Black currant Constellation

Blackcurrant variety «Constellation» bred by breeders of the All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture. I.V. Michurin. In 1997, the new variety was included in the State Register of Varieties with permission for cultivation in the Volga-Vyatka, Srednevolzhsky and Ural regions. However, 30 years of experience in growing "Constellation" Russian gardeners showed that the variety feels great beyond the Ural Mountains, in Siberia, in the Far East.  

"Constellation" – currant variety of early ripening, highly self-fertile, early-growing, winter- and drought-resistant, resistant to fungal diseases.

Varie Features

Constellation bushes medium-sized, slightly sprawling, strong. Shoots of normal thickness, elastic. Young branches are painted light green, becoming stiff with time, acquiring a grayish-yellow hue. Kidneys – solitary, oblong, pressed to the shoot.  Leaves– five-lobed, not large, green. The surface of the sheet plate is matte, smooth. Teeth – short, curved with a white tip. Flowers – goblet with reddish sepals. Brush – straight, 3-5 cm long.

Fruits of the "Constellation" medium size – weight 1.2-1.5 gr. The shape of the berries – rounded. The pulp is juicy, with a small amount of seeds. Peel – black, dense. Taste of berries – dessert (4.5 points). The purpose of the variety is universal: it is suitable for transportation and sale in the markets of fresh berries, freezing / thawing, canning and cooking.

The yield of “Constellation” average. Already in the 2nd season after planting, the first crop of 0.8-1.0 kg per bush is harvested. In subsequent years, the currant yield averages 2.6 kg per bush (8 t/ha). Berries «Constellations» ripen together, which greatly speeds up and simplifies harvesting.

Growing conditions      

Blackcurrant variety «Constellation» gained popularity among gardeners in most of Russia. First of all, due to unpretentiousness in care, high resistance to frost, drought, heat, diseases, as well as precocity (the first full-fledged crop is already harvested for 2 years).

In addition, the variety "Constellation" – self-fertile, i.e. does not require neighborhood with other blackcurrant varieties for pollination.

In general, the agricultural technology of «Constellation» not much different from other blackcurrants. To get a good harvest of berries every year, you need to follow the basic rules for caring for it.

Location. "Constellation" loves sun, light, fertile, well-drained soils (loam or black soil), flat or elevated terrain. In this case, the currant realizes its full potential and gives a full-fledged harvest of large, juicy, tasty berries.

The variety does not tolerate shade, drafts and northern winds, acidic heavy soils, stagnant moisture, lowlands, dampness. The berry in such areas will shrink and crumble. Due to the constant excess of moisture, the roots will begin to rot, and the plant will die.

Soil. Before planting currant seedlings, a plot is prepared in 2-4 weeks. Clean  soil from plant debris and weeds. Then enriched with organic matter – dig with manure, humus, compost to the depth of a shovel bayonet. If the acidity of the soil is increased, it is "extinguished"; adding lime.

Terms of planting. The best time for planting currants "Constellation" autumn is considered (September – beginning of October). In this case, before the onset of cold weather, the plant will have time to take root, in winter – acclimatize, and in the spring – will start the first young shoots. Bushes planted in summer, with sufficient watering, also take root well. Spring seedlings in the first year will develop with a delay.

When planting in summer and autumn, it is important to take care of additional warming of newly made bushes for the winter. The soil around the seedling is necessarily mulched with a thick layer of straw or sawdust, branches – wrapped, slightly bent to the ground and covered with agrofiber.

Landing. For currant seedlings, they dig a planting hole 40-50 cm deep, and the same in diameter. When planting several bushes at the same time, a distance of 1.5-2 m is left between them. A fertile mixture of soil with overripe manure, compost and wood ash is laid at the bottom of the pit.

Currant seedlings «Constellation» released into the pit, the roots are straightened. Then they are covered with soil so that the root neck is deepened by 8-10 cm. Thus, the lower buds are underground, and new shoots will begin to grow from them next season. 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. With a moderate warm summer with a normal amount of rain, abundant watering  currants is carried out 3-4 times a season. The volume of water for 1 watering – 2 buckets/bush.

Compulsory watering is carried out:

• in the spring during shoot growth (mid-April - early May);
• ovary formation (end of May);
• preparing for winter (end of October).

In case of prolonged heat and drought, the number of waterings is increased, focusing on the condition of the soil. It should be moistened 40-50 cm deep, while around the bush there was no stagnation of moisture and waterlogging of the soil. After watering, as soon as the water is absorbed, the ground around the bushes is loosened and mulched.

Feeding. It is recommended to feed shrubs for 2-3 seasons after planting, in autumn. Peat, manure or humus with the addition of wood ash is poured onto the soil around the bushes. The earth is dug up to the depth of a spade bayonet, turning over the top layer of soil.

Disease resistance. Blackcurrant «Constellation» has immunity to most fungal diseases and pests.

Completely the variety has no immunity to bud mite. The insect settles inside the kidneys and feeds on them. An infected plant can be identified by the swollen-rounded shape of the buds. The leaves of them will bloom deformed. In the spring, during the period of bud formation, it is important to carefully examine the bush. Shoots on which signs of a bud mite are found must be completely cut out and burned. A shrub affected by more than 50% is removed from the site completely, along with the roots. Otherwise, the pest may infect other plants.

Under adverse conditions, currants can also be affected by striped mosaic, terry, anthracnose, septoria, and rust. Bushes can be attacked – aphid, moth, gall midge, glass case, scab, moth. In the fight against pests, the complete removal of infected shoots and the treatment of the bush with insecticides will help. In autumn, you need to completely collect and burn fallen leaves in order to deprive the larvae and fungal spores of a place for wintering.

Cutting. In early spring, before the buds swell, sanitary pruning of bushes is carried out. Weak, broken, diseased, frozen shoots, as well as all small shoots, are removed under the root. 4-5 of the strongest young basal shoots are left on the bush. If the bush is 3 or more years old – when pruning, leave 5 healthy shoots from each season. Thus, by the fifth year of the plant's life, you should have formed a "skeleton" consisting of 15-20 lignified branches and 4-5 young shoots. For 6-7 and subsequent seasons, an annual rejuvenating pruning is carried out – remove old (from 6 years old) fruiting branches.

Wintering. Constellation bushes withstand frosts up to –40°C. Under the snow, without additional shelter, they easily endure even the Siberian winter. The gardener should beware of return spring frosts, which can "kill" future bond. During this period, it is important to follow the weather forecast. If night cooling is expected, currant plantations must be "fumigated"; smoke – before dawn, set fire to pre-prepared piles of branches. A single bush can be covered with agrofibre for the night.

Selecting planting material

Before you buy blackcurrant seedlings Constellation, 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 «Constellation» in nurseries and specialized stores.  

Preparations