Currant became famous as a very tasty and healthy berry. Due to its amazing healing properties, it can replace many expensive medicines. For its benefits, currants even surpass medicinal raspberries.
To get a high-quality and generous crop of currants, you need to take good care of it. In particular, this applies to the spring period, when the shrub has just come out of hibernation. He begins to actively grow and throw out the first flowers. For all this, currants need a lot of strength. There are several rules for caring for a shrub that will help you quickly put it in order.
Getting rid of garbage
First of all, you will need to clear the area around the bush. It is advisable to burn all last year's leaves and mulch outside the garden. After all, such a "warm pillow" serves as an excellent wintering place for pests.
Sanitary pruning
After harvesting, you can start pruning the shrub. It must be carried out in the first month of spring, before the buds swell.
When the kidneys begin to swell, they should be examined very carefully. If you find too round, inflated buds on the branches, eliminate them urgently! This indicates that a kidney mite lived in them in winter. Very soon it will free itself out and begin to spoil the currant crop.
Next, you should carefully loosen the trunk circle. It can be sent with a new layer of mulch or peat.
Without dressing anywhere
In the spring, currants need effective feeding more than ever. They can be added from mid-April. It is best to fertilize the currants with a diluted mullein. But lovers of standard dressings can use ammonium nitrate. One shrub takes about 30 grams of this fertilizer.
It is worth re-feeding the currants only in mid-May. At this time, the shrub begins to bloom and needs additional strength. Boric acid is perfect for fertilization. It can be applied not only under the root, but also on the crown of the bush.
Pest control
When the buds of the currants have swollen, it's time to rid it of the pests. Even if you have not encountered such a misfortune until now, still treat the shrub for prevention purposes.
You can also use the old method - treat the currant bush with boiling water. It takes about 5-6 liters for one bush.
These simple and field-proven methods will help you get the currants back into shape after hibernation. And by the end of summer she will thank you for all your efforts with a generous harvest.