Blackcurrant Riddle

Blackcurrant Riddle is a berry that contains a large amount of nutritious, useful microelements necessary for the human body, especially during a period of vitamin deficiency. Currants are very easy to grow, therefore they are found in gardens and vegetable gardens of all gardeners. One of the good varieties is the black currant Riddle. This variety is popular as it produces a large and high-quality crop, while requiring only basic care. Also currant Riddle grows well in hot and cold climates, adjusting to the temperature.

general information

Many gardeners plant the Riddle currant variety not only for the harvest, but also for decorating the garden plot. The bush is very beautiful, medium in size, slightly spreading. The branches of the tree are located at a close distance from each other, creating a dense crown. Growing and lignified shoots are thick, long, even, sometimes there are bends at the ends. The leaves have five lobes. They are wide, long, elongated and pointed at the ends of the blades, red-green in color.

Brushes with berries can reach up to 8 centimeters in length, fruits are unevenly distributed. The weight of one fruit is about 1.4 grams. The berries are sweet to taste, tasters rate the palatability at 9.4 points. The skin of the fruit is dense, thick, black-blue in color with small yellow dots. The berries and the bush have a pronounced pleasant aroma that spreads a short distance from the bush itself. The yield level of the variety is high, one bush bears about 3.4 kilograms of fruit. If you want to increase the amount of the crop, you need to plant a pollinator neighbor.

History of creation

Black currant Riddle: photo of the variety

Currant Riddle was displayed at a scientific research institute in Moscow. Crossing between Nicky and Rival was carried out. The author is V. Litvinova.

The currant variety Zagadka has been registered on the market and has been in the state register for about 40 years. Despite his age, he is still popular due to his positive qualities.

Black currant Riddle: variety description

This variety is preferred to plant on their site, thanks to its taste, as well as the quality of the fruit. The bush of this variety can grow up to 160 centimeters in height. The shoot of the tree has a small number of villi, they are yellow-gray in color, with age they acquire a brown color. The foliage is different, there are five-lobed and three-lobed leaves. At the ends, the sheet is elongated and strongly pointed. Veins of different sizes are located along the leaf plate.

The flowers of the bush appear during the flowering period, they are small in size, densely collected in 6-7 pieces per inflorescence. The petals are quite dense, forming a small flower. The flowering period begins in late May and ends in mid-June.

Note: In order to increase the amount of the crop, it is necessary to carry out a large-scale planting of the variety so that several currant bushes grow on the garden plot.

Black currant Riddle: characteristic of the variety

The fruits of the currant Riddle have a regular, round shape, the skin of the berry is black and blue. The size of the berry is about 1 centimeter in length and width. Full ripening occurs at the end of July, at the beginning of August, the ripening period directly depends on the climate in which the currants grow.The Riddle fruits have a large amount of nutrients: pectin, vitamin C, phosphoric acid, titratable acids, phosphorus, iron, calcium, salts, natural sugars, essential oils, magnesium, copper.

The fruits can be used everywhere, since the black currant Riddle is a variety of universal use. Most often, the fruits are used in baking, preservation and preparation. The litter can independently pollinate up to 70-80%. It is resistant to frost and spring frost. The currants showed increased resistance to the appearance of diseases and attack by pests.

The variety has a high yield, one bush yields about 4 kilograms of berries.

Blackcurrant Riddle: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Large fruit size.
• Resistant to frost and frost.
• Increased immunity to certain diseases and pests.
• Self pollination.

Minuses:

• Additional care.
• Weak resistance to terry.

Based on the data, the gardener decides whether he will grow the variety or not, but most often they do not look at the shortcomings, since they are insignificant.

Blackcurrant Riddle: planting

Before you start planting, you need to prepare a place for a seedling, choose a seedling, and decide on the time of planting. These preparatory measures are necessary in order for the seedling to take root faster and bring the harvest soon. When choosing litter, it is necessary to take into account the weather conditions in a particular region, the soil of the garden plot.

Where to plant?

The riddle prefers sunny areas, since it is there that it develops and takes root faster. The place should be well protected from strong winds and drafts. If the planting is carried out in a dark place, then the bush will not take root and will die. The soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline, as currants grow poorly on acidic soils.

Landing.

The root system of this variety develops quickly and well, so when planting, you need to take this into account, digging a large hole, about 60 centimeters long and 6 centimeters deep. The pit should be prepared 2-3 weeks before planting, so that the soil has time to sit down and compact. The preparation of the pit consists in the introduction of a small amount of complex fertilizer, which is necessary for the bush for the first time.

Before planting, it is necessary to water the hole well and wait until it is completely absorbed, for about 1.5 hours. Then the currant seedling is placed in the pit, gently straightening the root system. After that, the roots are covered with earth, the soil is gradually compacted and a little watering is carried out.

How to propagate currants?

Currants can reproduce in vegetative ways. These methods are considered the most popular and easiest to use. One of them is grafting. For this method, you need a branch of currants with a length of 23-26 centimeters or a green shoot. Young shoots can also be used.

Blackcurrant Riddle: leaving

Black currant Riddle: photo of the variety

The first step in maintenance is watering. For each bush, about 5-7 liters of water will be enough. In order for moisture not to evaporate from the soil, it is necessary to mulch using peat or straw. In this case, the soil will also be warm. The riddle is a variety that does not tolerate drought, so the soil must always be moist, but excess moisture will be just as bad as drought. With excessive watering, the root system will begin to rot and the plant will wither, and then completely die.

In the first half of July, 5 liters of water will be enough; in the long term, irrigation is maintained in the same amount. Before winter, the bushes are watered for the last time, using 18-22 liters of water.

Fertilization.

It is necessary to feed the soil of the currants, since the bush spends energy on the formation of berries, and in their absence, the crop will be small or there will be none at all. During the season, 3 dressings are usually applied.The first feeding is carried out in early spring, before bud break. During this period, a mixture is used, which includes urea 10 grams, ammonium nitrate 15 grams, 100 grams of droppings. This mixture is stirred in 5 liters of water and watering is carried out.

The next application is in the summer. During this period, 3 grams of fertilizer with a large amount of potassium, 8 grams of fertilizing with phosphorus are added to 5 liters of water. The last fertilization is done after harvest. You can use a complex fertilizer, since it contains a mixture of all the necessary trace elements for the plant.

You should not apply more fertilizers, as excess contributes to the depletion of the immune system and the death of the bush from a disease or pest, as it becomes vulnerable.

How to deal with diseases and pests?

The currant variety Riddle has a strong immune system, so it rarely gets sick. The Riddle expresses resistance to many fungal diseases. If you properly care for the bush, make the necessary fertilizing, then the risk of infection is reduced to a minimum.

In addition to basic care, gardeners are advised to thin out the shoots, reducing the density of branches and shoots, it is also necessary to trim. During the season, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatments that will protect the currants from pests, for example, from bud mites or powdery mildew, white spot.

If the care is not followed, the plant will often get sick, pests, insects and diseases begin to slow down the functioning of the bush, so the amount of harvest may decrease by 3-5 times or there may be no harvest at all.

In order to avoid infection, the gardener needs to carry out regular check-ups so that he can spot the disease in the early stages and quickly prevent it.

If the currant Riddle is still sick, then it is necessary to carry out pruning, during which it is necessary to remove the infected parts and burn them. Then it is necessary to carry out treatment with fungicides or a solution of Bordeaux liquid.

Carrying out pruning.

Pruning is necessary in order to achieve the required shape in order to clear the bush of unnecessary parts. Extra branches, shoots take a lot of strength for growth, which is why the fruits may become smaller.

In the process of pruning, it is necessary to remove dry shoots, broken branches, shoots that are more than 5 years old, remove weak parts of the bush. The gardener can shape pruning, that is, give the bush any shape he likes. This pruning should be done once every 2 years. Sanitary pruning can be done several times per season.

How to prepare currants for the winter period?

Currant Riddle is a variety that perfectly tolerates temperature changes in the environment. It can withstand temperatures down to -29 degrees. In any case, despite the temperature, gardeners recommend sheltering, since temperature is a fickle factor that can drop sharply. At temperatures lower than -29 degrees, the bush is frozen and may die. Also, the shelter will protect the shoots, buds from hypothermia and the next year the currants will bring a high-quality, large harvest.

It is necessary to cover the bush at the end of October, it is at this time that severe frosts appear. Before the shelter, it is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning, as well as make the last dressing.

Harvesting

You can harvest black currant Riddle at the beginning of August, by which time the fruits will become juicy and fully ripe. The berries can be stored for about 8 days. Harvesting is necessary only in dry weather, thus, the shelf life is increased to 10 days. If the weather is humid, then the fruits can deteriorate in 2-3 days.

Berries, currants Riddle perfectly tolerate transportation, even over long distances.

If the gardener adheres to all the advice, properly care for the crop, then the harvest will become large, high-quality and black currant. The riddle will delight its owner not only with fruits, but also with its appearance.