Sort of Pygmy (currant): description, photos and reviews

To date, there are about 200 varieties of black currant. Such a variety appeared due to the painstaking work of breeders. Understand which of the varieties is better, sometimes difficult even for experienced gardeners. What kind of currant plant on your site and how to choose the seedlings, let's try to make out more.

How to determine the best currant varieties?

The benefits of currants have been known for a long time, so many gardeners plant this plant on their sites. Determine which of the varieties is better, you can use a simple algorithm. The plant must have the following qualities:

• High productivity;
• Resistance to various pests and diseases;
• Fruits should be large and tasty.

Varieties resistant to diseases and pests

The most reliable varieties in terms of endurance are those that tolerate freezing and drought well, and are resistant to various pests and diseases inherent in the currant.

In areas where there are early frosts, and in the summer season dry weather is maintained, it is recommended to plant varieties that are able to withstand natural disasters. These include such currant species as:

• Sophia.
• Bagheera.
• Grace.
• Minx.
• Pygmy.

Currants should be well adapted to the region where it is grown, and then the yield of the plant will be high.

Bushes can be affected by a mite or powdery mildew. To have a good harvest on your site, it is best to choose for planting such varieties:

• Temptation.
• Divo.
• Sensei.
• Carmelite.
• Sophia.

Particular attention should be paid to the Pygmy variety. Currant is distinguished among many others by a very sweet taste. Berries are large plants, despite this name. The plant is recommended to plant in areas of the Far East, the Urals, Western and Eastern Siberia.

Variety of currants Pigmei was bred in the Institute of Fruit and Vegetable and Potato Cultivation in Yuzhnouralsk by the breeder Ilyin V. S. He proved himself well, therefore, he enjoys a certain demand among gardeners.

Description of Pygmy sort

Considering the variety of currants, Pygmy, the description should begin with the appearance of the plant:

• The bush is of medium size, can reach a height of about 1.5-2 m.
• New shoots of light green and pink-green hue, have an average thickness.
• Leaves are large, five-lobed, wrinkled. Have a saturated green color.
• Petioles long, medium thickness. Like young shoots, painted in a light green or pink-green hue.
• Inflorescences in the form of brushes. On each of them can ripen up to 10 currant berries.
• Flowers have a pale color pink or yellow-pink hue.
• The berries of the plant are very large. Their weight can be 5-7 grams.
• Fruits are black, shiny. Have the right rounded shape. The content of seeds in the berry is minimal. The flesh of the fruit is very thin.

Currant Pygmy (photo above) is great for making compotes and jams. Often berries harvested for the winter: dried or frozen. But the most useful substances are found in fresh fruits that are not amenable to any treatment.

Characteristic of the variety

Pygmy is a currant that does not belong to early varieties. The period of fruit ripening comes in the middle of the season and lasts for 2-3 weeks. Depending on the region where the shrub grows, the interval from flowering to the appearance of mature berries can be 30-45 days.

Currant Pygmy, whose description we are considering, fructifies from late June to mid-July. From one bush it is possible to collect a decent crop - from 3,5 to 5,5 kg. Fruits the plant once a year. The variety is self-fertile, so you can get stable, good harvests every year.

The main advantages of this currant are:

• Resistance to frost and drought;
• Good fertility;
• Sweet taste and size of berries;
• Ability to withstand anthracnose and powdery mildew.

Although the plant has a small drawback - currant has only a slight resistance to the pest mite and to the disease septoriosis.

How to choose seedlings for planting?

When choosing the material for planting, you need to carefully consider the plant rhizome. It is best to buy seedlings of two years old, since their root system is well developed and consists of several stubby shoots, the length of which is 15-20 cm. It is also important to have a large number of thin roots resembling filaments. It is also worth paying attention to their color.

A healthy rhizome has a yellowish-brown hue. But if the dirty brown color predominates, this indicates that the plant is frozen, sick or overdried.

When buying planting material in a pot, you should still see the root system, for this, ask the seller to pull out the seedling from the container. If the soil is tightly braided with filamentous processes, this indicates that the currant will be well absorbed and will be able to develop rapidly.

If you want to plant a healthy plant, remember: there should be no spots on the leaves, kidneys and branches, as this can mean that the seedling is infected with a fungus. Also, there should be no signs of wilting.

How to care for a bush?

Pygmy is a currant that does not like windy and shady areas, therefore, when choosing a place for its planting, it is necessary to take into account these features. The ideal time for disembarkation is the beginning of autumn. The first thing to do is to work the soil. After digging, we remove all roots of weed plants and loosen the soil. Next, prepare a hole with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 40 cm.

To prepare fertile soil, you will need:

• Superphosphate - 200 g;
• Potassium sulphate - 60 g;
• 1 bucket of compost;
• 0.5 l of ash wood.

In order for the plant to grow quickly, make a small slope of the seedling when planting, no more than 45 degrees. After that, the currant must be properly poured and cut off the branches, leaving about 3 buds. The next stage is mulching the soil under the seedling. For these purposes, peat or sawdust is suitable.

To increase yield, experts recommend planting several varieties of currant in one area.

Watering for the plant is very important, especially when it is necessary to start ripening the fruit. The site is flooded with water at a rate of 30-50 liters per 1 m ² . Also it is necessary to make watering in the autumn, when fertilizers are introduced.

Feeding plants produce on the 3rd year after disembarkation. In the spring period, before the flowering begins, the currant is fertilized with liquid mullein. Ammonium nitrate (20-30 g) is applied when the plant has faded. In the autumn period, soil is fertilized under each bush prepared by the composition, which includes:

• Phosphorus (50 g).
• Potassium (40 g).
• Compost (half a bucket).

Reviews of Pigmei

For its characteristics, the specialists from the specialists received a high estimate of Pygmy's currant. Reviews about the plant are positive, as the variety has established itself as one of the best and hardiest. Large sweet berries contain many useful substances, which also generates positive statements of people who have chosen this plant. The currant can be grown in regions where there are early frosts, since this variety is resistant to frost.