Red currant Darnitsa: description, planting and care

Redcurrant Darnitsa is a variety characterized by high yield, large, tasty and fragrant berries. It belongs to the fourth zone of winter hardiness, which makes it possible to grow crops in most regions.

History of breeding

Currant varieties Darnitsa obtained by breeders on the basis of crossing two varieties:

• Altai early;
• Rondom.

However, there are other data: this is a variety of Dutch selection, bred on the basis of IS UANN by specialists Kopan V.P. and Kopan K.M. (Ukraine). The culture is medium early, characterized by good winter hardiness, high immunity and ease of care. It is not included in the register of breeding achievements of the Federation, but it is known to many gardeners.

Description of the variety of red currant Darnitsa

The redcurrant bush Darnitsa is upright, with strong shoots of moderate thickness. The branches are spreading, the crown is dense. The branches are pinkish in color, do not have pubescence, darken with age. The plant is vigorous, reaches 150-170 cm in height.

Currant Darnitsa is distinguished by very large berries of bright red color. The mass of fruits reaches 1,2–1,5 g, which distinguishes them favorably against the background of many other varieties. The taste is pleasant, balanced, with hints of sweet and delicate sourness. The tasting score is high – 4,75 points. The surface of the berries is shiny, the skin is moderately dense, the separation is dry, so it is convenient to harvest by hand.

You can make jelly, jam, juices, fruit drinks, mousses and even homemade wine from them. Also, the fruits can be frozen to eat fresh in winter.

Redcurrant Darnitsa bears fruit in early July

Features

The variety has good resistance to adverse weather conditions, diseases and pests. Bushes give a stable harvest even with the minimum rules of cultivation.

Drought resistance, winter hardiness

The red currant variety Darnitsa is highly winter hardy (zone 4, withstands frosts down to -34 degrees without shelter). Therefore, bushes can be successfully bred both in the middle lane and in the south, and in regions with a more severe climate:

• Northwest;
• The Urals;
• Siberia;
• Far East.

The variety tolerates drought well. To harvest a good harvest of berries, the plant should be watered weekly during the hot period.

Pollination, flowering period and ripening period

Redcurrant Darnitsa is self-pollinated: its flowers, without the participation of bees and other pollen carriers, form ovaries themselves. Flowering begins in mid-June, the fruiting period is medium early: the fruits ripen in the first half of July.

Productivity and fruiting, keeping quality of berries

The redcurrant variety Darnitsa is productive. In favorable weather conditions and subject to agricultural practices, 10–12 kg of berries can be harvested from one adult bush. Ripening goes together, in one wave, which greatly facilitates the harvest.

Berries have a skin of medium density. Therefore, they do not differ in long-term keeping quality. For the same reason, fresh fruits cannot be transported over long distances.

Ripe berries of Darnitsa well come off the petioles, leaving no pulp

Disease and pest resistance

Redcurrant has a very good immunity. Variety Darnitsa rarely suffers from such common diseases:

• anthracnose;
• powdery mildew;
• septoria.

For prevention, it is enough to carry out a single treatment with fungicides in the spring. For this you can use:

• “Maksim”;
• “Fitosporin”;
• “Score”;
• Fundazol;
• Bordeaux liquid.

If there is an accumulation of insects in the garden, the Darnitsa redcurrant bushes can be treated 1-2 times with folk remedies:

• a solution of soap with ash, mustard powder;
• decoction of marigold flowers;
• infusion of chili pepper, garlic cloves.

You can also use insecticides: “Confidor”, “Match”, “Decis”, “Aktara”, “Green Soap” and others.

Advantages and disadvantages

The variety is valued by summer residents for a very pleasant taste, stable yield and large fruits. Culture has other advantages as well.

Berries of red currant Darnitsa pleasantly surprise with the size, taste and aroma

Pros:

• high yield;
• undemanding to care;
• resistance to frost and drought;
• self-fertility;
• excellent immunity to major diseases;
• relatively early maturation;
• versatility in application.

Cons:

• average keeping quality and transportability;
• sprawling bushes, grow;
• regular watering is required.

Features of planting and care

Red currant seedlings Darnitsa are purchased from trusted suppliers in early April. They need to be carefully examined. Shoots should be healthy, roots moistened. Leaves must be checked for foreign spots. The optimal seedling height is 30–35 cm.

The site for planting is prepared the day before in the fall;

• cleared of weeds;
• dig a shovel onto a bayonet;
• make humus or compost at the rate of 1 bucket per 2 m2;
• if the soil is clay, close up 1 kg of sawdust or sand on the same area.

In early April, several planting holes are dug 50–60 cm deep. Small stones are laid at the bottom. Landing algorithm:

1. The roots of seedlings of red currant Darnitsa are soaked in a growth stimulator: “Epin”, “Kornevin”.
2. Carefully straighten, planted at an angle of 45 degrees, as shown in the diagram.

   

3. Sprinkle with fertile soil with peat, compost or humus.
4. Add 2 tsp to each well. wood ash.
5. Deepen the root collar by 5–7 cm.
6. Tamped, watered.
7. After a month, they fill up the ground, tamp it down a little again and mulch with peat, sawdust, straw or other material.

The red currant variety Darnitsa is unpretentious, but in the first 1,5 months the seedlings need special care. At this time, they are watered 2-3 times a month with warm, settled water (5 liters per plant). When planting or a week later, a total pruning is carried out, leaving shoots no more than 30 cm high (with 4–5 buds).

If the soil is fertilized, additional top dressing is not needed in the first season. To get a good harvest of currants (starting from the second year), it is regularly fertilized according to this schedule (all dosages are indicated for one bush):

1. In early April – nitrogen fertilizer (urea 20 g or ammonium nitrate 15 g per 10 l).
2. During flowering and during the formation of ovaries – complex mineral fertilizer (30-40 g per 10 l).
3. After harvesting, red currants can be fed with wood ash (100–200 g) or a mixture of superphosphate and potassium salt (1 tbsp each).

Starting from the end of June, when carrying out top dressing, it is necessary to completely exclude nitrogen-containing components.

Another care tip is regular (every spring) pruning of currant bushes. They do this at the end of March, when the snow has melted, but the sap flow has not yet begun. It is necessary to remove all diseased and damaged branches. It is not necessary to cover the bush for the winter. In regions with a harsh climate, it is better to sprinkle young seedlings with foliage, sawdust, needles, straw or other materials.

Conclusion

Red currant Darnitsa is an unpretentious variety that gives a consistently high yield even with minimal care. Particular attention should be paid to watering and fertilizing. The rest of the rules of agricultural technology are standard: weeding, pruning, loosening the soil.

Reviews with photos about the red currant variety Darnitsa