TOP 50 best varieties of red currant with description and characteristics
The owners of summer cottages are often engaged in the cultivation of red currants. Ripe berries can be used in cooking or traditional medicine. Most often, the fruits are processed, but there is also large-fruited currants, which are eaten fresh. Before you start planting, you need to familiarize yourself with the varieties of red currants.
What does red currant look like?
Shrubs with serrated leaves and gray shoots with a greenish tint are called red currants. In the wild, such a plant is found near swamps, lakes and in damp forests. The main distinguishing feature of the berry is considered to be the earlier ripening of the fruits, which ripen in the first half of July.
Depending on the variety, the berries can be colored yellow, red or pink. They are oval or round in shape; the average size of each berry is 3-5 millimeters. The harvested crop is rarely eaten raw as it tastes sour.
Types of red currants
There are different varieties of red currant, the features of which are recommended.
Early cultures
Some gardeners want to pick ripe berries at the end of June and therefore plant early ripening varieties.
Jonker van Tets
A fairly old variety that was bred in the forties of the last century. Jonker van Tets has tall bushes that grow up to 180-190 centimeters in the open field. The fruits are not very large, weighing only 1-2 grams.
Early sweet
Medium early culture, which ripens in early July. The shrub grows poorly and has a neat crown. The berries are quite large and weigh one and a half grams. They are covered with a thin reddish skin and have a sour flesh.
Cherry Viksne
A compact shrub with a height of 40-50 centimeters, resistant to droughts and frosts. The main feature of the variety is that the collected fruits have good transportability and resistance to cracking.
Chulkovskaya
Self-pollinated currant that can be grown in greenhouses or outdoors. Chulkovskaya has small red berries, the weight of which does not exceed 0.8 grams. They are too sour and therefore are rarely eaten fresh and used only for processing.
Medium ripening varieties
To harvest at the end of July, medium-ripening varieties of currants are planted.
Gift of the Eagle
The most popular mid-ripening currant, which has time to ripen until early August. The Gift of the Eagle has large brushes, the length of which reaches 15 centimeters. On each of the brushes, 15-20 berries weighing 0.8-0.9 grams are formed. At least 10-12 kilograms of harvest are harvested from each bush. Berries contain many vitamins and therefore they are used in folk medicine.
Rovada
A mid-ripening berry that ripens within 40-50 days. Rovada differs from most varieties of currant in its strongly branched and strong bushes, which can grow up to 80-95 centimeters. In summer, bushes with berries form on the bushes. With proper care, it is possible to get 8-9 kilograms of harvest from each bush.
Late
Some gardeners prefer to pick berries in late summer. For this, late-ripening berries are planted.
Dutch red
The oldest European variety that can be grown both outdoors and in greenhouses. The Dutch currant has the following benefits:
- taste qualities;
- frost resistance;
- transportability;
- yield.
Fruit ripening begins in mid-August and continues until the end of the month. The berries have a pleasant sour taste and are used to make jams and compotes.
Tatyana
A hybrid variety with fast-growing bushes that grow up to 60 centimeters in height. The plant has large leaves, which are painted in a rich green color. On Tatyana's brushes, 10-12 berries are formed with a mass of 0.7-0.8 grams.
Beloved
A variety with neat compact bushes that branch slightly. In the spring, Beloved is covered with greenish leaves with a perfectly smooth leaf plate. In the middle of summer, reddish spherical currants form on the plants. On average, 6-8 kilograms of currants are collected from a bush.
Seedless currant varieties
There are several types of currants, the fruits of which do not contain seeds. These include:
- The Rose. The plant belongs to the group of the most delicious varieties of berries. Rose fruits do not have a sour taste, and therefore many people eat them fresh. The berries weigh 0.8 grams and are covered with a thin pinkish skin. The rose is resistant to septoria and many other diseases.
- Valentinovka. Self-fertile berry that ripens in late summer. Valentinovka has small currants, the weight of which does not exceed 0.5 grams. The yield is 3-4 kilograms per bush.
The sweetest cultures
People who do not like the sour taste of currants should plant the sweetest varieties:
- Sugar. Early ripening berry with round fruits that grow to one gram. The main features of the variety include a pleasant sweet taste, excellent transportability and resistance to sudden temperature changes.
- Sarah. A mid-season frost-resistant plant ideal for outdoor planting. Sarah's berries are bright red and oval in shape. They are suitable for making jam and compote.
Disease resistant
So that the planted bushes do not die from diseases, it is necessary to plant plants with resistance to common pathologies. These berries include:
- Gazelle. A compact, medium-sized plant that is protected from fungal diseases. Gazelle berries do not crack and are stored for a long time.
- Tisel. Early ripening berry with resistance to fungal and viral pathologies. The advantages of Tisel include ease of cultivation and excellent transportability of the harvested crop.
Large-fruited varieties
Gardeners who prefer to consume fresh berries prefer to plant large-fruited currant species.
Asora
A powerful and tall shrub with wide spreading branches. The harvest ripens by the end of summer and therefore it is classified as a late-ripening variety of berries.Ripe fruits are painted in a dark burgundy color, their weight reaches two grams.
Alpha
High-yielding and tall berry, which is popular among summer residents. Alpha fruits are covered with a light reddish skin. After ripening, the weight of each berry is 1-2 grams. The variety does not die from drought and does not suffer from powdery mildew.
Baraba
A short plant that grows up to 75 centimeters. Baraba has an excellent yield, which allows you to get 6-8 kilograms of currants from each bush. The main disadvantage of the variety is that it often suffers from anthracnose.
Winter hardy varieties
In the open field, it is necessary to plant berries that are reliably protected from frost.
Scarlet dawn
Tall shrub with a perfect rectangular crown. The currant is fully ripe by the 15-20th of July, and therefore it is considered a mid-ripening berry. Scarlet Dawn has a sweet and sour taste and is suitable for raw consumption and processing.
Ural lights
Many gardeners in the northern regions plant Ural Lights, as they cope well with low temperatures. When grown outdoors, the weight of the berries is 0.5-0.6 grams. If you plant bushes in a greenhouse, their mass will increase to a gram. The fires of the Urals are reliably protected from fungal diseases and pests.
Ural beauty
The most frost-resistant type of currant, which does not die under the influence of low temperatures. Among the advantages of the Ural beauty are its protection from pests, resistance to diseases and high productivity.
New varieties
Several new varieties of berries are distinguished, which are popular with gardeners.
Marmalade
A tall shrub that can grow up to one and a half meters. In late spring, huge green leaves appear on the bushes, and in summer, fruits are formed on the branches that have a red color and a slight orange tint. The average weight of ripe currants is 0.5-0.7 grams.
Ilyinka
Mid-ripening currant, which ripens in the second half of summer. The characteristic features of Ilyinka include large currants, which weigh 1.6-1.7 grams. The crop is colored burgundy with a pinkish tinge, the taste has a slight sourness.
Long-leaved
Long-leaved currants grow up to one meter in height. The main advantage of the variety is its winter hardiness, which allows you to grow bushes at low temperatures. In the spring, fruit clusters appear on the plant, which by the middle of summer grow up to 10-15 centimeters in length.
Self-fertile
Gardeners who want to regularly get a good harvest of currants should plant self-fertile varieties of berries:
- Transdanubian. Self-fertile variety that bears fruit well even when grown in unfavorable climates. 6-10 kilograms of berries are collected from the bush.
- Creamy. A high yielding variety that finishes bearing fruit in late summer. Cream currants are not afraid of drought and severe winter frosts. The yield from each bush is 10-11 kilograms.
How to choose a variety depending on the region
When choosing a suitable variety, take into account the climate of the region in which the currants will be planted.
The best red currant varieties for the middle lane
It is recommended to plant here plants that have strong branches and resistance to low temperatures.
Viksne
A tall shrub that grows up to two meters in height. The bush has strong and powerful shoots that are painted gray. Viksna has good fruiting, thanks to which at least eight kilograms of berries are obtained from the bush. They begin to ripen in late June or July.
Vika
A relatively young variety, which was created by domestic breeders for breeding in the middle lane. The main advantages of Vicki include undemanding soil composition, excellent yield, immunity to ailments and the sweet taste of ripe currants.
The berries are covered with a red skin with a faint brown tint, they weigh 1-1.2 grams.
Versailles red
A medium-sized plant with long brushes that grow up to 12-14 centimeters. The Versailles shrub has large berries weighing about two grams. They are yellow in color and have a pleasant sweetish taste. The yield of such currants is average and therefore no more than five kilograms of harvest are harvested from the shrub.
Jonker van Tets
The variety is distinguished by the intensive development of bushes that grow up to two meters. The shrub has erect shoots, on which fruit clusters appear at the beginning of summer. Each of them forms 10-15 flat-round berries weighing 0.5 grams. The surface of the berries is covered with a dense red skin. The pulp of the currant is sweetish, it contains 4-5 seeds.
Detvan
Czech berry that is resistant to common diseases and pests. Detvan has huge clusters in which 15-17 reddish fruits grow. Productivity from one seedling is 6-9 kilograms.
Red Cross
American hybrid variety with wide spreading bushes one and a half meters high. The berries of the Red Cross are small, weighing up to 0.4-0.6 grams. Among the advantages of the plant are protection from ailments and resistance to frost.
Cascade
The plant is classified as a mid-early berry that ripens until mid-July. The cascade has huge pendant fruit cysts 12 centimeters long. The main advantages of ripened fruits of this type of currant include dessert taste, transportability and keeping quality.
Houghton Castle
A vigorous plant developed by Western European breeders. The growing season ends at the end of summer, and therefore Houghton Castle is considered a late ripening. Sweet and sour berries are covered with burgundy skin and weigh 1-1.5 grams.
Ob sunset
A vigorous and spreading shrub, the height of which reaches 120-130 centimeters. The Ob sunset has small fruits weighing 0.2 grams. The pulp of the ripe crop is sweet and does not have a sour taste.
Radiant
A high-yielding variety of currants, which is advised to grow in the middle lane. Radiant is resistant to frost, and therefore the planted seedlings do not die, even with severe frosts. The fruits are large, weighing 1.3-1.4 grams.
Assora
Late ripening currant, whose growing season ends in August. Assora has medium fruit clusters, which have 10-12 large berries each weighing two grams. The shrub is resistant to powdery mildew and frost.
For the Moscow region
There are several currant varieties that grow better than others in the Moscow region.
Rondome
A Dutch tall shrub that has powerful leafy shoots. Rondom is notable for its yield and delicious berries. The mass of each currant reaches 1-1.3 grams. You can grow Rondom both in greenhouses and in the open air.
Natalie
Gardeners living in the Moscow region are often planted in Natalie's garden. This is a short bush with large berries that weigh 1.7-1.8 grams. Natalie's pulp has a sweet-sour taste. Shrubs are resistant to common ailments and frost.
Rosetta
A shrub with powerful branches that can grow up to 145 centimeters. Fruits form on the bush in July, and therefore the Rosetta is considered an early maturing plant. The disadvantages of currants include poor resistance to dampness and low yield.
Roland
A new variety of currant, which was created by gardeners from Holland. Among the features of Roland, frost resistance and good yield are distinguished. Each bush bears 7-10 kilograms of fruit. The maximum weight of berries is 2-2.5 grams.
Night
A vigorous shrub that easily tolerates autumn-winter frosts and is not susceptible to insect attacks. Nochka has medium-sized fruit clusters with red berries weighing 1.3 grams. The ripening of the crop ends in early August.
Generous
A medium spreading shrub that grows up to two meters when grown in the garden. Round-shaped berries turn red after the end of the growing season. They are often eaten fresh as they are not very sour.
For the Urals and Siberia
The climatic conditions of Siberia and the Urals do not allow growing some types of currants. Siberian gardeners recommend cultivating Diamond Currant in the northern regions. This plant has excellent frost resistance and tolerates any frost.
You can also plant a Bayan berry, in which the root system is capable of developing even in frozen soil. Bayana is resistant to anthracnose, powdery mildew and other fungal ailments.
For Altai Territory
Breeders have bred several varieties specifically for planting in the Altai Territory.
Fertody
Mid-ripening currant, created by Hungarian breeders. Fertodi is popular among gardeners due to its resistance to infections, pests and frost. The shrub grows up to 2-3 meters and therefore will have to be tied up. Fertodi fruits are too sour and therefore only suitable for processing.
Valencia
Gardeners of the Altai Territory are often planted on the Valencia site. This shrub is undersized, its height does not exceed 75 centimeters. Valencia's fruit clusters reach 14 centimeters in length, each forming 14-15 berries weighing 1.5 grams. Valencia is classified as a high-yielding currant species, since the bush gives more than 5 kilograms of berries.
Jennifer
An early ripening species of red currant, which is grown by many gardeners of the Altai Territory. Jennifer has a good yield level. On average, more than four kilograms of harvest ripen on each bush.
Serpentine
Under favorable conditions, Serpentine bears excellent fruit, its yield exceeds 6-7 kilograms per bush. The shrub is resistant to soil freezing, infectious diseases and droughts. The fruits are not sour and are suitable for consumption without processing.
For southern regions
Plants with resistance to drought and high temperatures are suitable for planting and further growing berries in the southern regions. It is recommended to plant the following varieties of berries:
- Detvan. Czech hybrid variety that takes root in warm regions. Despite the fact that Detvan has small berries, its yield reaches 10-13 kilograms per bush.
- Rosita. A tall shrub that grows rapidly in the southern regions of the country. Rosita's yield is low - 2-3 kilograms.
For northwest Russia
The climatic features of the regions located in the northwestern part of the country do not allow growing many varieties of berries. The following plants are suitable for growing in the northwest:
- Generous. A early ripening variety created specifically for planting in the northern regions. The harvest ripens in summer, at the end of July.
- Firstborn. A frost-resistant and high-yielding plant with powerful bushes. The fruits of the Firstborn ripen in the 20th of August.
Conclusion
Red currant is the most common berry grown by all gardeners. Before planting it, you need to familiarize yourself in detail with the main features of the common varieties of currants. This will help you choose the right variety for further cultivation.
