Blackcurrant 'Black Pearl'

Blackcurrant Black Pearl (Ribes nigrum L.) – a mid-season blackcurrant variety. The variety was developed at the VNIIS named after I. Michurin as a result of crossing the varieties Minai Shmyrev and Brodtorp in 1992.

It is a medium-sized, sparsely leaved shrub. Shoots are curved, jointed, leaves light green with three lobes. The length of fruit clusters ranges from 4 to 7 cm.

Fruits – round berries 1.3-1.5 g, densely black in color with a firm skin. Thanks to the possibility of dry separation from the cluster, «Black Pearl» stores, transports, and freezes excellently, which allows it to be considered a universal variety. In addition, the variety is self-fertile and precocious - the first harvest (on average 1.5 – 2 kg per bush) can be expected already in the second year after planting.

Disadvantages include a weak aroma and a slightly tart taste.

Hardiness zone: 12 (+10+15°C)

Location: prefers well-lit sites but can grow in partial shade, moisture-loving but does not tolerate waterlogging or excessive moisture. Does not like heavy, clay soils; the groundwater level should not be higher than 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.

Planting: planting is carried out in August. Beds or trenches are dug and bushes are planted at a distance of at least 1.3 m from each other (otherwise bushes will shade each other and the berries will be small). The soil mixture consists of garden soil and manure. After planting, in dry weather the plants are watered at a rate of 1 bucket per bush.

Care: during the growing season additional feedings are carried out – 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 - poultry 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 carried out in spring: young shoots are shortened to 5-6 buds and old ones are removed. Each bush should consist of 10-15 stems. Old branches are removed because large berries develop on 3-4-year-old stems.

Propagation: mainly propagated vegetatively (by dividing the bush, grafting, green cuttings, vertical or horizontal layering) or by seed. For vertical layering bushes are heavily pruned in spring almost to ground level; in July the young shoots are earthened 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, earthened up and separated from the parent plant in autumn. To grow in standard form, plants are grafted onto golden currant. For seed propagation seeds are sown immediately after harvest or in spring after 2-4 months of stratification. After sowing, in the first year plants grow to a height of 20-40 cm.

Diseases and pests: American powdery mildew, currant gall midge, narrow-bodied green jewel beetle, rose leafroller (tortrix). Resistant to anthracnose and bud mite.

Uses: The berries are eaten fresh and are also suitable for processing. Buds are used in the food and liqueur industries. Leaves are brewed as tea and are also used for fermentation and pickling.