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How to water currants,
Gooseberry is a shrubby perennial, characterized by an erect stem and, in most species, by branches covered with thorns. Its fruits are rounded berries of various sizes and colors, depending on the cultivar. Some of the best known varieties include:
– The neglected gooseberry, characterized by large green berries
– Bad currant, with medium-sized red fruits
– Leveling gooseberry, with large yellow fruits
– The Pax gooseberry, with medium-sized berries, known for their lack of thorns
Growing currants is simple, given their ability to adapt to any soil provided it is fertile and their high resistance to disease. It is a good rule of thumb to water the gooseberry plant with large doses of water, especially before flowering and in summer, throughout the ripening period of its delicious fruits.
grow currants
In order to grow currants and have a good harvest already on the two-year-old branches, it is necessary to prepare the pre-sowing in fertile, deeply worked soil. Young gooseberry plants sold bare root should first be soaked in a mash of mud to revitalize them and ensure better rooting. It is a good rule of thumb to dig a hole at least half a meter wide and deep in which to place the horn and bury the roots in a mixture of soil and compost. The best time to plant is from November to the end of March. All currant species grow rapidly in regions with a temperate climate and good humidity, such as in the foothills and pre-Alpine regions.
Fertilize and prune the plant.
From the year after planting the gooseberry, the plant can branch independently. However, to preserve the fertility of the soil and cause good fruiting, it is advisable to fertilize the blackcurrant plant once a year, in the autumn period. It is advisable to lay copious amounts of organic fertilizer at the base of the stem, after thorough weeding. Even in spring, the addition of fruit tree fertilizer can help stimulate flowering and subsequent fruit ripening, as well as mulching interventions to maintain adequate humidity in the substrate and allow the plant to absorb nutrients. needed from the ground. The size of Currants are used to maintain only the most vigorous branches capable of producing many fruits. It is necessary to prune old branches and eliminate weak branches that obstruct the center of the plant, to guarantee good oxygenation and maintain the harmonious posture of the bush.
Currants: diseases and remedies
Plant known to be quite vigorous and resistant to adversity, the only disease of the gooseberry plant is powdery mildew which mainly affects the Poorman variety and all species with red fruits. To combat powdery mildew, sulfur-based formulas are usually used, which, however, both in powder form and in wettable form, cause a phytotoxic action on the gooseberry, with the consequent cessation of vegetation and leaf fall. Therefore, to care for the plant, it is necessary to resort to other substances, the specific synthetic antioid products, on sale in specialized nurseries. To prevent powdery mildew, it is a good idea to carry out a treatment with Bordeaux mixture once a year at the end of winter, to avoid the development of the disease during the vegetative phase of the gooseberry.