Currant titania
Content:
Titans are divine beings. Surely, each of us has the same association with this word. Speaking of something titanic, we imagine something powerful, strong, reliable. Today the topic of our article is the Titania currant.
She is rightfully considered a dream for every gardener. The black currant variety Titania has very long clusters with incredibly aromatic and large black berries. And against the background of green foliage, they resemble beautiful black pearls. This variety is frost-resistant, resistant to various diseases and pests.
Therefore, the black currant Titania, undoubtedly, will delight the inhabitants of even the coldest regions of our country. In addition, black currant contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals.
The Titania currant variety was bred in the distant 1970s in Sweden. But in our country, this currant appeared only in the nineties. Today we will tell you about this variety, its advantages and disadvantages, rules of care. And, perhaps, you want to get to know him personally by planting these beautiful berries in your country house.
Currant Titania: variety description
The bushes of the black currant Titania are quite powerful and strong. They, by right, match the name of the variety. However, despite the powerful shoots, the branches reach only one and a half meters in height. Therefore, it will always be convenient for you to harvest.
The leaves of the Titania currant are bright green, slightly wrinkled and bubbly. The bushes form a rounded crown, so they will fit perfectly into your garden design. Up to 20-25 berries are formed on one brush. Therefore, gardeners say: this variety is more than productive.
As we noted earlier, the brushes are very compact. The berries are round and evenly colored. Their skin is quite dense, with a characteristic shine. These berries are eaten with pleasure by both adults and children.
Moreover, it is important to note that the weight of one berry of the Titania currant can reach 4 grams, therefore, this currant is considered, by right, large-fruited. The inside of the berries is quite dense and juicy, not watery. But the aroma is extraordinary. The berries taste sweet and sour, they contain a lot of sugar and acid. Therefore, the fruits are more than pleasant.
Some people note the peculiar wine notes in the fruit. If we talk about the ripening of berries, then it should be noted that the black currant variety Titania is mid-season. However, the berries can ripen earlier. It all depends on the care of the plants and the natural growing conditions.
- Usually, the first harvest begins in the middle of summer, but in temperate and warm climates, you can enjoy fresh fruits earlier, as early as June.
- Berries do not crumble for a very long time. Therefore, you can calmly wait until all the fruits ripen, and only after that start collecting the product.
- With proper care of Titania currants, you can collect up to 5 kg of ripe and fragrant berries from one bush. This currant is also loved to grow on an industrial scale. Moreover, up to 80 centners of berries are harvested from one hectare on average.
- The crop can be transported over long distances, since the currant has a very dense skin and pulp. Therefore, the berries do not spoil for a long time.
- During separation from the stalks, the currants are not damaged, and the juice does not form for a long time. She has very strong shoots, powerful foliage. And you can collect the first fruits in the second year after planting.
- The Titania currant variety perfectly adapts to various weather conditions, therefore it is very unpretentious.Imagine, this currant can withstand frosts down to minus 34, and in summer the bushes feel fine both in heat and in drought.
- Plants are resistant to pests and diseases. Unlike other varieties, the bushes on your site will grow for a very long time. This currant is capable of producing an excellent harvest for 15 years.
- Blackcurrant Titania does not like heavy clay soils, as well as marshlands and acidic environments.
- Berries can be frozen, consumed fresh. Housewives love to cook jams and compotes from this currant. The black currant Titania contains a lot of vitamins and minerals, which is why it is so useful for humans.
Currant grade Titania: pros and cons
Of course, each variety has its own disadvantages, so it would be wrong to talk only about the advantages.
We should note such pros:
- Very high yield
- Unpretentious care
- Titania currant is not demanding on growing conditions.
- The fruits of this variety are very large, sweet and incredibly aromatic.
- Ripe berries do not crumble for a very long time, so this variety is especially loved by gardeners.
- The variety is immune to anthracnose, powdery mildew and some other diseases.
- The currant is very winter-hardy and drought-resistant.
However, the black currant of the Titania variety has its own limitations:
- Berries very often come in different sizes, so this sometimes does not suit the housewives.
- Despite its pronounced pleasant taste, this currant is a little sour, so it cannot be called absolutely sweet.
- Gardeners also note that a lot of young shoots are formed on the bushes, which will need to be removed in a timely manner.
- Despite the simplicity of care, the yield of currants depends on watering and dressing. Therefore, you will need to regularly care for the plants.
How to plant
You can plant Titania currants in your area in different ways. It can be propagated by cuttings or layering. But it is best to buy a good seedling in a specialized agricultural store or market.
However, this variety is fine cuttings... The shoots of this currant grow well, so you can select the right material and propagate the plant using cuttings.
Titania currants are planted in autumn or spring. But many gardeners prefer exactly autumn landing. Since for a longer time, the root system is well established in a new habitat. But already in early spring, after the snow has melted, the plants will begin to grow intensively.
If you still decide to plant currants in the spring, then it is best to do this at the end of March, when the buds are still sleeping. It is best to plant currants on the south side in a well-lit area. Do not allow drafts to appear on the site, currants do not like them. It is better to plant bushes near any buildings or near a fence.
The black currant variety Titania prefers fertile soil. But in an acidic environment and on heavy soils, currants will not grow. Groundwater should also not be close to the surface. Therefore, do not plant currants in the lowlands. It is best to add sand and humus to the soil in order to enrich the earth with useful substances and improve the structure of the soil.
Black currant Titania: photo of the variety
Add chalk or wood ash to reduce acidity.
If you want to increase the level of resistance to various diseases, then feed the plants well with potassium fertilizers.
If you buy a seedling from the market, it is best to choose tall plants. During planting, the bushes should be planted with a slight slope. This is done so that new shoots are formed more intensively.
Make sure that the root system is fresh and firm, and that the plant is at least 50 cm tall.The distance between the seedlings should be at least one and a half meters, since the bushes of this variety are quite spreading. In row spacings, you can retreat by 1 meter.
If you decide to plant several bushes on the site, then it is best to plant them in a square-nesting way. The site will need to be processed in advance. All weeds must be removed, the earth must be dug up. It is recommended to add nitroammofosk, wood ash and humus to the soil in the fall.
Planting holes are usually dug square, with a depth of up to 40 centimeters. Water is poured into the holes, then, having straightened the root system well, seedlings are placed there and covered with earth. After that, the earth is tamped and watered again.
The topsoil is recommended to be mulched. After you plant the currants, it is recommended to prune the shoots, and at least five to six active buds should be left on each branch.
Currant Titania: how to properly care for the variety?
Black currant Titania: photo of the variety
In order for the Titania currant to bear fruit well, it must be properly looked after. It needs to be watered, fed and preventive measures taken on time.
To water currants of the Titania variety are needed depending on which phase of the growing season it is in. During the formation of ovaries, this variety needs intensive watering. The second time you need to water the plants abundantly after the harvest is harvested. Before wintering, it is also necessary to carry out water-charging irrigation. In this case, the soil must be very intensively wetted. If the summer is dry, then it will be necessary to carry out extra irrigation, about once or twice a week.
For the normal development of plants and fruiting, currants need a lot of nutrients, so about dressing also don't forget. In the spring, it is recommended to apply urea to the soil, as well as any other fertilizers containing nitrogen. This is necessary so that a green mass forms on the plants, and new shoots grow more intensively. In summer and autumn, humus, superphosphate, as well as complex fertilizers containing phosphorus, potassium, boron and other trace elements are applied under currant bushes.
You can feed it both root and foliar. But remember, if you spray the leaves, then the fertilizer concentration should be reduced several times. If the soil contains few nutrients, then you need to often feed the plants with manure, bird droppings. It is better to do this before winter.
You will also need to periodically inspect the plants and on time prune shoots. As you remember, young twigs grow very intensively in this variety of currants. Therefore, the extra ones need to be removed in time. Cut 10-15 cm from the tops, so you can increase the yield. Sanitize either in fall or early spring. Prune old and diseased branches. An adult bush should have about 20 fruiting shoots. Despite the fact that the Titania blackcurrant variety is winter hardy, it will need to be properly prepared for winter. To do this, it is best to mulch the ground, cover the root system with a thick layer of sawdust and humus.
If your region has a very harsh winter, then it is advisable to bend the branches to the ground and cover them with some kind of material. But do not create inside the greenhouse, as the plants must breathe in winter.
Titania currant is susceptible to fungal infections. Therefore, you will need to conduct regular inspections and prevent dampness in the area. If you follow all the requirements of agricultural technology, then your plants will be healthy.
If necessary, you can always contact a specialized agricultural store and choose the appropriate drug for pest or disease control.
Outcome
The black currant variety Titania is very unpretentious, and the harvest is excellent. The berries contain a lot of vitamins and minerals that are very useful for humans.Water on time, feed the Titania currants and stock up on these dietary and medicinal products for the whole year. So this variety will not give you unnecessary trouble.