Black currant Krasa Lvova

Black currant Krasa Lvova (Ribes nigrum Krasa Lvova) – a mid-late cultivar of black currant bred by the Lviv branch of the Institute of Horticulture of UAAN. Obtained by crossing the cultivars Zagadka × Lentyay in 1985. Breeders Z.A. Shestopal, G.S. Shestopal.

It is a medium-sized, weakly spreading deciduous shrub. Shoots medium, straight. Clusters medium or short, densely arranged.

Berries large, uniform in size, weighing 1.5 - 4.5 g, round, black, glossy. Skin of medium thickness, elastic, firm, with dry detachment. Flesh dense, brownish in color, with a pleasant sweet-and-sour taste (4.0-4.25 points).

The cultivar is distinguished by high, stable yields, large fruit size, comprehensive resistance to powdery mildew, anthracnose, and septoria, suitability for mechanized harvesting, and good adaptability to growing conditions in the Forest-Steppe and Polissya regions of Ukraine.

Hardiness zone: 4 (-34°C)

Siting: prefers well-lit locations but can grow in partial shade, moisture-loving but does not tolerate waterlogging and excessive moisture. Does not like heavy, clayey soil; the groundwater level should not exceed 75 cm below the soil surface. Not demanding regarding soil fertility; grows well on any garden soil. Prefers slightly acidic, well-drained sandy loam, light or medium-loamy soil. Drought resistance is average.

Planting: planting is carried out in August. For this, beds or trenches are dug and bushes are planted at a distance of not less than 1.3 m from each other (otherwise bushes will shade each other and the berries will be small). The soil mixture consists of soil and manure. After planting, in dry weather, plants are watered at a rate of 1 bucket per bush.

Care: during the growing season additional feedings are applied – in early spring nitrogen fertilizers are applied: ammonium nitrate (30 g per bush) or urea (20 g per bush); after flowering and at the beginning of fruit set – chicken manure (1:12) or cow manure (1:6), at a rate of 1-1.5 buckets per currant bush, and after harvest.

Pruning: tolerates trimming well, suitable for forming hedges and borders. Needs thinning (removal of old stems). Pruning is done in spring: young shoots are shortened by 5-6 buds and old ones are removed. Each bush should consist of 10-15 stems. Old stems are removed because large berries develop on 3-4 year old stems.

Propagation: propagated vegetatively (division of the bush, grafting, green cuttings, vertical or horizontal layering) or by seeds. For vertical layering bushes are heavily pruned in spring almost to soil level; in July the young shoots are earthed up. In autumn the young shoots are planted in a nursery. To obtain horizontal layers, rooted shoots are left until the next spring, then bent down, earthed up and in autumn separated from the parent plant.

Diseases: comprehensive resistance to powdery mildew, anthracnose, septoria

Pests: gall aphid, yellow gooseberry sawfly, currant clearwing.

Use: recommended for creating groups of late-ripening cultivars for industrial plantations, as well as for amateur berry growing in the Forest-Steppe and Polissya with increased planting density within the row (0.5-0.7 m) and narrowed row spacing (2.5-2.75 m). Berries ripen uniformly, almost simultaneously. Used for fresh consumption, freezing and various types of processing (juices, jellies, wine materials).