Currant

All about currants: botanical description, features, subtleties of care

It may not be possible to lie at all if you say that currants are an ideal berry for growing in Russia. This plant likes a temperate climate and a cool north, bears fruit stably and requires fairly simple care. Berries are rich in vitamin C no less than citrus fruits imported from warm exotic countries, and the taste of currant jam – one of the favorite delicacies of our childhood – probably knows every Russian-speaking person.

Currant - botanical description

Currant bush

Currants are shrubs and semi-shrubs up to 1.5 meters tall, with a powerful root system. Sometimes, together with the root processes, the entire rhizome goes to a depth of up to 1.5 meters. In young bushes, as a rule, drooping shoots of green or brown color are formed. The older the plant, the straighter and stronger the branches of the bush.

Distribution area

The exact place where the currant came from is still not known. Therefore, many regions ascribe to themselves the status of the "homeland" of black or red currants. For example, it is known that on Slavic lands currant bushes grew in the wild and were actively domesticated already in the X century, before the Baptism of Russia.

However, most sources agree that the bushes spread around the world from warm Asian countries, just like raspberries.

The temperate climate suited this plant very well. For example, it is well known that the best berries in taste and useful properties do not grow in a hot climate, but in a cool and fine summer of the middle latitudes.

Traditionally, currants were grown in Russia in monasteries. Her bushes filled the space between the fruit trees.

Currant picking

With the invasion of the Tatar-Mongols, part of the population of Russia migrated to the east, and then to the west of Europe. So the currant spread to Poland, the Baltic Sea countries, Germany, France, Spain, and then to

Classification

To date, at least 190 types of currants are known. Some of them traditionally grow in the wild, some have been successfully cultivated by humans for a long time.

The most common varieties with fruits are black or red. However, there are such varieties, the berries on which have a yellow, white and even green hue.

The following gradation is used to classify all types:

According to the terms of ripening of berries (early, medium-ripe, late and very late varieties).

On immunity and resistance to frost.

In size (the largest berries can grow up to 7.8 gr.) and the color of the berries.

By yield.

For cultivation in Russia, special varieties have been bred that can easily winter even in severe frosts. It is known that no more than 35 species are most popular in our country.

Nutritional value and composition

There is no doubt that most berries are always beneficial to human health. Of course, currants are no exception to the rule. So, according to soder

Even in compote, the caloric content of the product is 55-60 Kcal per 100 ml. The currant ice cream will have from 200 Kcal per 100 gr. Widely known in our country, jam or jam from berries will already give about 290-300 Kcal for every 100 grams.

Varieties

In Russia, a number of the most popular varieties of currants can be distinguished. As it is easy to guess, when choosing for Russia, the frost resistance of the variety, as well as immunity to common pests and diseases, becomes important.

Black Currant Cottager

The most popular variety on which blue-black berries grow. The variety is characterized by early ripening of the crop, as well as high resistance to cold.

In addition, the spider mite is less likely to settle in the Summer cottage, and the bushes are less susceptible to fungal infections. The variety has an optimal yield (up to 4-5 kg. berries from a bush), the ability to self-pollinate. But this variety does not tolerate heat well.

Black currant is Vigorous

Another very popular variety, well suited for temperate climates and regions north of Moscow.