Black currant Rita

Blackcurrant "Rita" bred at the Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia. Lisavenko by crossing varieties "Seedling Dove" and Lepaan Musta. In 2001, "Rita" was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements and allowed for cultivation in the West Siberian, Volga-Vyatka and other regions with similar climatic conditions.  

Variety advantages: high yield, large tasty berries, increased immunity to powdery mildew and gall aphids, winter and drought resistance.

Varie Features

Bushes "Rita" vigorous with a dense crown. Young shoots are straight, light green, hairless, gradually becoming stiff, acquiring a brown color. Buds solitary ovoid, small, brown with a raspberry tint. Leaves – medium size, 5-lobed, with dark green & nbsp; wrinkled slightly concave plate. Flowers – large, goblet-shaped, light pink. Brushes – up to 6.5 cm long, dense, hanging down.

Fruitslarge, weighing from 1.6 to 4.5 g. Peel – black, matte, medium density. Pulp – juicy, fragrant, with an average number of seeds. Taste – sweet with a little sourness. The variety is universal – currant lends itself well to transportation, suitable for growing for sale, canning, cooking.

Productivity «Rita» up to 4 kg per bush, up to 13 tons per hectare. The berries ripen in July, as a rule, together. Separation of berries – dry.

Growing conditions

Currant «Rita» belong to frost and drought-resistant varieties. It is not capricious in care, it does not require a lot of time and effort from you. But in order to grow a full-fledged crop, one should not neglect the elementary rules of blackcurrant farming.

Location. For landing «Rita» it is necessary to choose sunny areas, without shadows and drafts. Lack of sun and northern winds adversely affect the taste and quality of berries. High humidity, stagnation of water after rains, high occurrence of groundwater (less than 1.5 m from the surface), lowlands and proximity to water bodies, – lead to fungal diseases and cause rotting of the root system. Therefore, it is better to plant currants on an elevated area or slope.

Soil. Currant grows well and bears fruit on light fertile soils of moderate acidity. The right choice – loam, black soil. Before planting, the land must be enriched with organic fertilizers. Spread mullein or humus over the area, then dig along with the soil to the depth of a shovel bayonet. Before lowering the seedling "Rita" into the planting pit, put a mixture of organic,  nitrogen-containing fertilizers and black soil on its bottom.

Planting dates. Autumn is considered the most successful period for planting black currants. Before the first snow, seedlings have time to take root and get stronger, in winter – acclimatize, and in the spring – begin to actively increase the green mass.

Feeding. Useful substances from the fertilizers that you applied to the site before planting currants will be enough for the entire next season. From the third year, start feeding "Rita" mineral and vitamin complexes for berry plants containing potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, etc. In early spring and after flowering, apply nitrogen fertilizers and organic matter.

Water. To be sure of the quality of the crop, do not neglect watering. With a moderately warm and humid summer, "Ritu" watered 1-2 times a month, in drought – up to 2-3 times a week. On average, 2-3 buckets of water are poured under a currant bush. After watering, the soil around the trunk must be loosened and mulched.

Pruning. Sanitary and thinning currant pruning is carried out every spring. Remove damaged, weak shoots, excess root shoots, as well as stems that have ceased to bear fruit. 4-5 strong branches of each year of growth are left on the bush. On the seventh and subsequent years, the bush is rejuvenated by cutting out 6-year-old shoots.

Diseases and pests. Rita currant variety has high immunity to powdery mildew and gall aphids. Rarely affected by kidney mites, more often – anthracnose, septoria, rust.

Causes of diseases: planting diseased seedlings, erroneous choice of location, poor-quality  care, damp summer, pest transfer from other plants. During the season, it is necessary to regularly inspect currant bushes and all plantings on the site. If signs of diseases or pests are found, immediately cut at the root and burn the affected branches, treat the soil and the plant with special compounds.

Wintering. Currant "Rita" – frost-resistant variety, but additional shelter for the winter with agricultural material will not harm it. Especially young seedlings need it, because. they have not yet had time to adapt to low temperatures. To preserve the roots at the end of the season, the soil under the bush is cleaned of plant debris, watered, dug 30 cm deep, mulched with peat or humus, and then covered with a thick layer of straw, sawdust or coniferous spruce branches.

Selecting planting material

Before you buy Rita blackcurrant seedlings, pay attention to:

• The state of the root system. It should have 3-5 main healthy and elastic roots – at least 20 cm long, with many small fibrous processes. Without traces of dryness, putrefaction, diseases.
• Appearance of shoots – well-developed stems in the amount of 2-4 pieces, at least 40 cm long. Bark without signs of dryness, cuts, breaks, unnatural spots.
• Age of seedlings. Most of all, 2-3-year-old plants are suitable for planting. They adapt more easily and will grow in a new place.

Beware of fakes and "sick" planting material! Buy currant seedlings «Rita» in nurseries and specialized stores.

Preparations