Planting Red Currants

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Black and red currants are close relatives, but each has its own characteristics. In particular, red currants take root somewhat worse. And if the planting of black can still be postponed until October, then its brighter sister should be placed in the garden in September

The importance of getting the right landing time

Planting currant cuttings in the garden is done both in spring and autumn. However, if there is such an opportunity, it is better to hurry up to carry out this work in the autumn months, without waiting for next spring. The trick is that cuttings planted in the fall in the spring will have a more developed root system, which will not compete with the blossoming buds. Therefore, they root better and grow more actively than specimens planted in spring.

If planting is carried out in spring, the development of the aboveground part will outpace the formation of roots. At the same time, the cutting does not receive the necessary nutrition from the soil, it is depleted and dries up. Therefore, up to a quarter of cuttings planted in spring do not take root in the open field. As for the red currant in particular, in the spring it is preferable to propagate it with horizontal layers, which are separated from the mother bush closer to autumn.

Preparing cuttings

For cuttings, ripe annual shoots are selected on 2-3-year-old branches. They are cut to a length of about 18-20 cm and approximately 5-6 buds should remain on each. The place of the cut is marked in such a way that in the upper part the cutting of red currant has a diameter of at least 6 mm. In addition, the upper cut is made straight, approximately 1 cm above the kidney. This will prevent it from drying out. The lower cut is made at an angle. The leaves are removed from the cuttings.

Red currants take root worse than black ones. To increase the chances of survival, such a technique as kilchevaya will help. To do this, the cuttings are tied in bundles of 20-30 pieces, and then the resulting sheaf is immersed with the lower sharp ends by 5-6 cm in a humid environment - it can be moistened peat or sand, or just a vessel with water. Cuttings in this container are kept in a cool room for at least 10 days.

The result of kilchevaya should be crowned with the formation of callus on the cut. His appearance is a signal that it is time to start planting cuttings in the ground.

Planting treated cuttings

Landing is carried out at a distance of about 7 cm from each other. The cuttings are buried in the ground at an angle of approximately 60 °. Planting depth should be such that only 2 buds remain above ground level. The soil around the cutting must be well compacted, tamping the voids, and then watered abundantly with water. After that, the plantings are mulched. It is best to use humus for this, but peat or fallen leaves are also suitable.

Preferences of red currants regarding the site for planting

For currants, it is better to allocate areas that are open to sunlight, but protected from strong winds and drafts.

Since the shrubs are very light-requiring, it would be unwise to grow them in partial shade created by the openwork foliage of the trees. You should not expect abundant fruiting from such a placement, if at all. A place for currants can be set aside near the fences of your plots. However, with the condition that the fence is made of chain-link and does not shade the bush.

Too low or very high areas are not the best place to place currants. Red currants, unlike black ones, are not very demanding on moisture. However, it is desirable that the groundwater level is not higher than 1 m.

Red currants have their own preferences regarding the composition of the soil. Light and sandy loam soils are more suitable for it.