Black currant Ruslan

Blackcurrant variety "Ruslan" bred in NIISS them. M.A. Lisavenko by the breeders of the department of mountain gardening L. Zabelina and E. Nakvasina, who crossed the currant "Treasure" with experimental seedling 74-5-1.

 As a result of the efforts of scientists, a new high-yielding variety of early ripening blackcurrant has appeared, which boasts such qualities as self-fertility, resistance to fungal diseases, and frost resistance. For state tests "Ruslan" was adopted in 2008.

Varie Features

Ruslan bushes tall – 1-2 m in height, medium sprawling and dense. Currant shoots are straight, thickened, strong. Young branches – green, fruitful – brown. Leaves — five-lobed, light green; hairless; plates are large, tuberous. Flowers – small, pinkish. Brushes — medium length, with 5-8 berries each.

Fruits at "Ruslan" large – weight 1.5-3.5 gr. Form – rounded. The taste of berries is sweet and sour, tasting score – 4.5 points on a five-point scale. Pulp – dense, juicy, aromatic. Peel – black, glossy, dense. Separation of berries – dry, transportability – good.

Using the – universal. "Ruslan" suitable for cultivation, both for commercial and personal use – fresh consumption and sale, preservation, freezing, etc.

Yield. From one bush "Ruslan" collect up to 3.5 kg of currants. The berries ripen early (end of June). It is important to remove currants from the bushes as soon as they ripen, because when they are overripe, they begin to crumble.

Growing conditions       

Blackcurrant variety "Ruslan" boasts such qualities as

• Winter hardiness. Without shelter, it tolerates frosts down to – 25 ° C. You can successfully grow a variety in cold climatic zones, for example, in Siberia.
• Self-fertility. Does not require replanting of other blackcurrant varieties for cross-pollination. Although such a neighborhood will benefit him.
• Resistant to fungal diseases, bud mites and glass bugs.

In general, "Ruslan" It does not require special care. If you follow the traditional blackcurrant agricultural practices, you will get a decent harvest of large and tasty berries.

What are the requirements?

Location. For currant «Ruslan» choose a flat or elevated area, with low groundwater, protected from drafts and the north wind, well lit by the sun during the day. With stagnant water, the roots rot, so when choosing a site, it is important to pay attention to the waterlogging factor of the area.

Soil. Light fertile soil with neutral acidity – loam, sandy loam. Excess acidity is neutralized by adding lime. 3-4 weeks before planting, the soil is enriched with organic matter and dug up.

Landing. Under the currant bush, they dig a hole 40-50 cm deep, and the same in diameter. When planting several bushes, a distance of 1.5-2 m is left between them.   A fertile mixture of soil with overripe manure, compost, wood ash is laid at the bottom of the hole. Sapling "Ruslan" released into the pit to the level of the root collar. They fall asleep with the top layer of soil formed after digging a hole. The earth around the bush is carefully crushed, watered abundantly (10 liters of water per bush). The trunk area is mulched with sawdust, grass or straw. After planting, the upper part of the shoots is cut, leaving 4-5 buds on each. 

Irrigation. The regularity of currant watering depends on the weather. In moderately warm and rainy summer weather, one bucket of water is enough for 7-10 days. During drought and heat, the amount of moisture is increased to 2-3 waterings per week. The best indicator – soil condition, it should be moistened 50 cm deep, but it is important that the site does not turn into a squelching "swamp". After watering, the soil around the bush is loosened so that a crust does not form, preventing air exchange with the roots, and weeds are weeded.

Tip: To minimize the effort during irrigation and control the water supply, the organization of a drip irrigation system on the site will help.

Feeding. Fertilizers applied during planting, as a rule, are enough for 1-2 seasons. Starting from the third, the bushes begin to feed.

• In early spring, when the buds open, potassium sulfate and superphosphate are added to the soil.
• During the period of ovary and fruit ripening, currants can be fed with specialized mineral complexes.
• In autumn, before preparing for winter, organic fertilizers dissolved in water are poured under a bush: compost, manure, peat. One bucket of a solution in a ratio of 1:8 is sufficient.

Resistance to diseases. Blackcurrant variety "Ruslan" susceptible to infection by rust and gall aphids. The best way to fight – preventive treatment of the bush before they appear. When the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary to immediately remove the affected areas of the plant, up to the complete cutting out of the diseased shoots and treat the currants with highly targeted preparations that can be found in specialized stores for gardeners and nurseries.

Wintering. When preparing currants for winter, all debris, fallen leaves and weeds are removed around the bushes. The earth is being dug up. The trunk area is covered with mulch. If winter temperatures drop below –25°C in your area, bend the branches to the ground, then cover the plant with a special agrofibre or burlap.

Selecting planting material

Before you buy Ruslan 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! Buy currant seedlings «Ruslan» in nurseries and specialized stores.

Preparations