Description and characteristics of currant varieties Green haze, planting and care
For growing currants in the backyard or summer cottage, hybrid varieties with improved characteristics are increasingly being chosen. This type includes the Green Haze black currant. It is popular because of its unpretentiousness and good yield indicators.
History of currant breeding Green haze
In the early 2000s, breeders of the Michurin Moscow Scientific Institute crossed the Shmyrev and Karelskaya currant varieties. The hybrid resulting from the crossing was named Green Haze. After the trial period, the variety was officially entered in the list of the state register and approved for use by amateur gardeners. Since 2004, it has been successfully grown in the Urals, Siberia, in the Central and Northwestern regions.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Among the main advantages of the variety are:
- frost resistance;
- winter hardiness;
- drought resistance;
- non-susceptibility to infections;
- high yield rates;
- fruiting stability.
The main disadvantage of the variety is called its vulnerability to kidney mite attacks. The parasite can destroy up to 75 percent of the crop.
External description of the hybrid
The variety is classified as mid-season. Young plants are bright green in color, becoming light yellow as they mature.
Bushes
The shrub grows up to 1 meter in height, the branches are spread out to the sides. The leaf plates are five-pointed, light green, with pronounced central veins.
Flowering and berries
The brushes reach 10 centimeters in length and are tapered. Flowers, when blooming, resemble the shape of a glass. The fruits completely cover the brushes when ripe, leaving no gaps. Berries reach 1.6 grams by weight, black in color, with a glossy surface. Currant taste - classic, sweet and sour.
Characteristics of the variety
Black currant varieties Green haze are described in detail by breeders. A culture is characterized according to several criteria.
All about yield
The first crop is harvested the next year after planting the seedlings. The variety has a high level of fruiting. An adult bush gives up to 4 kilograms of berries per season.
The fruits are distinguished by good keeping rates, which is especially appreciated during transportation and storage.
A feature of the variety is considered to be an increase in yield for the 7th year of existence. Stable fruiting, subject to keeping conditions, is possible for 14 years.
Frost and drought resistant
Hybrid Green Haze was conceived as a variety that can withstand frost and drought. Breeders have achieved the following results:
- shrub is able to withstand temperatures up to -20 degrees;
- under cover the bushes remain at -45 degrees;
- with regular watering, a weekly lack of moisture will not harm the plant.
Exposure to diseases and pests
The currant of the Green Haze variety is resistant to diseases and pests. A danger to the culture is a kidney mite. It is a small worm that infects plant buds. After the beginning of flowering, the parasites leave the buds and spread throughout the entire territory of the bush. The mite leads to the loss of part of the crop.
The affected bushes are dug up, then destroyed. Chemicals are not able to stop the parasite from multiplying, so treatment is not practiced. The main control measures are preventive actions before budding begins.
Features of planting currants
Agricultural technology when growing currants Green haze is concluded in the observance of several important conditions. When planning landings, take into account:
- selection of a suitable place;
- control over the condition of the soil;
- compliance with crop rotation;
- preparation and care of seedlings;
- inspection of the bushes;
- removal of infected parts.
Recommended disembarkation times
Gardeners recommend planting crops in the fall. For this, select suitable weather conditions. For the northern regions, the period from late August to mid-September is suitable. For the southern regions, the time is chosen until the first half of October.
The seedlings should be able to adapt and take root before the first frost.
Site selection and soil preparation
To comply with crop rotation, experienced gardeners recommend avoiding places where related crops grew up to currants: raspberries, gooseberries, as well as horseradish, fennel, basil. Avoid the proximity of sea buckthorn, this can lead to rivalry between cultures.
The place should be well lit, protected from winds. Currants are not placed in lowlands, on uneven areas, with differences in the levels of the upper layer.
Planting technological process
The holes for the seedlings are dug 1-2 weeks before the planned planting. This is necessary for the earth to settle and compact. Humus mixed with wood ash is poured into the pits.
Landing scheme:
- the distance between the bushes is at least 60 centimeters;
- the gap between the rows of bushes is at least 2 meters.
The seedling is placed in the hole, the roots are carefully straightened. The root collar is deepened 6 centimeters to form a sprawling shrub. The hole is covered with earth, compacted, and abundantly watered the furrow created around the seedling.
After planting, the bush is pruned. 5 buds are counted and pruned over it with sharp garden shears. The method contributes to the growth of the root system and the formation of new buds in the next season.
Proper care of bushes
Caring for shrubs involves following the rules and checking the shrubs regularly.
Irrigation and feeding
In the spring, the shrub does not need watering in the presence of winter snowdrifts. During the period when the ovary is formed on the bush, it is watered with warm water 1 time for 5-6 days. The amount of moisture for 1 bush is 2-3 buckets of water.
Information! Currants are watered at the root, while making sure that water does not fall on the leaf plates and fruits.
Currants are fertilized starting from the 3rd year of existence, according to a special scheme:
- in the spring - nitrogen-containing complexes;
- in the fall - organic fertilizers;
- from June to July - foliar feeding with nutritious mixtures.
Pruning and shaping bushes
To form a compact shrub and provide all parts of the plant with sunlight, the branches are cut twice:
- Autumn. Form a bush, remove damaged diseased branches, yellow leaves.
- In the spring. Correct the bush, remove branches that have suffered from frost.
Pruning is an important step in caring for currant bushes. On black currant, they practice rejuvenating pruning, starting from the 5th year of existence. For red and white currants, these periods are shifted by 3 years. Pinching is carried out to stimulate the formation of new shoots, the emergence of strong branches.
Preventive treatments for pests and diseases
To prevent infections and the appearance of parasitic insects, currants are treated until the first buds appear. To do this, use Bordeaux liquid, special chemicals.
We cover the variety from frost
The frost resistance of the variety is at a high level, which means that Green Haze currant bushes are able to withstand low temperatures. In addition, the species has good winter hardiness. This means that currants of this species are able to adapt to sharp temperature jumps.
Despite the good performance, experienced gardeners recommend covering shrubs in the harsh Siberian frosts. For this, special industrial materials are used. Agrofibre is especially popular.
Warning! Do not use plastic wrap to cover currants.
The branches of the bush are bent to the ground, buried in, covered with industrial material and placed on the unoccupied ends of the load (you can use bricks and boards). Covered in this way, currants, taking into account the flow of air to the lower parts of the plant, can withstand frost down to -45 degrees.
Tips from Experienced Gardeners for Growing Green Haze
Currants are grown throughout the country. Experienced gardeners advise using some "tricks" when leaving.
- In the Urals and Siberia, the upper layer around the trunk is insulated with peat or sawdust. The layer can be from 5 to 10 centimeters.
- In Siberia, autumn pruning is not carried out. It is transferred into the spring to leave more branches for the shrubs that protect the main stem from the cold.
- In the northwest of the country, gardeners are adding additional organic fertilizing to improve soil composition.
- In areas where strong winds prevail, the soil is covered with non-woven material for the winter.
- In the spring, the soil around the currants is mulched with straw, sawdust or humus. This will protect it from weeds and pests.
- Currant pruning is carried out annually. A poorly formed, overgrown shrub reduces yield indicators, the berries become smaller and lose their taste.
- If there is not enough space for the growth of the shrub, trellises are used.
- When planting several bushes, it is recommended to use different varieties so that mutual cross-pollination occurs. This contributes to the appearance of more tasty large fruits.
- Seedlings blooming in the first year of planting are recommended to deprive them of flowers. Fruiting of currants is allowed in the second year of growth.
- Before planting, the roots of seedlings are recommended to be dipped in a clay mash. This will help the root system adapt faster.
- In the spring, currants are planted using the “transshipment” method, that is, with a lump of earth left after being removed from the planting container.
With proper care, Green Haze currants will bear fruit for more than 10 years.
