Caring for currants in autumn and preparing bushes for winter

Currant bushes are considered very strong and cold-resistant plants, surviving even temperatures as low as -20°C. However, this resistance to subzero temperatures is deceptive, leading gardeners to stop covering them for the winter. Caring for currants in the fall, preparing them for winter, and other measures are just as important as watering and fertilizing during dry periods.

General principles of care

Every caring gardener should fully understand how to care for currant bushes in the fall. The future harvest of the crop can depend on proper autumn care, so it's important to approach it responsibly. Proper care for currant bushes in the fall consists of the following stages:

• Weed control.
• Loosening the substrate.
• Regular watering.
• Adding fertilizer to the substrate.
• Protecting the soil from pests and diseases.
• Replacing old bushes.
• Pruning activities.
• Planting new seedlings.

Regularly clearing the soil of weeds and seasonal loosening will increase the crop's fertility, allowing it to receive the maximum amount of nutrients and oxygen. During the winter, dig the soil between each bush to a depth of approximately 10-15 cm. To do this, position the shovel parallel to the roots, breaking up the soil layers into smaller pieces. If the fall is too dry and moisture retention is essential, it's best to avoid breaking up the soil layers.

Before covering currants, gooseberries, or any other bush crop for the winter, it's important to thoroughly water and fertilize the plant. This type of plant is highly sensitive to moisture stress, and without regular watering, it begins to wilt and become infertile.

Many people mistakenly believe that currant bushes only need watering during the fruiting period, but this is incorrect. If the autumn is dry and warm, watering the bushes after the harvest is essential for successful winter preparation. Apply up to 3-5 buckets of clean water per bush, ensuring the soil is moistened to a depth of at least 40-50 cm. After watering, the soil must be thoroughly mulched.

Currants also need to be fed in the fall, as they draw all the nutrients and minerals from the soil before then. Organic and mineral fertilizers, such as superphosphate, potassium chloride, and humus, are effective. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers Fertilizers are applied in the spring, because they stimulate the growth of green mass.

The subtleties of pruning procedures

Preparing blackcurrants for winter is more challenging than caring for red varieties. This is due to the early formation of fruits, which appear on shoots that are 1-2 or 3 years old, forcing gardeners to even out their production. Otherwise, the crop will stop bearing fruit normally and there will be no good harvest.

Every year, new shoots and new growth form on the bush, and the established branches also develop intensively. The first growths are removed first, while the second growths are pruned to pin down the growing point.

To successfully prune a currant bush in the fall, you need to follow certain rules:

• One-year-old seedlings produce about one or two full-sized branches, with virtually no shoots. With the arrival of autumn, it's necessary to pinch out the growing points so that the stems will begin to grow laterally and produce significantly more fruit the following year. This procedure is best performed in late autumn, when sap flow and other plant processes have slowed.
• As the root system expands, the number of shoots increases severalfold. It's important to prune these shoots at the root, as they won't survive the winter and will rob the plant of its vital energy. Experienced gardeners recommend training no more than 18 stems—this will ensure the berries are extremely large, with a sweet, well-ripened flavor. Excessive growth is associated with low yields, so pruning should be approached with the utmost care. It's also important to pay attention to one-year-old branches from last year's shoots—in this case, pinch off the tips, bringing them level with the old ones.
• In the third year of pruning, the berry crop needs to be "capped." To do this, the gardener removes dead, diseased, and old stems, which harbor all sorts of fungi and other diseases. When pruning three-year-old crops, they must be cut directly to the root and then burned. Young shoots that have not yet matured and become woody are also removed, as they will not survive the winter and harbor colonies of bacteria and parasites.

Processing older bushes

In the fourth, fifth, and subsequent years of currant bushes, pruning is done by pinching the growing points and removing dead shoots. If the plant stops bearing fruit after reaching five years of age, five-year-old shoots will need to be removed during autumn maintenance.

When pruning red varieties, different principles and specific rules must be followed. Pruning this crop is somewhat easier due to its unique characteristics. These bushes begin bearing fruit in their first year, so pinching out one-year-old branches is unnecessary. All other pruning steps are virtually identical. Formation of a mature bush occurs in the same way as with blackcurrants, only it grows much taller.

Pruning work in autumn follows not only the aesthetic purpose, but also the nutritional one., being a good way to increase fruiting. High-quality pruning of the top of the bush protects the crop from various diseases and pests, as most insects and fungi settle in the upper part of the plant. If they aren't cut off before winter, there's a risk of currant damage in the spring. As a result, gardeners will have to spend a lot of time and money treating the leaves for spots, fungi, and viruses.

When making cuts, it's essential to be precise and use high-quality tools. Any inaccuracies will cause irreparable damage to the bush, leading to delayed healing and stunted growth. The pruning shears used should be able to easily cut paper—then they'll be suitable for pruning.

The timing of gardening interventions is determined by the plant's geographic location and climate. Gardeners in temperate climates can insulate the bush between November 15 and 20, when sap flow in the branches stops. Ideally, the procedure should be completed no later than two weeks before the onset of frost.

Application of fertilizers and top dressing

Gardeners from the central regions of Russia need to know how to prepare currants for winter in the Moscow region and other nearby settlements. growing black varieties It's important to pay close attention to fertilizing and supplementing, as the plant draws all the potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium from the substrate over its lifespan. Failure to restore these nutrients will reduce the plant's yield.

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Currant fertilizing procedure consists of the following stages:

1. First, it's necessary to add phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to the soil. These are long-acting components. They don't affect growth efficiency in any way and are intended solely to increase fruit production. Active nutrient absorption occurs in late May, causing fruit size to increase significantly. Even with significant pressure on the bush, the berries will fully ripen and become sweet. When searching for good fertilizers, it's advisable to choose concentrated granules.
2. Cow manure and chicken manure are equally effective fertilizers. These components promote vegetative growth and are applied before frost. Over a period of 3-4 months, the substances break down into simple, smaller elements, becoming effective at a critical moment.
3. Ash. It is added not only as a fertilizer but also as a mulch to ensure long-term moisture retention under the bush.

Bending branches

When figuring out how to cover currants for the winter, it's important to pay attention to other aspects of the process. One of these concerns bending branches to protect them from frost. While some varieties can easily withstand temperatures as low as -45°C, others are susceptible to frost damage even when temperatures drop to -5°C. In any case, even the most frost-hardy bushes are not immune to damage in the absence of snow cover or prolonged exposure to drafts. It's better to sacrifice a few minutes of your time and securely cover the plants. This procedure should be performed with all varieties.

There are various ways to bend branches. You can drive a wooden pole into the center of the bush and tie all the stems to it, then wrap it with agrofibre or other insulating material. Although this method is ineffective, it has many advantages—the gardener doesn't have to waste time and effort on additional gardening work. A single pole and rope will do the trick.

You can also bend the bush to one side, but this should only be done when the sap is actively flowing, as dry branches are prone to breakage. Experienced gardeners advise against keeping the plant under cover for long periods. With the arrival of spring warmer weather, the insulating layer should be torn off or unwound to allow the plant to continue developing normally.

Some nuances

Now that we've figured out how to prepare currant bushes for winter, it's time to consider some nuances and helpful recommendations from experienced specialists. To avoid burning the plant and damaging its roots, a number of gardening tips should be followed.

Do not apply concentrated fertilizer such as chicken manure directly under the bush. This can burn the plant and destroy its vegetative mass. Manure is high in nitrogen and may take up to three months to dissipate. To avoid this, it is recommended to leave a 25 cm gap from the last stems before applying fertilizer. The same rule applies to mullein and other highly concentrated fertilizers. Only compost and pre-diluted fertilizers should be applied directly under the bush.

In no case should you fertilize the crop too early., as this can lead to early sap flow, which can cause young shoots to die from exposure to cold. The first frost will inevitably result in the plant's death.

Avoid overfeeding the plant or deviating from the optimal dosage indicated on the label. Excess nutrients will slow down plant growth and reduce yields.

Subject to all care rules If currants are grown properly, they will not only survive the winter without any problems, but will also give their owners an excellent harvest. In the spring, you can feed it. growth stimulants and nitrogen-containing fertilizers, which will initiate the process of active formation of vegetative mass.