When to plant currants
Open-rooted varieties can be planted in spring and fall. In the first case, you need to wait until the soil warms up to 7-9 degrees. In the middle lane, this usually happens at the end of April. It is not necessary to delay the planting of currants. Try to be in time before the bush begins to bloom leaves.
In autumn, currants with an open root system are planted in September-October, 3-4 weeks before the arrival of frost, so that the plants can take root and overwinter.
Seedlings with a closed root system are sold in pots with a clod of earth and do not stop their development. Moving to a permanent place will not be a trauma for them. Therefore, such currants can be planted on the site throughout the season – from spring to autumn.
How to choose a seedling
For currants, it is better to go to the nursery – it is more reliable if you want to buy a plant of a certain variety. Do not chase the size of the bush: an adult seedling will take root much worse in a new place. Choose 1-2-year-old plants – they usually have only two to four branches.
Pay attention to the roots: they must be alive, well developed, without rot, plaque and withered branches. The stems of a healthy seedling are a uniform light brown shade.
How to prepare a place for planting currants
Although this berry is unpretentious, for a rich harvest, you need to create good conditions for it.
Decide on a landing site
For red, white and yellow currants, find the sunniest spots in the garden. But black can be grown in partial shade. Since the bushes will grow over time, place them at a distance of 2-3 m from each other. So the plantation will not turn into dense thickets, the currant will be well ventilated, less sick and less likely to be affected by pests. And the harvest will be easier.
Prepare the landing hole
Its depth and diameter should be approximately 45-55 cm for currants with an open root system. For seedlings with closed roots, the diameter remains the same, and to calculate the depth, add 10–15 cm to the height of the pot.
At the bottom of the planting pit, pour 5 liters of rotted manure or compost, 100 g of nitroammophoska and 1 cup of dry wood ash. Mix all ingredients.
How to plant currants
Place the seedling in the hole so that the root neck is 3–5 cm below the ground. If necessary, add soil to the bottom or, conversely, remove the excess. There are buds at the base of the bush, and by deepening them into the ground, you will stimulate the growth of new shoots.
Fill all voids with soil, lightly compacting it with the palm of your hand.
Around the base of the bush, along the diameter of the planting hole, make a watering hole about 5 cm deep. Pour 10 liters of water into it.
If you are planting currants in the fall, cut off the branches, leaving three or four buds above the ground. In the future, fruit-bearing shoots will grow from them and the bush will acquire a beautiful sprawling shape.
Pour rotted manure or compost into the trunk circle with a layer of 5-10 cm. Such mulching will give the plant additional nutrition, and will also retain moisture in the soil.
How to care for currants after planting
In the first year, you can not feed the currants, since the necessary nutrition was added to the planting pit. But you can’t do without moisturizing. Young bushes need to be watered under the root twice a week, and in the heat – every other day. One plant needs 20-30 liters of water. In autumn, watering can be reduced to once every 1-2 weeks, and with the approach of frost, stop altogether.
If you planted bushes in the fall, then insulate them before the onset of cold weather. As soon as the weather forecast promises frosts, cover the currants with straw or dry grass with a layer of 10-15 cm. In the spring, with the arrival of stable heat, the shelter will need to be removed.