The currant is unpretentious, hardy and brings a good harvest in the second year after planting. In addition, currant berries contain useful vitamins (A, B, C), iodine and coumarin. In this article, you will learn how to care for currants in the spring, the features of pest control, transplantation and methods of propagation of bushes.
Features of currant care in spring
After winter, there is a hot season for every gardener. This is a time of great work, in order to get a high yield in the fall - the period of transplantation, reproduction, fertilization of shrubs begins. The most important thing is to correctly calculate the time to start work, between the sleep of the plant and the growing season.
In addition, we recommend that you also read the article, which will tell you how to care for currant bushes in the fall.
Taking shelter after winter
For the winter, the currant bush is usually covered with polyethylene or other materials so that it does not freeze at too low temperatures. If the temperature drops to -35 degrees, it is recommended to cover the bush with boards, straw or pine needles.
In the spring, all the materials, bricks, and pins with which the shelter was attached to the ground are removed. The plant is straightened so that it extends to its full length. If you laid the branches of the bush in special trenches or grooves, all this also needs to be removed, and the plant should be returned to its normal form.
After removing the shelter, the first thing to do is clean up the area around the bush - mulch, fallen leaves, random debris. Using a rake, collect the fallen leaves, pests can hibernate in them, and at the first heat they move to the bush itself, so there should be no rotten leaves.
Watering
Currants are very fond of water, natural precipitation is not enough for it, so it must be watered regularly. It is especially important to avoid dryness during flowering, fruiting and after harvest. One bush needs 20 liters of water per week, but avoid stagnant water.
Loosening
Loosening the soil is an important part of plant care. It helps in pest control and is essential for removing weeds. It also helps to oxygenate the hardened soil. It must be carried out at least twice a year, in spring and autumn. Before loosening, you can add top dressing.
Mulching
This is a very good way to prevent harmful insects and parasites. Mulch acts as a moisture accumulator in the summer season and prevents parasites from overwintering in the roots of plants during the cold season.
In winter, mulch freezes so much that it kills pupae with insects inside. It also prevents weeds from overgrowing. Sawdust, hay, dry grass, bark, dry manure are used as mulch. Learn more about soil mulching in this article.
Mowed grass and foliage are especially popular with gardeners; after decay, they become an excellent fertilizer. Coniferous needles and bark contain large amounts of phytoncides that repel parasites.
Compost and manure protect the soil well from excess UV radiation and provide good aeration.
Fertilization
Normally, healthy plants in good soil do not need feeding for the first two years. The first fertilizers can be applied at 3-4 years of currant life. Compost, humus, superphosphate, ash are suitable as top dressing.
In the first weeks after warming, the plants do not need fertilization, they take all the necessary substances from the melted snow. They need to be brought in a little later, before the end of May, early June.
Watch a video about feeding currants in the spring:
After the dry period has begun, fertilizers are applied every 3-7 days, depending on the instructions for the product.
In early spring, nitrogen fertilizers are best suited as a feed for currants; they are used to cultivate the soil around the bushes. After the flowering of the bush, you can use organic matter - manure, chicken droppings, and more.
Weed control
No plant can live comfortably with weeds, as they suck out all the nutrients and moisture from the soil. It is imperative and regular to deal with them.
For young shoots of currants, weeds are especially dangerous, since they do not yet have enough strength to resist them, and the lack of minerals and water will affect the formation of the entire bush.
Weeds should not be allowed to appear at a distance of less than 0.5 m from the plant, and it is better if it is about 1-1.5 m.
After the area is cleared, currant-friendly plants can be planted. These include dill, garlic, celery, marigolds, calendula, and others. All of them are quite unpretentious and take root well in any soil, except sand.
It must be remembered that when dealing with weeds, you should not use special chemicals. Substances harmful to weeds will be detrimental to currants, especially if they are young, fragile bushes. Their harm can be so strong that it will destroy the shoots.
Pruning and tying bushes
High-quality plant care includes mandatory pruning, sanitary and bush-forming. They should be held at least once a year.
Sanitary pruning removes old, spoiled, diseased branches from the bush. Forming - removes unnecessary, overhanging branches, and forms the correct shape of the currant bush.
The most productive branches are 2-3 years old. It is necessary to shorten their tops in order to activate the emergence of new shoots. All unnecessary is removed so that the forces of the bush do not go to sluggish, diseased branches, but are concentrated in strong and healthy parts of the plant.
In the video below, the gardener shares his experience of pruning currants in the spring:
Treatment against diseases and pests
There are no plants that are completely resistant to all pests. Although the currant is a rather unpretentious plant, it is still necessary to periodically carry out prophylaxis against diseases and harmful insects. There are many ways of such prevention, which are selected taking into account the existing problem.
Fire treatment
Another method of pest control is fire treatment. Normally, the kidneys have a strong coating, and they are not dangerous for short-term exposure to fire. And for various insects and parasites, this method will be very effective.
It is advisable to carry out this treatment in early spring, in March, when the plant has not yet woken up. You need to take a torch or gas burner, bring it to the branches at a distance of at least 10 cm, and draw up and down along them several times.
Perform the procedure with great care so as not to damage the plant.
Boiling water treatment
Hot water or boiling water treatment is the first step in pest control. Whichever methods you use further, the first thing you need to do is spray the bush with hot water. It washes away larvae and small insects that have huddled under the bark, and also eliminates many pathogenic bacteria.
To process currants with boiling water, you can use the following recipe:
- add 10 aspirin tablets to a bucket of boiling water, stir well;
- pour the solution into a large watering can;
- thoroughly process all branches of the bush with a solution;
- a bucket of solution should be enough for 2-3 medium bushes.
If you add copper sulfate to the water, you get an excellent remedy against aphid larvae and pathogens of powdery mildew. To do this, you need to take 100 g of vitriol and 10 liters of water. Mix and spray well on currant roots and twigs. Repeat the treatment for several days.
It is impossible to water the plant with steep boiling water, the temperature should not be higher than 80 degrees. Hot water is poured into a watering can and each bush is watered, keeping it at a distance of 10 cm from the branches.
Biological treatment
Biologicals include products that contain active elements of plant origin, for example:
- "Lepidocide" - copes well with moth, currant glass, moth. This drug affects the reproduction of insects, they cannot reproduce and die out. Air temperature for processing is required from 15 degrees.
- "Bitoxibacillin" - has an effect on the intestinal functions of parasites, they cannot feed and die. Do not use during flowering and fruiting. Spraying air should be at least 17 degrees.
- "Trichodermin" - the active substance has an effect on pathogenic microbes. This is a safe remedy, it can be used even during the fruiting period. Works at temperatures from 14 degrees.
Treatment with pesticides
Chemicals are very effective in combating parasites, but many gardeners are afraid to use them, fearing harm to human health. Each type of pest has its own specific means, they will be most effective if used according to the instructions.
In the spring, during the period of mass appearance of butterflies, currants are sprayed for the first time with Fufanon, Iskra-M, Kemifos and others. The second stage of processing is the period of bud tying, such substances as "Actellik", "Kinmiks", "Fufanon" will be useful.
If you suspect the presence of a fungus in the bush, as soon as the first leaves bloom, use such means: "Novosil", "Epin", "Zircon". When the first flowers appear, you must repeat the procedure.
Folk remedies
There are many proven pest control methods out there. They are quite effective and do not harm human and plant health. We will talk about some of them below.
May is the blooming period of elderberry and lilac. Also at this time, currant flowers bloom. Stick twigs of these flowers into the middle of the bush, and insects will fly to a stronger and more attractive scent.
Onion solution is also a good folk remedy. To prepare it, take 100 g each of garlic and onion, chop them and fill with a bucket of water. Leave to infuse for a day. Strain the solution and spray on the branches. One bucket is enough for 2-3 bushes.
You can also use a solution of laundry soap or tar. Take 200 g of the chosen product, grate and mix with a bucket of water.
In order for folk remedies to have an optimal effect, you need to continue to use them for at least 5 days in a row, and after the currant blooms, repeat the course again.
Transplanting currants in spring
Experienced gardeners have two opinions - some believe that replanting currants in early autumn, before the temperature drops below 0, will bring less stress to the plant than if it is done in spring. Others believe that it is better to replant the currants in the spring when the ground warms up to 5-10 degrees.
It is worth noting that severe winter frosts can harm an immature, weak plant. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with the features of the spring currant transplant:
- You need to choose the right place for the transfer. The most important thing is that you should not plant currants in a darkened place. This plant loves sunlight, with a lack of it, the number of berries decreases, and the bush itself weakens, is exposed to various diseases and attack of parasites. If there is a lot of moisture at the planting site, fungal diseases, for example, brown spot, may appear. Currants need free open space and plenty of sun.
- The soil for transplanting should not be too wet, otherwise the roots will quickly begin to rot. Swampy areas and those areas where groundwater is shallow are not suitable for currants. It is best if it is medium humidity chernozem with an admixture of loam.
- Do not plant currants in the "second tier", as they are too susceptible to fungal infections. Better to plant it separately from other plants.
- Red currants will feel very good in the soil mixed with sand. If this is not the case, you can do it yourself, for this you just add crushed stone, about 5 cm, and 10-15 cm of sand to the soil.
Adhering to these simple rules, you can get a good harvest of berries next year. And in full force, the bush will begin to bear fruit in 2-3 years.
Reproduction of currants in the spring
If you decide to plant or propagate currant bushes in the spring, remember that these plants wake up quite early. You need to monitor the bush in order to have time to do all the procedures before the start of the growing season, otherwise you can greatly harm the plant. Choose in advance the breeding method for the bush.
Cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is very popular as it is very simple and economical. For example, from one bush with the help of cuttings, you can get 10, 20 or even 100 new plants.
Usually in the spring and autumn, woody cuttings of the bush are taken, and in the summer you can use green ones. Lignified cuttings are called shoots about a year old. You need to choose strong branches from healthy bushes. If you are performing the procedure in the spring, you can prepare cuttings during the seasonal pruning of currants.
Pay attention to the size of the cuttings. They must be mature, have a diameter of at least 6 mm, and a length of 15 cm. The amount of nutrients that are especially needed by the plant during the adaptation period depends on the length of the shoot.
When shaping the cuttings, make an incision at the top, above the kidney using scissors or a knife, the distance from the kidneys should be about 1 cm. An oblique cut is made at the bottom, under the lower kidney.
Plant the cuttings in well-prepared pits with compost and manure. It is best to plant young shoots along a rope 10-15 cm high. Between plantings there should be a free space of at least 40 cm, this will make the process of transplanting to a permanent place more convenient.
For quick adaptation, you can help cuttings, for this they are put in a liquid to stimulate growth, left for 12-24 hours, and then placed in prepared soil.
Propagation by cuttings is a very simple process with a good result, if done correctly, almost all shoots will take root. This method does not take much time and effort, and will bring a good harvest in a year.
Layers
There is another proven way of propagating currants - layering from the main bush. Its main advantage is almost 100% survival rate.
This method can be used for any type of currant. It consists in the fact that the layers are laid in trenches created by the mother bush, outwardly resembling the sun's rays, and sprinkled with soil on top.
To strengthen the cuttings more securely, set a V-shaped wire or stick to help the young bushes adapt. After a year, when they take root, the wire can be removed, and then the plants can be planted in a permanent place.
Features of currant care in different regions
Depending on the climate, soil, rainfall, and many other factors, the peculiarities of caring for currants also differ. Let's note the basic rules that do not change depending on the region:
- well-lit landing site;
- soil with moderate moisture;
- not too dense planting of bushes;
- timely watering and fertilization;
- avoidance of a large number of weeds;
- fight against parasites and diseases;
- seasonal pruning.
Pruning of bushes in central Russia is usually carried out in February, in the Urals after all frosts - in late March, early April.
Pest control in each region begins at a different time, and depends on the time the insects emerge from the soil.
Top dressing and fertilization of plants depends on the soil, and differs in each climatic zone. Belarus has good soil, so you can apply top dressing here once every two years. In the Urals and Siberia, the soil needs to be fed every year.
Since any plant is subject to temperature changes and is very dependent on the weather, different varieties of currants, specially bred for a particular region, will grow well in each climatic zone.
The following varieties are suitable for the Urals and Siberia:
- Pygmy;
- Nika;
- Annadi;
- Venus;
- Fun;
- Rachel;
- Lydia.
For the territory of Belarus and Ukraine, there are much fewer varieties, since their warmer climate allows you to grow a large number of other berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries. But still, we list varieties suitable for a warm climatic zone:
- Belorusochka;
- Blueberry;
- Claudia;
- Peacock;
- Sanut;
- Lazy person.
There are also differences in the planting of bush seedlings. The Ural ones take root well in the autumn, they are more resistant to frost, and the Belarusian ones are better planted in the spring.
Currants cannot stand the neighborhood with an apple tree, even with a distance between them of 4-5 meters. The berry bush can stop growing and even stop bearing fruit. Therefore, if you have a lot of apple trees in your garden, you need to think carefully about the place of planting seedlings.
Typical care mistakes
The most common mistakes inexperienced gardeners make when growing currants are:
- Incorrectly chosen place for planting bushes.
- The shady area is harmful for this plant - it bears worse fruit, suffers from diseases and parasites.
- Too open, hot place with scorching sun also causes burns on the top leaves, dry tops and low yield. The best place would be an area where during the hottest part of the day the bush remains protected by the shade from a building, tree or fence.
- The unwillingness of the gardener to cut the branches of the bush in time. At first, it seems to many that the larger and more spreading the bush, the more berries you can collect from it. But no, if the currant grows too much, the light falls unevenly on the branches, the bush begins to run wild, the yield drops.
- Natural precipitation is not enough for currants, it must be watered regularly. Water scarcity is especially destructive during periods of active growth, development and reproduction.
Currant is a rather unpretentious plant, and if you follow all the recommendations for care, it will delight you with a rich harvest every year. To do this, it is enough to adhere to the above tips.