Currants are generally undemanding to soil and climate conditions, but they do best in loamy and loamy-sandy soils well supplied with humus and nutrients with a neutral or slightly acidic soil reaction. Currants grow well in full sun, but you can also plant them in a place that does not have direct sunlight all day. Before planting, perennial weeds should be removed and compost, granulated cow or horse manure, along with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, should be added. Do this preparation in the fall before planting.
Planting and aftercare
Currants are self-pollinating, but planting several plants will yield a better harvest. Bare-root shrubs are better planted in autumn, containerized ones can be planted in autumn and spring. Plant the shrubs at a distance of 1.0 to 1.5 m in a row. Trunk-like forms are planted at a distance of 0.8 to 1.0 m. After planting, currants are first hoeed immediately after applying the first dose of mineral fertilizer, the second time immediately after flowering and the third time after harvesting the fruits. Currants do not like a thriving weed community in their vicinity, regular hoeing will provide the currants with the necessary space for growth.
Pruning and training
Regular annual pruning is important for currants. Unpruned plants will quickly age and their fruiting is unsatisfactory. Currant shrubs should have no more than 9-12 shoots. The oldest should be four-year-old wood and all older branches should be removed regularly. We recommend removing four-year-old shoots immediately after harvest and leaving the same number of the youngest shoots in their place. In the first year after planting, cut all shoots to 3-4 buds. During the vegetation period, new annual shoots will grow from them, of which only the strongest 3-4 shoots should be left. In each subsequent year, leave three shoots again and in four years your currant shrubs will have approximately the same proportion of annual to four-year-old branches. Do not shorten one-year shoots in currants. Currants bear most fruit on two-year-old wood.
Fertilization
Currants are generally demanding for both organic and mineral fertilization. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers need to be applied annually in the fall. The share of the annual dose should be 70% in autumn fertilization, the remaining part is applied together with nitrogen fertilizer at the beginning of the vegetation in the following year before the inflorescences bloom. Organic fertilizers such as compost, granulated cow or horse manure are best applied in the fall. It is important to incorporate to a depth of about 10 cm, no more, because currants have a shallow root system. Mulching is a good way to keep the area under currant shrubs free of weeds and at the same time prevent excessive drying of the soil in the root area.
Currants are good for health
Red and white currants contain calcium, phosphorus, iron, as well as provitamin A, vitamin B1 and, above all, 30-80 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of fruit. The higher content of fruit pectins contributes to good gelling when preparing jams and preserves, while organic acids have bactericidal effects. Red and white currants refresh, support the secretion of digestive juices and have an effect on reducing fever.
Black currants contain a large amount of vitamin C (up to ten times more than lemons), up to 300-400 mg per 100 g of fruit. Furthermore, these fruits contain B vitamins, carotene, rutin, pectin, fruit sugars, mainly citric acid and tannins. Black currant fruits significantly affect metabolism. The juice is suitable for angina, has a diuretic effect, increases the elasticity of blood vessels, treats rheumatism, and is generally beneficial for pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
