After harvesting the currants, it is still far from preparing the plants for winter, but it's time for measures to improve the berry bushes and gain strength to lay buds for the next berry season.
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Sanitary pruning after fruiting
After the end of the fruiting period, it is necessary to put the currant bushes in order - to make sanitary pruning of broken, sick and old shoots. For these purposes, it is good to use a disinfected secateurs. Excess shoots must be removed - the thickening of the bushes must not be allowed. Thickening provokes the defeat of plants by fungal diseases.
Annual shoots are shortened by 8 cm, branches lying on the ground are removed from spreading bushes. The oldest branches are subject to deletion. For black currants, these are four years old. At this age, their yield decreases markedly. Red currant branches are productive up to 7 years.
Pruning rejuvenates the bush, and the plant directs all its forces to the budding, which contributes to a rich berry harvest in the next season.
Watering after fruiting
When fruiting is completed, it is not the aboveground part of the culture that grows, but its root. A moisture deficit at this time will affect the new crop. It is important to organize proper watering for berry bushes - the ground must be wetted to the full depth of the roots, and an annular groove should be made around the bush for watering.
The root system of black currant requires abundant irrigation due to its proximity to the soil surface. The best option is to water 3-4 buckets of warm water under the bush. In red currants, the roots are deeper, so 1-2 buckets under the bush are enough.
Loosening and mulching
Loosening the soil increases the supply of oxygen to the roots. Intermediate mulching has a good effect after watering. You can use sawdust, straw, leaves, grass cuttings. It should be noted that some pests can settle in the mulch for wintering, so in autumn this intermediate layer, together with parasites, must be collected, and the root must be covered with a fresh layer for the winter.
Top dressing after the berry season
After the plants bear fruit, the soil is severely depleted; additional feeding is necessary for the development of the root system. Mineral fertilizers and organic matter can enrich the soil with useful substances.
Root feeding has a good effect - 1 tbsp is diluted per 10 liters of water. l. superphosphate, 1 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate, 1 tbsp. wood ash. It is better to pour the fertilizer solution into the grooves next to the bushes. You should not add potassium chloride to the soil, because currants do not tolerate chlorine.
After that, they are fed with organic fertilizers. Infusions are used, ready for use a week after preparation:
- bird droppings and water - 1:12;
- mullein and water - 1: 6.
To feed berry bushes for 10 liters of water, use 0.5 liters of infusion of bird droppings or 1 liter of infusion of mullein.
Depleted bushes are fertilized with nitrophos. Spraying with "Zircon" will help relieve stress. Fertilizing with iron chelate 1 g per 1 liter of water helps from yellowing of the leaves.
Pest control
In the absence of signs of harmful insects, it is enough to carry out preventive protection against fungal diseases - spraying the aboveground part of the bush with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid. A weak solution of potassium permanganate gives a good effect for disinfecting the soil.
If pests such as mites, glassworms, aphids are found, it is advisable to use insecticides.
Caring for the currants at the end of the berry harvest allows the plants to stay healthy and build up strength for the new berry season.
Do you know how to care for currants after harvest?
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