Blackcurrant Dove

In the modern world, there are a large number of varieties of currants. Breeders are breeding more and more crops that differ from each other in certain features, criteria, have advantages and disadvantages. Before you grow black currants in your area, you should carefully familiarize yourself with this or that variety, find out its characteristics, planting and care rules. In this article, we will consider the black currant Dove.

Black currant Dove: variety description

Black currant Dove: photo of the variety

The black currant variety Golubka was bred at the Siberian Institute by crossing two crops: this is the Sanders variety and the Primorsky champion. After that, the plant became popular throughout Russia. The shrub is self-fertile, the berries ripen very early and in large quantities.

In addition, the black currant Pigeon has a high frost resistance. However, currants are not sufficiently resistant to various fungal diseases and some pests. The shrub is of medium height and has a fairly thick semi-spreading crown.

The length of the brush reaches about 5 or 6 cm. At the same time, about 8 berries usually ripen on one brush. The fruits are medium in size and resemble an oval shape. The skin is quite thin and covered with a characteristic bloom. The fruits do not tolerate long-term transportation, so they must be eaten either fresh or used for canning.

The black currant variety Golubka is loved among gardeners of the Urals, in the Volgo-Vyatka region, in Siberia, as well as throughout the Central zone of Russia.

When creating black currant Golubok, breeders paid special attention to the plant's resistance to low winter temperatures, thanks to which it became possible to grow the plant in those regions that are characterized by 30-degree winter frosts.

The leaves of the black currant dove grow quite densely, are of medium size and have a pronounced dark green hue. At the edges, the leaves are curled, and also characterized by the presence of cutouts. The surface of the leaves is quite smooth.

Black currant Dove: characteristic features of the variety

Black currant Dove has a high immunity to diseases such as anthracnose, terry, but is often affected by powdery mildew, as well as kidney mites. The flowering period here lasts from late spring to early summer. The flowers have a red hue, and there are also light pink petals.

After the flowering period ends, berries are formed on the brushes, about 7 pieces each. This variety of currants is considered early maturing, so you can harvest in the middle of summer. More than 2 kg of fruit can be harvested from one black currant bush.

The berries have a pronounced pleasant aroma and a fairly large size, about 1.5 g. The fruits contain a large number of useful substances, including vitamin C, sugar, acids, and so on. The fruits ripen almost at the same time and can hang for quite a long time without falling off.

The fruit pulp tastes sweet. However, experts do not give the variety a high tasting rating. In addition, the berries do not tolerate transportation well, so most of all the fruits of this currant variety are suitable for canning.

Blackcurrant Dove: the pros and cons of the variety

Like any plant, the black currant variety Pigeon has both advantages and disadvantages.Gardeners have noticed both the pros and cons of the culture, so reviews of black currant Dove are contradictory.

Among the positive properties are high frost resistance, a quick onset of fruiting and a fairly high immunity to anthracnose and terry.

The disadvantages of the plant are the inability to transport, the low taste of the fruits, a small amount of harvest, as well as the separation from the brush remains wet, so the fruits quickly deteriorate.

This variety at one time had greater success, since it had advantages over other varieties of currants. However, at present, with such a variety of other varieties that have more advantages and fewer disadvantages, this variety is no longer relevant and is considered obsolete. But the plant is used in breeding and is the parent of quite promising young varieties, for example, the Dove Seedling.

Black currant Dove: growing

Black currant Dove: photo of the variety

Black currant Dove needs the most usual care, like other berry bushes. Currants are not demanding, so even a novice gardener can grow it. It is enough to follow only the simple rules of planting and care, and the plant will thank you with a bountiful harvest.

The black currant variety Dove is grown using seedlings or seedlings. Also, the shrub is propagated by vegetative methods: it is by cuttings, layering, grafting and dividing the bush. Dividing the bush is a more popular breeding method. After the snow has thawed, it is necessary to water the shrub abundantly, dig it out, carefully cut off all the old, dry and frozen branches. Young branches should be shortened by 25 cm, and the shrub should be divided into several new bushes with a sharp disinfected object.

The optimal time for planting will be spring and autumn. The soil here is loose, light, so that air and water circulate freely in it. It is better to choose an open place for planting, well-lit by the sun. It is necessary to pre-prepare the site before planting: apply fertilizers, including compost, superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

Seedlings must be purchased from proven nurseries a few days before the expected date of planting. It is necessary to transport seedlings while maintaining moisture in the root system.

Dove currant can be planted singly. Here, a distance of several meters from other plantings is maintained in order to increase the yield of the shrub. You can plant currants in rows. This method is used in industrial plantings. However, here the lifespan of each bush will be shorter. You can grow currants near trellises, while creating a hedge.

After planting, water the shrub thoroughly, lay out a thick layer of mulch, which is perfect for peat or humus.

Dove currant care

Further, the most common care for the Dove currant is carried out, which includes loosening, timely watering, at the rate of two buckets of water per day per one bush. The moisture of the topsoil should be maintained, since the root system of this shrub is located on the surface.

Fertilizers do not need to be applied for the first two years as they were applied at planting. Also, shrubs need to be protected from various diseases and pests. Prevention measures are best. Here you need to thin out shrubs, remove old, affected, dry branches, as well as branches that thicken the crown. You can use special insect and disease repellents. However, this can only be done before the beginning of the flowering period.

Scalding shrubs in early spring, when all pests are awake, is very effective.

In order to increase the yield of currants, it is necessary to cut out old shoots that are more than 3 years old. In addition to the fact that these branches do not bring a large amount of harvest, larvae of various pests, as well as pathogenic microorganisms, can live in them. Pruning is usually done in the spring or after the leaves have fallen off.

Among the most common diseases: powdery mildew. Symptoms of the disease are light spots on the berries, as well as the slow development of the bush. If these signs are found, the bush should be treated with a solution of copper sulfate or soda. Among insect pests, kidney mites most often attack currants. It can be destroyed by treating the shrub with a preparation containing colloidal sulfur. It is imperative to cut off all affected parts of the plant.

The black currant variety Dove is self-fertile, which is an undoubted advantage of the plant.

Here you can eat not only berries, but also currant leaves, since they have a very pronounced, pleasant aroma. They are suitable not only for brewing tea, but also as an ingredient for various dishes.

Despite the fact that the plant is winter-hardy, you should first prepare it for the winter period. Some gardeners bend currant branches to the surface of the earth, press them with something heavy and carefully cover them with the snow that has fallen. In addition, you can close the bush from above with insulating material if there is not enough snow.

The lifespan of the black currant dove lasts about 15 years. At the same time, the plant can be grown even in Siberia, since it is not afraid of frosts up to 40 degrees below zero.

Conclusion

Before you grow a particular variety of currants on your site, you should study the characteristics of the plant, as well as take into account the suitable climatic conditions and soil requirements. Also, gardeners are advised to pay attention to important indicators of a particular variety and choose a plant that is suitable for themselves.