Black Currant (Ribes nigrum) LENTYAJ

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) 'Lentyaj'

A low-maintenance Russian variety with late ripening and an excellent dessert flavour.

'Lentyaj' (Лентяй) is a Russian blackcurrant variety that likely got its name ("Lazybones") from its late ripening and low-maintenance cultivation. It is valued for its excellent dessert, sweet fruit flavour (rating 4.8/5), high frost resistance, and resistance to anthracnose and septoria leaf spot. The bush grows vigorously and produces high yields. Its main disadvantages are susceptibility to powdery mildew and uneven fruit ripening.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Excellent dessert fruit flavour (rating 4.8/5).
• Late ripening (in August), extending the harvest season.
• High frost resistance and low-maintenance cultivation.
• Resistance to anthracnose and septoria leaf spot.
• Suitable for mechanical harvesting.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Breeders: T. P. Ogoltsova, S. D. Knyazev, L. V. Bayanova
• Institution: All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK)
• Crossing: ‘Bradthorpe’ × ‘Minai Shmyrev’
• Registration: Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1995.

Variety Characteristics

Bush

• Growth and habit: Vigorous, robust (up to 180 cm), moderately spreading, dense.
• Shoots: Thick; young shoots are green and glossy, woody shoots are grey with a brownish tint.
• Leaves: Large, five-lobed, dark green, slightly wrinkled.
• Flowers: Medium-sized, bell-shaped, reddish.

Fruit (Berry)

• Size and weight: Large, but uneven. Average weight 2.1 g (larger fruits 2.5 – 3.1 g).
• Shape and colour: Round, black with a brownish hue.
• Skin: Thin but firm.
• Flavour: Dessert-like, sweet, refreshing (rating 4.8/5).
• Strigs: Long (up to 8 cm), drooping, with 8–9 berries.
• Use: Versatile. Due to the thinner skin, they are more suitable for processing.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: High (down to -34 °C).
• Disease resistance: Resistant to anthracnose and septoria leaf spot. Susceptible to powdery mildew.
• Pest resistance: Medium resistance to the currant gall mite.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Due to its susceptibility to powdery mildew, preventive protection is important, especially in humid conditions.
• To increase yields, planting pollinators such as ‘Öjebyn’ or ‘Belorusskaya sladkaya’ is recommended.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-late to late (August).
• Harvest characteristics: Ripening is gradual (uneven). The scar is dry.
• Yield: High, averaging 0.9 kg per bush.
• Self-fertility: Good (43–45%).