When black and red currants ripen, how to determine ripeness
The ripening time of the berries depends on the specific variety, region of growth, weather conditions and other nuances. Faced with the question of when black currant berries ripen, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the variety and other characteristics.
When black currant ripens, depending on the variety
There are many varieties of currants, which can be roughly divided into 3 categories by ripening time:
- early maturing;
- berries of medium ripeness;
- late varieties.
When choosing a suitable category, the climate in the growing area plays a major role. In hot areas, it allows growing any varieties, and in regions with a cool climate, it is advisable to plant early-maturing varieties.
Early
Varieties of currants with an early ripening period are planted on May days, begin to bear crops a month later, in the second half of June - early July. A currant that ripens early is ideal for growing in cool climates. Popular early varieties include:
- Inca Gold. Fruits have a translucent structure, sweet and sour taste and are located on clusters of 7-9 pieces. On one bush, up to 2.5 kg of harvest ripens.
- Tear of Isis. Small light yellow berries ripen on low-growing bushes. The yield is about 2 kg.
- The Snow Queen. The sweet greenish berries grow in abundance. One bush during growth brings more than 2.7 kg of currants.
Medium ripening varieties
Mid-ripening currants begin to ripen by mid-summer. The fruiting period stretches for 20-30 days, so it is possible to harvest the entire crop only in August. The most common mid-season varieties are:
- Riddle. A high-yielding variety with increased frost resistance.
- Sweetheart. The variety is suitable for growing in almost all regions, excluding the northern ones.
- Delicacy. Small berries weighing up to 1.5 g have a sweet taste and contain an increased amount of ascorbic acid.
Late cultures
Berries with late ripening times are harvested in August and September, until the first frost. As a rule, gardeners planted late crops in regions with a predominantly warm climate in order to have time to harvest the entire crop during the warm season. Late ripening varieties include:
- Vologda. On spreading bushes, enlarged fruits weighing more than 2 g grow. Regardless of the presence of pollinators, the variety demonstrates a high yield.
- Rondom. A variety developed by Dutch breeders that allows harvesting up to 4-5 kg from each bush.
- Tamerlane. Disease and cold resistant variety. Provided complex care, the yield indicator reaches 4 kg.
How to determine ripeness by external parameters
The easiest way to recognize ripeness is by a visual parameter. The cover color of the skins changes with maturation. It is important to take into account that it is necessary to determine the ripeness of red and black currants taking into account varietal characteristics.
If by external signs it is not possible to understand whether the crop is fully ripe, you can pick several fruits from the branches and taste them. Sweet and sour aftertaste indicates sufficient ripening.
Red varieties
You can determine when the fruits of red currants ripen by the rich, bright red hue of the skin. In addition, ripe fruits become firm and increase in size.
Blackcurrant
After a flowering period, the black currant ripens for about 45 days. The berries begin to ripen gradually, so the harvest takes several days. A clear sign of ripening is the black color of the berries, but such specimens should be picked after a couple of days, as the flesh may still remain green. At the same time, harvesting cannot be postponed for a long time, since ripe berries begin to crumble over time.
How ripening times vary by region
In different regions, the duration of the ripening of the crop varies depending on climatic and weather conditions, type of soil, level of natural light and other external factors. When cultivating currants, it is worthwhile to first find out when the fruits are harvested in a particular area.
Time of picking black currant in the Moscow region and the Moscow region
Large-scale ripening of red and black currant berries in the Moscow Region and the Moscow Region occurs in late July - early August. The harvest ripens in turn, so you will need to pick the berries several times. Depending on the temperature regime, the ripening period for berries may deviate from the norm.
In a hot summer, currants ripen much earlier than at low ambient temperatures.
Ripening period in the Urals
On the territory of the Urals, it is preferable to grow varieties of currants, in which fruiting begins after the middle of the summer period. Even if the harvest is delayed, varieties suitable for the Urals will be able to withstand the first frosts and a sharp drop in temperature.
When currants are harvested in central Russia
Early varieties are recommended for cultivation in central Russia. You can start picking berries already in late June - early July. Subject to the correct conditions of care and a favorable environment, the entire crop can be harvested long before the onset of cold weather.
What month is the fruit harvested in the Leningrad region
The climate that is observed in the main territory of the Leningrad Region is suitable for spring planting. When choosing varieties of currants, it is recommended to plant several varieties that differ in the ripening period. Growing different varieties, it will be possible to harvest during July and August, which will allow you to have fresh berries for a long period of time.
When currants ripen in Siberia
In Siberia, varieties are grown with early or medium ripening periods, resistant to low temperatures. The harvest period for the main part of the crop falls on the end of June.
How to pick berries correctly and quickly?
It is recommended to pick currants in dry weather. It is best to harvest in the early morning or late evening. Ripe berries are carefully picked from the branches by hands and placed in plastic bags or other containers. If you plan to immediately process the crop, you can use a deep saucepan as a container. For fresh storage or subsequent freezing, the berries are folded in a small layer into a shallow container.
In the case when the berries will be transported over long distances, it is necessary to pick them at the stage of technical maturity, when they are just beginning to pick up color.
Ripening and full color of the fruit will occur during transportation. At the same time, it is important that the transportation does not take more than a week. Growing fruits for consumption exclusively fresh, they should be harvested after reaching consumer maturity, when they acquire a rich color characteristic of a particular variety.
