The beneficial properties of currants have been known for a long time, so this plant can be found in almost every summer cottage. There are many types of currants, but the old Western European variety called “Dutch” is especially popular among gardeners. It received many positive reviews due to its easy berry care and abundance of fruit.
Dutch currants come in different varieties: pink, red and white. Each of these varieties is characterized by its own characteristics. “Dutch pink” is a late-ripening plant and grows in the form of medium-sized bushes, the height of which does not exceed 1.5 m. Since the plant is not thickened and not branched, the fruits ripen quickly and evenly. Its berries are large-fruited and reach up to 1.1 g, but if you provide proper care, you can be rewarded with berries weighing up to 2.5 g. Currant fruits have small seeds inside and are externally covered with a thin skin, which makes them distinctive from ordinary varieties .
The main advantage of this plant is that it is resistant to temperature changes, is not afraid of frost in winter and can withstand drought in summer. In addition, the crop is not exposed to pests and diseases. Since this variety is high-yielding, up to 9 kg of berries can be collected from one adult bush. Its only disadvantage is late fruiting.
The Dutch white currant has also proven itself well among gardeners. It forms a small and modest-sized bush, which is unpretentious in care, but is not suitable for planting in all areas. To get a high yield and large berries, the plant must be grown in areas provided with moisture and minerals. This crop is self-fertile and easily propagated by green or woody cuttings. Despite the fact that the variety is productive, it is not resistant to anthracnose disease, so the plantings should be periodically treated with special preparations.
White currants begin to bear fruit in the third year after planting and produce a high yield of berries in the sixth year, it is worth noting that fruiting occurs annually. Given normal conditions for growth and formation, it is possible to collect up to 9 kg of berries from one bush, which ripen early and can hang on the bushes for a long time without falling off. The berries are usually picked in one go. During the formation of buds on the bushes, it is important to provide the plant with additional feeding.
White currant berries are round or slightly flattened at the poles with a characteristic delicate creamy tint. The skin of the fruit is transparent and thin, the seeds inside are clearly visible, the locations of which are displayed on the surface in the form of veins. Since the pulp of the berries is juicy with a pleasant combination of sweetness and acidity, they are often used for various types of preparation.
As for the Dutch red currant, it is characterized by a high content of not only vitamins, but also pectins, which help cleanse the human body of harmful substances and stop the development of neoplasms and inflammatory processes. The bush is vigorous, at the first stage of development it is straight, then it becomes dense. The shoots of the plant are also straight and thick, gray-brown in color. On each currant stem, single, oblong buds with a slightly pointed tip are formed. The berries are red in color, sweet and sour in taste, their maximum weight can reach 1 g.
The “Dutch Red” variety is self-fertile and frost-resistant; up to 5 kg of fruit can be harvested from one bush. They have a round shape, although sometimes they are also flattened at the poles. The only disadvantage of this currant is that its berries have hard and large seeds. In addition, this variety has a late ripening period. Despite the diversity of the “Dutch” variety, all its varieties have only positive reviews.
Therefore, if you want to constantly provide family members with useful microelements, then you should definitely plant several currant bushes on your summer cottage.
“Dutch” currants are considered an unpretentious plant that even a novice gardener can handle caring for.
In order to provide the bushes with all the necessary conditions for growth and formation, and at the end of the season to get an excellent harvest, it is worth considering the following nuances.
Varieties of Dutch red currant are widely cultivated in various regions of Russia and other countries.
It is the plants of Dutch selection that are in the highest demand, as they have excellent characteristics of winter hardiness, productivity, immunity to diseases, as well as large and tasty fruits. Which is the best variety of Dutch red currant to choose, how to plant correctly and what care rules to follow - read in this article.
Varieties of Dutch red currant are represented by species with different ripening periods. Therefore, depending on your goals and climatic conditions, you can choose the ideal variety that will take root well and bear fruit abundantly for a long time.
Large-fruited early red Dutch currant, the weight of the berries reaches 1 g or more. The species was bred back in 1941 by crossing the London Market and Faya Fertile species. For a long time it was widely cultivated in Western Europe, and recently it has spread throughout Russia and Ukraine.
The bushes are vigorous, with erect shoots of a high degree of density and flexibility. Fruit clusters are about 10 cm long, each of which produces about 10 berries.
The color of the fruit is dark red, the surface is shiny, the flesh is fleshy, the shape is round or slightly elongated. But there is a drawback - thin skin, which must be taken into account when normalizing watering.
This variety is self-fertile, resistant to tick attacks, and has excellent immunity to powdery mildew. The yield is on average 6.5 kg per bush. Ripening occurs in the second decade of June and continues for a month.
Important! When choosing this variety, it is important to understand how appropriate its planting will be in a particular region. In areas where there is a series of spring thaws and frosts, the ovaries may fall off due to their very early flowering time.
The Dutch red currant Roland was bred from the donors Rote Spätlese and Jonker van Tete.
A worthy option for growing, as the characteristics are excellent:
Important! The Dutch currant variety Roland has an average ripening period, so the harvest is harvested from the second half of July to early August.
One of the most popular late varieties is the Dutch red currant Rondome.
Reviews about it fully correspond to the description in the classifier and include the following characteristics:
The bushes themselves are formed tall, highly branched, with powerful shoots. The color of the fruit is dark red, the weight of an average berry is about 1 g, the number of berries on fruit clusters is 16-17 pcs. The taste has more sourness due to the increased percentage of ascorbic acid.
Important! The harvest is harvested from early August to September. It is suitable for long-term transportation and storage for 2-3 weeks. Therefore, the Rondom red Dutch currant variety is perfect for growing for commercial purposes in the Central regions of Russia.
One of the oldest varieties of red currant is Dutch red. It is easy to distinguish by its tall shrubs, which have dense branching, upright growing shoots and a compact, “compressed” rectangular shape.
The berries are not very large, but juicy and have excellent technological qualities. The fruit ripening period begins at the end of July. It tolerates drought quite well, is rarely affected by anthracnose and powdery mildew, and in general is not very picky in growing. Ripening time is late.
Important! Due to its specific taste, it is more suitable for preservation in any of its variations.
The late variety of red currant Rosetta is fast-growing, with very tasty sour fruits of medium and large size, bright red color, with a rich aroma.
The shrub reaches a height of 1.5 m, has a dense, knit structure, and vertically arranged shoots. The length of the fruit clusters is about 12 cm; peas and shedding are not observed during cultivation.
Another representative of the Dutch selection is the red currant variety Rowada. The seedlings develop into medium-sized and slightly spreading shrubs with fruit clusters 10 cm long, on which up to 20 berries are formed.
The color of the fruit is dark red, the average weight is 0.8 g, the shape is clear round, the flesh is sour to taste and quite dense.
The ripening period of the Rowada variety is quite long - up to 1.5 months, and the berries do not fall off, even if they are overripe. More than 7 kg of red currants are harvested from one bush, although self-fertility is not at the highest level - only 34%.
The currant variety Rowada is successfully cultivated in different regions of Russia, as it has good winter hardiness and immunity.
Plants do not freeze even in severe frosts; septoria is observed very rarely. But spider glue and anthracnose are the real enemies of the Dutch currant Rowada, so appropriate preventive measures must be taken during cultivation.
Important! The fruits of this variety are perfect for making jelly, jam, juice, and marmalade.
All varieties of red currants of Dutch selection are quite naturally in high demand, because both according to the description and according to reviews from gardeners, the following advantages are characteristic of all types:
Each variety has its own disadvantages, but they are not critical: some varieties do not bear fruit very abundantly, while others may freeze if their characteristics are not taken into account and if they are planted in areas with severe frosts and frequent temperature fluctuations in the spring.
Planting and growing Dutch red currants is a simple process. Regardless of the variety chosen, it is enough to follow the general rules.
Important! When preparing seedlings for planting, it is enough to remove all the leaves and soak the roots in water for 2-3 hours.
It is best to plant red currants in the fall - seedlings that are planted in September take root best. If there is a need to plant in the spring, then do it in mid-April.
Important! If you plan to plant red currants in the spring, then the same procedure is followed. The only difference is that the pits are prepared and organic fertilizers are placed in them in the fall, and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied immediately before planting.
Care measures for red currants include the same procedures as when caring for any other plants.
Most varieties of Dutch red currants tolerate drought well. But we must pay special attention to watering during the period of formation of ovaries and ripening of berries, that is, at the beginning of June and at the end of July.
The average calculation of water consumption when watering red currants is 1-2 buckets per 1 m2.
Important! It is better to pour water into special grooves about 15 cm deep, which must first be formed at a distance of 30-40 cm from the bush.
When watering, and also as necessary, it is necessary to remove weeds and loosen the soil. On average, this procedure is performed once every 2-3 weeks.
Loosening depth is 6-8 cm directly near the bushes and 10-12 cm between the rows.
Most Dutch redcurrant bushes require pruning only as a preventative and sanitary procedure. To do this, occasionally in the first 6-7 years, zero shoots are removed, and damaged branches are cut out in spring and autumn.
Varieties of Dutch red currants are famous for their resistance to most diseases and pests. But you still need to know what problems may arise during cultivation, and even better - carry out prevention in order to certainly eliminate the risk of infection.
Red currants are most often damaged:
Important! Remember that plants that are not cared for are most often attacked by viruses, fungi, and insects. If you follow the rules of agricultural technology, problems arise much less often.
Dutch varieties of red currants are in high demand for good reason.
Therefore, if you are planning long-term cultivation of this crop, take a closer look at the varieties of this selection, select several types of different ripening periods and follow the rules for caring for plants after planting. Then you will be among the satisfied gardeners who receive an annual abundant harvest of tasty and healthy berries!
Dark red, slightly flattened, sweet berries ripen at the end of July. They are used not only for making compotes, jelly, jam, but also in medicine. The fruits contain a large amount of pectin, tannins, and vitamins. Coumarins were also found in them, which have antitumor and analgesic effects.
This variety is long-lived, growing in one place for decades. For many years now, the crop has been pleasing gardeners, summer residents, and farmers with a good harvest and never fails.
You can plant currants in spring and autumn. The seedling is lowered into previously prepared soil, deepening the root collar by 5 - 10 centimeters. It is important that the place is sunny and that groundwater does not come close to it. The distance between holes is up to one and a half meters.
This variety does not like shade; it begins to grow poorly and bear fruit weakly. Nevertheless, the culture is not afraid of wind and frost. Bushes can be planted along the fence, where they will act as a hedge.
The plant needs to be watered at least twice a week to keep the berries juicy and large.
Dutch red currant seedlings are delivered by mail and SDEK courier; you can order at any convenient time. Dispatch is made in the spring-autumn period.
Pink currants have become widespread due to the taste of their fruits. They are mostly sweet and almost not sour. In addition, the berries often reach large sizes. The smallest ones weigh 0.7 grams, and the largest ones weigh 1.1 grams. These are very good indicators.
Pink currants, the description of varieties of which must begin with color, can be multi-colored: bright or light pink. In addition, the shades also vary from white to yellowish.
The shape of the berries is usually round, although the appearance of slightly elongated fruits is possible. Some of them can reach such sizes that their diameter will be one and a half centimeters.
Pink currants, despite their frost resistance and ease of care, have a significant drawback - they are prone to the same diseases as red currant varieties. The main ones should be highlighted:
Glass rust. Yellow-orange formations spread to the leaves and fruits of currants.
It is believed that pink currants are the least susceptible to this type of disease.
When the disease occurs, a white coating affects leaves, flowers, shoots, and ovaries of bushes. Over time, the formation becomes more dense, which is why the currant leaves dry out and die.
aphid - sucks juice from currant shoots and from its leaves;
you need to prune the plant correctly;
drug Zircon;
urea solution – 70 g per 1 liter of water.
In the spring, when swelling of the buds is not observed, currants can be scalded with boiling water. Before the procedure, you need to dissolve a small amount of soda or potassium permanganate in water. This spraying allows you to destroy fungi and spider mites on the plant.
berry fruits do not have acid;
Varieties of Dutch red currant are represented by species with different ripening periods. Therefore, depending on your goals and climatic conditions, you can choose the ideal variety that will take root well and bear fruit abundantly for a long time.
Large-fruited early red Dutch currant, the weight of the berries reaches 1 g or more. The species was bred back in 1941 by crossing the London Market and Faya Fertile species. For a long time it was widely cultivated in Western Europe, and recently it has spread throughout Russia and Ukraine.
The bushes are vigorous, with erect shoots of a high degree of density and flexibility. Fruit clusters are about 10 cm long, each of which produces about 10 berries.
give a high yield - up to 6 kg per bush.
This variety is self-fertile, resistant to tick attacks, and has excellent immunity to powdery mildew. The yield is on average 6.5 kg per bush. Ripening occurs in the second decade of June and continues for a month.
Important! When choosing this variety, it is important to understand how appropriate its planting will be in a particular region. In areas where there is a series of spring thaws and frosts, the ovaries may fall off due to their very early flowering time.
The Dutch red currant Roland was bred from the donors Rote Spätlese and Jonker van Tete.
A worthy option for growing, as the characteristics are excellent:
Important! The Dutch currant variety Roland has an average ripening period, so the harvest is harvested from the second half of July to early August.
One of the most popular late varieties is the Dutch red currant Rondome.
Reviews about it fully correspond to the description in the classifier and include the following characteristics:
The bushes themselves are formed tall, highly branched, with powerful shoots. The color of the fruit is dark red, the weight of an average berry is about 1 g, the number of berries on fruit clusters is 16-17 pcs. The taste has more sourness due to the increased percentage of ascorbic acid.
