Black currant 'Vladimirovskaya'

Black currant Vladimirovskaya (Ribes rubrum 'Vladimirovskaya') – a new variety of black currant of mid-late ripening, of an intensive breeding type, and suitable for mechanized berry harvesting. Obtained in 1988 at the Horticulture Institute of the UAAS from a cross of the varieties Pamyati Vavilova x Titania. Breeders - Kopan K.P., Kopan V.P. Considered one of the best varieties for cultivation in Ukraine. Since 1997 the Vladimirovskaya variety has been undergoing state varietal trials.

It is a medium-sized bush, 1,5-1,7 m tall, practically upright. Shoots are long, fairly thick, flexible, elastic. Racemes are medium-sized, dense, 2-4 per scar, arranged densely on the shoots.

The variety is self-fertile. Berries are uniform in size, average weight (1,3-1,5 г), large (2,2-2,5 г), oval-round, black, glossy. Skin is firm, elastic, with a dry detachment. Flesh is greenish-brown, moderately aromatic, with a refreshing sweet-and-sour taste. Berries ripen uniformly, almost simultaneously. Tasting score - 4,0-4,25 points.

Berries contain: dry matter - 13,22-14,38%, sugars - 8,46-9,02%, organic acids - 2,86-3,28%, pectins – 1,28-1,56%, phenolic compounds - 346,24-409,06 mg, vitamin C - 228,24-242,43 mg per 100 g of fresh mass.

Hardiness zone: 4a (-25°C)

Location: The variety is adapted to harsh conditions such as low temperature, drought, and heat. It grows well in well-lit places, less well in partial shade. Moisture-loving, but does not tolerate water stagnation and overwatering. Does not like heavy, clay soil; the groundwater level should not be higher than 75 cm below the soil surface. Not demanding regarding soil fertility, it grows well on any garden soil. Prefers slightly acidic, well-drained, sandy, light or medium-loamy soil.

Planting: Planting is carried out in August. For this, 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 earth 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 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 the 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 removed. Each bush should consist of 10-15 stems. Old branches are removed, as large berries grow 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 cut back almost to soil level in spring; in July young shoots are earthened. In autumn young shoots are planted in a nursery. To obtain horizontal layers, rooted shoots are left until the following spring, then bent down, earthened and in autumn separated from the parent plant.

Diseases: Resistant to fungal diseases

Pests: Resistant to leaf gall midge and bud mite.

Use: Promising for intensive commercial and amateur cultivation in all zones of developed fruit growing. In breeding used as a donor of complex oligogenic resistance to fungal diseases, high berry yield, and technological suitability of the bush. Berries are consumed fresh, suitable for freezing, and especially valuable for producing high-quality processed products (juices, jellies, wine materials).