Why do black and red currant leaves turn yellow and what to do about it
Currant is a shrub of the gooseberry family. Currant berries are juicy, have a pronounced sweet and sour taste. Garden owners put a lot of effort into getting a good harvest. Often, currant leaves begin to turn yellow. This is evidence of the emergence of problems, a signal that the methods of caring for the culture require adjustment.
Signs and symptoms
Currant varieties differ from each other in external characteristics and taste. Shrubs of black, white and red currants are considered the most popular.
Healthy shrubs have strong branches, green leaves, light brown to brown bark. There are signs that determine the presence of problems with the growth and development of currants. The need for additional processing of the bush arises if:
- the leaves began to turn yellow;
- branches grow poorly;
- leaves fall from the bushes;
- leaves dry out at the edges.
At the same time, pale dots may appear on black currants, which indicates the presence of pests.
Common Causes
To find out why the leaves dry and why the leaves turn yellow, conduct a thorough examination of all young bushes.
The factors that provoke the appearance of external damage are called:
- the appearance of parasites and their spread;
- shrub diseases (in this case, the branch may dry out completely);
- violations of the rules of care.
Insect pests and methods of dealing with them
Parasites are a common cause of yellowing, dropping or drying of currant leaves. They can move from neighboring crops or emerge from larvae formed as a result of rotting soil.
Spider mite
This type of pest is recognized by the presence of a web with which it envelops branches. It is betrayed by the red tint of the body, it is clearly visible on green foliage. Mostly the tick spreads on young shrubs. It feeds on the beneficial elements contained in the leaves. After its appearance, the leaves turn pale, dry, turn yellow.
Measures to combat spider mites are considered timely spraying with special substances, cleaning the branches from cobwebs.
Kidney mite
This parasite infects black currant varieties. It lives in unblown buds. Sign of his being on the bush:
- yellowness of the leaves;
- an increase in the size of the kidneys.
A kidney mite is dangerous because it spreads quickly. The female produces 4 or 5 generations of larvae per year.The shrub can die in one season. Infected plants are destroyed, it is almost impossible to cure them.
Currant glass
Glass moths lay their larvae in the middle of the cortex. They are found when a branch is cut. The larvae look like black dots. The danger of the spread of this parasite lies in the rapid defeat of the entire bush.
Aphid
When aphids appear, currant leaves begin to swell from the inside, then these mounds turn red. The last stage is the yellowing of the leaves. At the end of July, aphids move to other crops, since by this period it takes the most valuable substances for existence from the currant.
To get rid of aphids, trees are treated with special solutions.
Diseases and treatment
Currant diseases are a common cause of yellowing. They can affect mature bushes and young seedlings. Infection occurs regardless of the conditions; it can be epidemics that spread from the surfaces of other crops.
Anthracnose
Disease of the fungal type. Brown spots quickly spread over the entire surface of the leaves, then they turn yellow and fall off. Anthracnose infects a young plant during the period of active growth; it is especially dangerous because it can lead to the loss of the entire crop.
Treatment and preventive measures include treatment and removal of damaged areas.
Columnar rust
If cereals are located next to the currants, then the diseases to which they are susceptible are likely to spread to black currant bushes. The first sign of damage is redness of the lower leaves, then the edges of all leaves begin to turn yellow, they fall off.
Treatment and preventive measures are the treatment of bushes and proper seating planning.
Spheroteka
A fungal disease that affects not only foliage, but also a berry. The fruits are covered with a whitish bloom, after the leaves turn yellow, they fall to the ground. Such damage results in the crop becoming unfit for human consumption.
If the disease has spread to the entire bush, white spots are covered with black dots, then the bush cannot be cured, the branches are cut off and then burned.
Unsuitable climatic conditions
Many gardeners call unfavorable conditions in which the shrub develops as one of the reasons for the yellowing of currant leaves. In June, currant leaves begin to turn yellow due to too much waterlogging of the soil. This happens if it rains heavily in early summer. This sign is recognized by waterlogged soil, rot on the lower leaves and yellowness on the upper ones. In summer, the shrub must be carefully looked after.
Irrational planting can lead to yellowing of currant leaves. Culture loves free seating. When planning, it is recommended to adhere to the basic rules:
- do not block access to light;
- the territory should not be limited to vegetable beds;
- should not be planted near cereals.
In July and August, due to the establishment of hot weather and high temperatures, the shrub often dries up. This is determined by dry bottom leaves, yellowness at the edges, stunted weak appearance. Early frosts in autumn can ruin the future harvest if the bush is not insulated. The reason is often late frosts in the spring, if gardeners have already prepared the bush for exiting the sleep phase into the growth phase, loosened the soil and exposed the lower leaves.
Lack of minerals
With the scarcity of soil, the absence of favorable weather conditions, amateur gardeners ask themselves the question: how to feed the currant bushes if they do not have enough food. Fertilizers help improve the condition of the shrub and enrich the soil. From it, the root system receives nutrients and enters the growth phase.The developed root system transfers some of the nutrients to the leaves, they turn green and form ovaries.
How to feed the bushes
Shrubs, regardless of the variety, are fertilized several times during the season. In the fall, it is customary to fertilize the soil with humus mixed with potassium and phosphorus compounds. In early summer, the soil under the shrub is nourished with wood ash, which helps to activate the growth of the root system and helps protect against pest damage.
After harvesting, the soil is fed with liquid fertilizers that contain potassium and phosphates, during this period they are especially lacking. Top dressing is necessary in order to provide the shrub with further growth and transition to a quiet phase of sleep.
How and how to process currants so that the leaves do not turn yellow
Gardeners who have been growing currants for several decades use their own recipes. These folk remedies provide for the treatment of shrubs during periods of diseases and pests.
- Tomato tops. This remedy is suitable for the treatment of aphid colonies on leaves. The tops are collected, insisted. The solution is sprayed on the bushes 2 times a week, for a seven-day course.
- Chamomile or yarrow solutions. Shrubs are sprayed with these liquids from special equipment 1 time, weekly. The solutions are suitable for processing on dry days. If there are serious diseases or pest infestations, prophylaxis is not helpful.
- To treat bushes from aphids, mites, tobacco solutions help. Tobacco leaves are brewed with boiling water, the solution is cooled, and processed.
- Dry mustard. Mustard powder is used for sprinkling. For this procedure, cloudy, not hot days are chosen, otherwise the product can scorch the tips of the leaves. Places where spider mites are located or aphids live are sprinkled abundantly with powder, left not watered for 2 days.
- Processing with laundry soap. This remedy helps with an invasion of pests, saves shrubs from rust and spheroteka damage. A piece of soap is planed, a bucket of warm water is added. Leaves and branches are treated with soapy water.
Garden care rules
Currants require compliance with the minimum rules for watering, processing, feeding:
- pruning is carried out 2 times a year;
- watering is carried out as needed;
- feeding should be regular;
- loosening of the soil is carried out in the summer.
Pruning is carried out in spring or autumn. The main goals of the autumn procedure are the formation of shrubs, as well as the removal of old branches that interfere with development. Spring pruning is a way to make adjustments.
Attention! Affected and diseased branches are burned after pruning.
In favorable growing conditions, when spring and summer delight with regular rains, currants need to be watered only 3 times:
- Abundant watering is carried out during the period of ovary formation, active growth of green leaves. This period falls on the end of May-beginning of June.
- The second watering is carried out during the active formation of berries.
- The third time it is necessary to water the bush when the crop is harvested.
What to do if the rains are too frequent or if the weather is dry - these are the questions that gardeners visit in case of unfavorable weather forecasts. After heavy rains, it is recommended to fertilize the soil with peat. Drought requires more frequent self-watering.
Top dressing is regular, each period requires a specific approach:
- during the growth period, shrubs need feeding with potassium and nitrogen;
- for the formation of fruits, they are fed with phosphates;
- after harvesting, the plant needs potash fertilizer to restore the expended forces.
Loosening the soil around the bush saturates it with oxygen, therefore, it is recommended to carry out this procedure at least 3 times during the summer season.Correct, timely feeding, necessary watering, prevention of pest control help gardeners grow a good harvest.
