Currant Natalie: description, planting, care
Content:
The article presents Currant Natalie: description of the variety, planting rules, care.
Currants are different: black, white, red. And in each of the varieties presented, you can get confused. Today we will tell you about a currant with a beautiful female name - Natalie. In addition to the beautiful name, this currant has excellent fruits of a radiant bright red color. Plus, they're incredibly delicious. This variety is grown in almost all regions of our vast Motherland. There is a lot of sugar in this currant, so the berries are incredibly sweet. In addition, this variety is distinguished by its increased yield and cold resistance. That is why it can be grown almost everywhere. However, it is best to choose a well-lit place on the site for this currant, so that sunlight falls on each berry, and the crop ripens together. When planting, it is best to apply top dressing to the soil in order to provide the seedlings with useful substances that they need so much at this stage of development. Today we will tell you about the features of planting, the general characteristics of the variety, the rules for caring for this currant. Therefore, carefully study the presented article and, perhaps, in the future you will decide to plant this particular variety on your site and delight yourself with incredibly tasty ripe currant berries.
Currant Natalie: variety description
Currant variety Natalie photo
Red currant of the Natali variety was bred in our country back in Soviet times. And it is recommended to grow it in the central, northwestern regions, as well as in Siberia and the Far East. If we talk about the timing of the ripening of the crop, then it should be noted that Natalie is a mid-season variety. Also, this currant is self-fertile, and its bushes are very tall and vigorous. On this currant, shoots are usually formed, which reach a length of 2 meters. Currant leaves are large enough, five-lobed, with a characteristic dark green color. The veins are slightly depressed inward. The leaves are slightly concave. Usually about 10 berries ripen on one brush, so this currant has a high yield. The brushes reach a length of 10-13 mm.
If we talk about the characteristics of the berries, then it should be noted that they are usually medium in size, round, with a characteristic sweet taste, bright red in color. The mass of one berry is about 60 grams, however, depending on the growing conditions, the berries are either larger or smaller. If you take proper care of the currants, then from one bush you can collect up to 12 kilograms of ripe and tasty currants. These berries are truly versatile. They can be eaten fresh, frozen, used for making jams, jellies, compote, as well as stuffing pies and pies. Currants make excellent vitamin cocktails. When freezing, it is best to separate the berries from each other so that they do not lose their shape. Therefore, freezing is carried out in two stages.
Currant Natalie: how to plant correctly
Currant Natalie photo
As we have already noted, this variety of currants is quite unpretentious. However, you should still choose the correct landing site. This variety loves well-lit areas, sheltered from the wind. Therefore, it is best to plant currants near any building or fence. It is in such a place that she is able to bring a high harvest. Before planting currants, you need to prepare the site.
Currants are planted either in autumn or early spring.As we have already noted, it is best to plant currants from the south side, so that the berries are well illuminated by the sun throughout the season, this will ensure uniform ripening of the fruits. But you can plant currants from the west side, so the bushes will also be well illuminated by the sun.
If we talk about the type of soil, it is best to choose fertile, black earth or forest soil. Currants grow well on loamy soils. However, remember, initially it is best to fertilize the soil in the form of organic fertilizer in order for the plant to develop more intensively. As we have already noted, it is better to choose a place well protected from the wind, therefore slopes are also suitable for growing currants. Remember, red currants do not like acidic soil, so if necessary, it is best to calcify the soil.
Do not plant currants in a swampy place, as this variety also does not like stagnant moisture. His root system can rot, and the plant can die here with an excess of moisture. But do not plant bushes too close to buildings, step back from them up to 3 meters. It is best to choose healthy seedlings with a strong root system.
Before planting, it is best to remove all the leaves on the seedlings, and then immerse the root in water and leave for a day. If this variety already grows on your site, then you can get a new plant yourself. To do this, you will need to select healthy and powerful shoots, separate them from the mother bush and dig in. In this case, it is important to leave the top above the ground. When the shoots are well rooted, they can already be transplanted to their permanent habitat.
If you transplant a currant bush, then you can divide it and, thus, get new plants. But remember, you should cover the wounds with charcoal so that they heal better. Make sure that each new plant has strong roots, so you need to divide the mother bush not chaotically, but having previously studied the structure of the root system. The best way to propagate red currants is by cuttings. As we noted, you will need to cut some sturdy, healthy shoots in the fall. Then root them in wet sand and leave them in the basement until spring. After that, the plants can be planted in open ground.
Before planting red currants, you need to prepare a planting hole. Moreover, it is best to do this not on the day of planting, as it settles into the ground over time. It is best to prepare the pits in the fall by filling them with organic fertilizers. This is necessary in order for organic matter to rot well over the winter, enriching the soil with useful substances and microelements. If we talk about the depth of the planting pit, then it should be noted that it is best to dig the bows 50 by 40 cm.If you plant several plants, then the distance between the bushes should be at least one and a half meters. Then it is good to add compost, wood ash and superphosphate to the planting pits. After the soil has settled, you can plant currants. Place the seedling in the hole, straighten its roots and cover with earth. Deepen the root collar of the plant a little so that new shoots grow faster at the bushes. Then compact the soil well around the bushes. If necessary, cut off the shoots, but remember that each of them should have at least 3 active buds. After that, you will need to water the seedlings about once or twice a week. It is recommended to mulch the topsoil so that moisture is well retained, and the weeds do not bother you.
Natalie red currant: how to care
Natali red currant: how to care
This variety gives a bountiful harvest only with proper care, so carefully study this paragraph of the article. Currants need to be fed and watered on time. Before wintering, the shoots are cut off in order for the plants to develop better in spring.And so that the plants do not get sick, and the pests do not touch them, you will need to carry out preventive examinations and treatments on time.
If we talk about watering, then it should be noted: before the buds bloom, it will need to be watered with very warm water. This variety does not like drought, so you will need to moisten the soil regularly. It is especially important to do this in early spring. If you do not care for the currants, then the ovaries may crumble, and the berries may be chopped. It is best to water not the plants themselves directly under the root, but adjacent furrows. Moreover, they need to be done in a circle, stepping back from the bush about 30 cm. The abundance of watering depends on the climatic conditions. Therefore, make sure that the soil does not dry out, and also does not become waterlogged. Currants also cannot stand swampy terrain. The plants should be watered most intensively at the beginning of the growing season, when the currants bloom and form ovaries. During the ripening of the fruits, you also need to water the plants abundantly. During this event, the soil must be well moistened in order for the water to reach the lowest roots. After you water the plants, you should mulch the soil, loosen it well. This is necessary so that the soil is airy, and the earth crust does not form. After all the leaves of the currants fall off in the fall, the plants also need to be watered intensively before wintering. The fact is that moist soil freezes less, which means that the bushes will be better protected from the cold.
At all stages of plant development, you need to regularly fertilize the soil. This contributes to the growth of green mass, good flowering and formation of the ovary. In early spring, it is recommended to add urea to the soil, which saturates the soil with nitrogen. Namely, nitrogen is necessary for plants to intensively build up green mass. But remember, in the summer, fertilizers containing nitrogen should not be applied to the soil, as this will interfere with the fruiting process. To saturate the soil with nitrogen, it is also recommended to add bird droppings or mullein tincture to the soil. Usually bushes are watered with this mixture. If we talk about foliar feeding methods, it should be noted that usually currant leaves are sprayed with a complex fertilizer made from boric acid and manganese sulfate, diluted in water. It is best to feed the plants early in the morning or late at night. In order for the fertilizer to be better absorbed, and the sun does not interfere with this process. Before wintering, compost, wood ash, as well as superphosphate and potassium salt are added to the soil. This is necessary in order for the plants to stock up on useful substances for a long time.
Currant bushes also need to be pruned regularly. This should be done either in the spring or in the fall, while the plants are at rest. With this procedure, you can increase yields, so it's best not to neglect this event. But do not cut the branches too short, as the fruit buds are usually located at the top. Remove diseased and old branches, as well as shoots that thicken the bush. No more than 20 shoots should be left on each plant in order for the currant to develop intensively. Remember that branches age every 6-8 years, so they will need to be cut regularly.
In order to protect the currants from diseases and pests, you need to regularly carry out preventive examinations and treatments, this variety of currants is quite resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose. Usually, in order to protect the bushes from many diseases, they are sprayed with fungicides. But it is important to do this before bud break. Do not use chemicals during the growing season, all types of processing should be stopped about a month before harvesting. Often this variety of currants suffers from aphids, spider mites and caterpillars. In order to protect the plants, you should go to a specialized agricultural store and buy insecticides there.These treatments are also carried out during the rest period. Otherwise, these drugs will negatively affect the development of plants, as well as the formation of fruits.
Natali currant variety: the result
Red currants are very beneficial for both adults and children. Moreover, it is easy and simple to care for her. Natalie grows well in the first year of planting, and yields a harvest in the middle of summer. It is important to note that the fruits hang on the branches for a very long time and do not crumble. In addition, the berries are very beautiful and large, with a characteristic sweet taste. Currant bushes are quite spreading, so they should be cut and tied up in time. Water the currants in time, feed and carry out preventive examinations, and it will certainly delight you with its harvest. In addition to the beautiful name, this variety also has wonderful fruits, so remember about this variety and be sure to plant it on your site. He won't let you down.
Currant Natalie