Transplanting currant bushes in autumn: step-by-step methods

Currants have long been a staple in gardens and dachas. In winter, when we open compote, their aroma reminds us of warm summers. They are an ingredient in many culinary recipes. Mom's pies with currant filling, jam, are a favorite treat in the cold season. To ensure a consistent harvest each year, you need to take care of the bush. An important step in caring for it is replanting it in the fall.

A characteristic feature of this bush is that it ages quite quickly. After five to six years, it requires replanting. Furthermore, currants grow rapidly. This can lead to space constraints or the bush beginning to interfere with neighboring plants. The planting location should also be changed if the plant lacks nutrients or the soil becomes depleted.

It takes root fairly quickly and well in a new location if provided with favorable conditions. The bush produces its largest harvest in the 3rd or 4th year. It thrives when transplanted in various ways.

Conditions for growing currants

Before replanting black currants in the fall to a new, comfortable location, you need to decide what conditions the plant needs.

Conditions for good growth:

1. You need to choose a place with a lot of light, as this is a light-loving plant.
2. The soil shouldn't be acidic. If your plot has this type of soil, add peat, ash, a little sand, eggshells, humus, limestone, and dolomite flour. You can also simply add chalk. It will gradually dissolve, deacidifying the soil.
3. The shrub loves moisture and requires regular, good watering. However, it dislikes groundwater getting too close to the roots.

These are the basic conditions for good growth and development of the bush. But, of course, fertilizing is also necessary. Organic fertilizers, as well as potassium phosphate fertilizers, are readily absorbed. These are always applied in the fall. Potassium fertilizers, along with ammonium nitrate, are fed in the spring and summer.

Methods of propagation and transplantation

There are numerous videos about replanting currant bushes in the fall. They provide a wealth of information on this topic (see above).

Methods:

• cuttings, autumn and summer;
• vegetatively, by layering;
• dividing the bush;
• rejuvenation of the bush and transplanting it to a new location.

Under favorable conditions and with proper care, the plant takes root within three weeks. Transplanting currants to a new location in the fall depends on the region.

Vegetative propagation of a bush

To do this, select a strong, healthy branch of the shrub. Bend it to the ground, secure it with a metal hook, and bury it. This can be done in early spring or fall, in August, September, or early October.

They are planted after the buds go dormant, about a month before the first frosts are expected. Transplanting currants to a new location in the fall in the Moscow region takes place later than in northern regions (late September).

Within the first three weeks, the cutting develops roots and takes root. The following year, it produces its first branches. By autumn, it will be a fully formed bush. It is cut from the mother plant, carefully dug out, and planted in pre-prepared holes.

Dividing the bush

A rootstock can be separated from a large, overgrown bush and replanted. Transplanting currants to a new location in Siberia occurs in August or early September. To do this, dig around the perimeter of the bush, being careful not to damage the root system. Then, carefully remove the bush and shake off the soil.

Select a strong rootstock and separate it from the mother plant. Then plant it. Apply organic and mineral fertilizers mixed with soil to the old plant. This division rejuvenates the old plant and allows for further propagation.

Rejuvenation of the bush and transplantation to a new location

A bush older than 6 or 7 years can be rejuvenated and replanted. In the Urals, replanting currant bushes in the fall takes place in September.

To do this, the bush is dug up, taking extreme care to preserve the roots. They are cleared of clods of soil. The root system is inspected and cleaned of insects.

Use pruning shears to cut off any rotted or damaged stems. You can separate these stems and discard them. Trim any very long roots. Then replant.

Old branches are cut out, the rest are shortened, leaving up to 4 buds.

Currant cuttings

Transplanting currants to a new location in the fall using cuttings is one of the most common methods. Autumn shoots can produce their first berries the following year if they are well rooted and survive the winter. However, cuttings and planting can also be done in the spring or even summer (green cuttings).

Cuttings are taken in the fall, after the plant has shed its leaves. The center of one-year-old shoots, which have begun to harden, is suitable for this purpose. Choose strong shoots; thin and weak ones may not take root.

The top is cut off with a straight cut, 5 or 6 buds are counted, and a diagonal cut is made a centimeter below the last one. Red currants are planted earlier (in August), and black currants later (in September).

Depending on the region, the cuttings are timed to allow approximately a month before frost. The shoots should be up to 20 centimeters long. They are pruned only during dry weather.

For the nursery bed, it's best to mark it out and string or cord it. Choose a bright location with a distance of up to 15 centimeters between seedlings. The lower end of the branch can be soaked in plant growth stimulants.

Dig a hole to a depth of approximately 25 centimeters. Add peat, ash, and humus. Cover with soil to prevent the roots from drying out.

You can add a small amount of complex mineral fertilizer. Water the cuttings. Plant the cuttings a few buds deep (2, 3) and plant them at a 45-degree angle. This encourages more shoots to form. Cover with soil and water again. Water the cuttings vigorously for a month. In the spring, the plant can be transplanted to its permanent location.

How to prepare soil for planting currant bushes?

Plant development and harvest largely depend on proper planting. There are several planting methods: conventional planting and warm bed planting.

Normal landing

Dig to a depth of half a meter and a little more in width. It's best to prepare the soil two to three weeks in advance if adding compost and organic matter, so they can rot. When planting directly, be careful not to overdo it with organic fertilizers.

Add equal parts peat, ash, and organic matter and mix. Then add a bucket of water. Once it's absorbed slightly, cover the layer with soil and add more water. Place the plant in the liquid soil mixture. Adding humic products is a good stimulant for growth and fruiting. In addition to beneficial nutrients, plants need humic acids, which are abundant in the soil, but most of them are bound and not absorbed.

Then fill the hole with the remaining soil. Lightly tamp it down and pour in a bucket of water. Top the soil with sawdust or other mulch.

Planting using the warm bed principle

The hole is dug about 40 centimeters deeper than described. Various types of wood, branches, and bark are placed at the bottom. Dry and slightly decayed wood is preferred. They are covered with soil and watered. Then, the same ingredients are added as for a regular planting. Another bucket of water is added, the bush is planted, and covered with soil. Mulch is added on top. This method ensures good drainage and additional nutrition for the plant.

To protect against frost, after about three weeks, when the plant has taken root, it is better to sprinkle it with soil.

Container bushes and varieties for different regions

If you want to expand the variety of currants in your garden, it's best to purchase a container plant. It can be planted throughout the gardening season. Simply remove it from the container with a lump of soil and plant it. Prepare the planting hole as described above.

Depending on the region and weather conditions, you can choose the best varieties for growing. There are early, mid-season, and late-ripening varieties. Varieties such as Yadrenaya and Bagheera have proven to be productive and easy to grow, making them popular with gardeners.

Early or mid-season varieties are available for northern regions. These include Dikovinka and Selechinskaya Rannyaya, both domestically bred. Azhurnaya and Delikates are mid-season varieties, distinguished by good yields and flavor.

How to properly care for a transplanted plant?

Currants transplanted in the fall will produce good shoots in the spring. Proper care is the key to good growth and fruiting.

In the spring, when the plant awakens, apply potassium-phosphate fertilizers. However, this must be done correctly, not at the root, but slightly further (30-40 cm). First, loosen the soil around the bush, then add mulch. Make a small depression in the soil and add the fertilizer.

On the contrary, organic matter in diluted form is applied directly to the roots.

Since currants are moisture-loving, they should be watered well during the growing season and in the fall after harvest, at least once every five days. As the berries begin to ripen, reduce the frequency of watering. The berries may burst from excess moisture.

Annual pruning also plays an important role in shaping the bush. Old shoots are removed, leaving 5 to 7 one-year-old woody shoots, which are pruned in the fall.

Gardeners have found that replanting currants in the fall is the most effective. The plants have time to take root, and they produce good shoots in the spring.