Blackcurrant Veloy

Veloi blackcurrant, known among gardeners under the name Leningradskaya sweet, was bred in the 90s by breeders of the Pavlovsk Experimental Station of the All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Growing. N.I. Vavilov by crossing varieties Ojebyn and Leningrad Giant. In 1993, the new variety was included in the State Register with permission to grow in the Northern, Northwestern and Central regions of the Russian Federation.

Among the advantages of the variety «Veloi» can be distinguished: a consistently high yield, drought and winter hardiness, immunity to fungal diseases and pests, versatility, a pleasant dessert taste of berries.

Varie Features

Bushes currants «Veloy» up to 1.4 m in height, medium spreading, with a dense crown. Young shoots are thick, slightly pubescent, green with a pink tinge, becoming stiff with time, acquiring a light brown color. Kidneys – violet color, egg-shaped, pointed at the top, on the branch are located apart from each other. Leaves 5-lobed, large, dark green, plate – wrinkled, matte, with a jagged contour. Flowers – large, goblet, pinkish, pubescent.

Fruits «Veloia» large, do not shrink. The average weight of berries is 1.6-1.8 g, the maximum is 3.5-4 g. Fruit shape – rounded, slightly flattened at the poles. Peel – black, glossy, but thin, which reduces the transportability of berries. Detachment – semi-dry. Pulp – juicy, fragrant, contains many seeds. Currant taste is sweet (5 points out of 5).

Yield. Veloi Variety – currant of medium late ripening (end of July - mid-August). Fruiting is extended. The crop is harvested in several stages, immediately as it ripens, because. an overripe berry may crack. Harvest "Veloya": 3.5-4.2 kg per bush.

Growing conditions

Currant variety «Veloi» tolerates dry summers, frosty winters and sudden changes in temperature. The plant is recommended for cultivation in northern latitudes. Subject to simple rules of agricultural technology, it gives consistently high yields of large sweet berries.

Location.  For planting blackcurrant, choose a sunlit area, without shadows and drafts. The site should be located on a hill, as water accumulates in the lowlands. Stagnation of moisture and high occurrence of groundwater (above 1.5 m) – detrimental to plants. The soil should be light fertile (not saline, not acidic). A few weeks before planting (3-4 weeks), the soil is enriched with humus or compost. Fertilizer is laid out on the site and dug up to the depth of the bayonet of a shovel, turning over the layers with top dressing.

Feeding. When planting young currant bushes, a nutrient mixture of humus and wood ash is added to the bottom of the hole. The next top dressing of plants is carried out already for the 2nd season. In the spring, urea is introduced, in the summer, during the formation of buds and flowering, – complex mineral fertilizer based on phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, etc.

Irrigation. Variety «Veloi» tolerates short drought well and does not need frequent watering. It is necessary to shed the bushes abundantly in spring, autumn, and 2-3 times during the summer. With prolonged drought, currants are watered weekly as the soil dries. In the rainy period, the water supply is stopped, they make sure that the soil around the bush does not become swampy.

Pests and diseases. "Veloi" has increased immunity to powdery mildew and bud mites. In the spring, you can carry out the only preventive treatment with a fungicide. During the season, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plants, especially in the spring. If you find the slightest sign of diseases or pests, you should immediately cut and burn infected shoots and leaves. When insects appear – treat with systemic insecticides.

Wintering. "Veloi" – a frost-resistant currant variety that tolerates even a harsh winter well under deep snow cover, that part of the bush that turned out to be above the snow level can freeze slightly. In late autumn, the near-stem area is cleared of fallen leaves and weeds and mulched with a thick layer of sawdust, coniferous spruce branches, and straw. Mulch will protect the root system from freezing. Young autumn seedlings are slightly bent to the ground and covered with burlap.

Selecting planting material

Before you buy Velaya 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 «Vela» in nurseries and specialized stores.

Preparations