnical rules, you can grow a generous harvest of tasty, healthy berries. But it is not enough to grow a healthy bush, you need to know how to harvest red currants.

When to pick currants

Harvest time depends on the variety and location. In the southern regions, ripening occurs in the middle of summer, in areas with an unstable climate, the collection begins at the end of summer and ends at the beginning of autumn.

It is necessary to collect black and red currants in full maturity. Since an unripe berry crop will not have useful properties, it cannot be frozen, dried and preserved for the winter. When eating unripe specimens, indigestion and intestinal upset may occur.

Definition of ripeness:

1. Depending on the variety, the peel becomes purple or bright red.
2. The fruits are quickly separated from the stalk.
3. The branch changes from green to brown.
4. The taste of mature specimens is sweet and sour, the aroma is rich.
5. When overripe, the crop begins to crumble from the bush.

Also, when harvesting, it must be remembered that old red currant bushes ripen a week later than young ones. The term directly depends on the climate, so cleaning is carried out at different times:

Also, the ripening time depends on the varietal characteristics:

• early black and red varieties acquire technical ripeness in mid-June;
• mid-season – at the end of June, beginning of July;
• late – in early or mid-August.

Methods for collecting currants

The removal of red and black currants from the bush is done manually and mechanized. A currant harvester is used when grown on an industrial scale or if a large number of bushes grow on the site.

Devices for collecting currants from a bush

Harvesting black and red varieties is a laborious and time-consuming job, so gardeners resort to various devices to make work easier.

The berry picker is the best assistant when harvesting. The currant harvester is strong, light and very handy. When working, he does not tear off the leaves and does not crush the berries. With a certain skill, the time is reduced by 3-4 times.

For a quick harvest of red currants, you can use a comb combine. He carefully removes the crop from the brush, without damaging the bush and without tearing the leaves.

Currant harvesting rules

The shelf life depends on compliance with the recommendations. Collection rules:

1. You can not be late with the deadline, as overripe specimens crumble, crack and become soft.
2. Cleaning is carried out in the morning or evening, in dry, not hot weather. If the collection is carried out in rainy weather, then the crop will not be stored. When harvested in hot weather, the fruits lose their taste, aroma and vitamins.
3. Before removing the red and black crop, it is necessary to prepare the container. It should be shallow, dry and clean. A tray or small box will do for this. The crop is placed in a container in a thin layer so as not to wrinkle the bottom layer. Red currants are not recommended to be sprinkled often, as they have a thin peel and can crack and wrinkle.
4. Black fruits are harvested individually with a stalk. Red – removed from the bush directly with a twig. Since black ripens unevenly, the collection is stretched in 2-3 doses.
5. If unripe specimens are caught during the collection process, they can reach technical ripeness in the refrigerator in a few days. But useful and taste qualities will differ significantly from ripe ones.
6. After harvesting, the crop is sorted out, red currant berries are removed from the branch, plant debris and spoiled specimens are removed. Then spread in a single layer on a paper towel to remove moisture.

Berry storage

Fresh red and black fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks, while they do not lose their taste and useful properties. When stored fresh, red currants are not washed, they are thoroughly dried, the berries are removed from the twig. Fresh shelf life is extended by placing a freshly harvested crop in an airtight container or glass jar.

Also, red currants can be frozen in plastic bags. The expiration date will be 360 ​​days. Before laying in the freezer, it is sorted out, thoroughly washed and dried.

Preservation for the winter is a sure way to preserve taste and nutrients. To preserve all the vitamins, you can cook raw jam. To do this, the red berry is ground and sugar is added in a ratio of 1: 1. After dissolving the sugar, the jam is transferred to clean jars and put away for storage.

You can also cook dried berry fruits. The crop is sorted, washed and dried. Then they are laid out in a thin layer on a baking sheet and put in the oven for 2-3 hours at 200-230 ° C. During the drying process, for better air circulation, the door should be ajar. The degree of readiness is checked by the berry; a properly dried product does not emit juice.

Conclusion

Harvesting red currants is a long and laborious process. But subject to the terms and rules of collection, the berry will enrich the body with the necessary vitamins, which are so lacking in the winter. Red currants can be frozen, dried, or prepared as a fortified compote and jam that will appeal not only to children, but also to adults.