Currant pink Dutch pink

Dutch pink – a fairly well-known variety of self-fertile currants in Russia and the CIS. He fell in love with domestic gardeners for high yields, large sweet berries, frost and drought resistance, high resistance to diseases and pests, and the extraordinary beauty of flowering and fruiting bushes. The experience of growing pinkcurrant in Russia has proved its survival and high productivity in almost all regions.

Varie Features

The bush is medium-sized, about 1.5 meters in height, slightly sprawling. Due to its average density, the harvest ripens together, since each berry has enough sun. Currant shoots are straight, thickened. Young shoots are green with red spots, with age the color of the branches acquires a light brown color. Pinkcurrant leaves are 3- and 5-lobed. The outer part of the sheet – green, smooth. Internal – light green whitish, slightly pubescent. Flowers – saucer-shaped, light, greenish hue with yellow and pink patches. Brushes – up to 15 cm long, with an average of 10-15 berries on each.

Fruit currant «Dutch rose» large – the average weight is 0.9-1.2 gr., with high-quality agricultural technology, you can grow larger specimens up to 2.0-2.5 gr.  Color of berries – bright pink. Peel – very thin and transparent. Pulp – juicy, fragrant, with small seeds.

The taste of pink currant is dessert, sweeter than that of its red "relative". They make preparations for the winter from it: the most delicate fragrant jams, jams, juices, fruit drinks. The pink variety, like the red one, has a high gelling ability; when frozen / thawed, the berry does not lose its beneficial properties.

Yield. «Dutch Rose» currant belongs to varieties of medium late ripening (July). The berries ripen at the same time, they are well attached to the brush and do not crumble ahead of time. The yield of the variety is high – on average, from 4.5 to 9 kg of berries are harvested from a bush per season. It is important to take into account such a feature of the currant as the slow growth and development of the bush. The rose-fruited bush will give the first harvest only in the second year after planting, and the variety will fully reveal its productivity only in the third and subsequent seasons.

Agronomists recommend harvesting in dry, sunny weather. To minimize damage, it is better to pick the berries with brushes, immediately placing them in special containers for transportation and storage.

Growing conditions

Dutch pink currant is suitable for cultivation in almost any climatic zone.

She has such valuable qualities as:

• unpretentious care;
• high resistance to frost, drought, frost;
• good immunity to pests and diseases.

Even a novice summer resident will be able to grow a "pink" bush and get a decent harvest by following simple steps.

Choosing a location. For successful development and high productivity, pinkcurrant will need:

A). A plot with fertile non-acidic soil (sandy loam and loam). You can neutralize excessive soil acidity with lime, and to increase the  fertility of the earth – mix it with organic fertilizers (mullein, compost, humus) 3-4 weeks before planting.

B). Lots of sunshine and heat. Minimum shade, drafts, north wind. It is also worth avoiding stagnant moisture, and easily waterlogged areas with high groundwater.

Planting. Pinkcurrants are usually planted in early spring or September. But the second option is preferable, because. before the end of autumn, currants have time to take root, in winter – harden, and in the spring – starts to grow rapidly. When planted in spring, Dutch pinkcurrant seedlings take root worse.

The hole for planting a bush is prepared in advance. To do this, dig a hole 0.5 m in diameter and the same in depth. The soil at the bottom is mixed with compost or humus, mineral fertilizers are added, a bucket of water is poured and left for 2 weeks. After 14 days, they start landing. The seedlings are placed in the hole slightly at an angle, covered with the top layer of soil, which is left when digging the hole, the ground around the seedling is lightly tamped to leave the air cavities. Throw out a bucket of water. When the water is absorbed, it is once sprinkled with earth, leveling the top layer, and mulched.

At the end of planting, the aerial part of the shoots is cut to a height of 15 cm, making sure that 3-4 stem buds remain. Thus, the seedling will direct more energy to rooting.

When planting several bushes of Dutch pinkcurrant at the same time, leave a distance of at least 2 meters between them, because bushes of this variety are tall and voluminous and will need more space to develop.

Pruning. In early spring (before the start of sap flow), sanitary pruning of bushes is carried out, removing weak, diseased, broken shoots and those lying on the ground. Anti-aging pruning of currants is carried out after 6-7 years, getting rid of old, barren branches. On young, 2-3-year-old shoots, fruit buds are located in the upper part of the stem. Therefore, they are not cut. Branches infected with pests and diseases are completely removed upon detection, regardless of the period.

Irrigation. Pink currants are watered as needed, focusing on the amount of precipitation and the degree of soil moisture. During the periods of flowering and fruiting, 1 bucket of water per week is poured under the bush. In dry weather, the amount of watering is increased. It is important that the soil is moistened 40-50 cm deep, while there is no stagnation of the liquid. After harvesting, when preparing the bush for winter, it is again thoroughly shed. After each watering, the ground near the trunk is loosened to prevent the formation of an earthen crust, which blocks air exchange with the roots.

Feeding. If you have fertilized the soil well when planting currants, you can not feed it for the next two years. For the third season (in spring), you can water the bush with a solution of chicken manure and mullein. During the period of flowering and formation of the ovary, a mineral-vitamin complex for the berry is added.

Diseases and pests. Dutch pinkcurrant has good immunity to most diseases and pests. In this case, it can be affected by anthracosis and gall aphids. When brown spots (anthracosis) or orange-crimson tubercles (galls) appear on the leaves, measures should be taken immediately – remove diseased shoots, spray the bush and leaves with special preparations. The best way to deal with diseases and pests is still the prevention of their occurrence.

Wintering. Dutch pinkcurrant tolerates winter well under a thick layer of snow. The bush needs additional shelter if it is weakened after an illness or grows in regions with very cold winters with little snow. Be sure to insulate for the winter you need young seedlings, because. they haven't had time to acclimatize yet. They are covered with a special material, having previously bent to the ground.

Selecting planting material

Before you buy seedlings of the "Dutch Rose" currant, 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! Purchase Dutch Rosecurrant seedlings from fruit nurseries and specialty stores. This will save you from disappointment later.

Preparations