Black Currant (Ribes nigrum) KATYUSHA

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) 'Katyusha'

A high-yielding Belarusian variety with excellent fruit flavour.

'Katyusha' (Катюша) is a proven Belarusian blackcurrant variety, distinguished primarily by its high yield and excellent, almost perfect fruit flavour, rated up to 4.9 out of 5 points. The bush has vigorous, healthy growth and produces large, elongated berries with a very firm skin, making them suitable for mechanical harvesting and transport. It is a reliable variety with high frost resistance and self-fertility.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Excellent fruit flavour (rating 4.9/5).
• High and reliable yield.
• High frost resistance and self-fertility.
• Large fruits with very firm skin.
• Fruits do not drop and are suitable for mechanical harvesting.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Belarus
• Breeders: A. G. Voluznev, N. A. Zazulina, G. P. Rainchikova
• Institution: Institute for Fruit Growing of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
• Crossing: ‘Paulinka’ × ‘Pilot Alexander Mamkin’
• Registration: Included in the State Register in 1998.

Variety Characteristics

Bush

• Growth: Vigorous, slightly spreading.
• Shoots: Medium-thick, glossy. Young shoots are green; woody shoots are greyish-brown.
• Leaves: Medium to large, five-lobed, light green with a yellowish tint, glossy.
• Flowers: Medium-sized, bright red.

Fruit (Berry)

• Size and weight: Large, with an average weight of 1.4 g.
• Shape and colour: Elongated-oval to pear-shaped, black and glossy.
• Skin: Very firm.
• Flavour: Pleasant, sweet-tart, with a distinct aroma and a high rating (4.9/5). The flesh is very juicy.
• Strigs: Long, medium-dense, drooping.
• Use: Versatile.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: High.
• Disease resistance: Medium (American powdery mildew, leaf spots).
• Pest resistance: Medium (currant gall mite).

Cultivation Recommendations

• Although self-fertility is high (approx. 60%), yields can be increased by pollinators such as ‘Belorusskaya sladkaya’ or ‘Paulinka’.
• Due to its medium resistance to fungal diseases, it is advisable to monitor the health of the bush and intervene if necessary.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-late.
• Harvest characteristics: Fruits do not drop. The variety is suitable for mechanical harvesting.
• Yield: High (up to 11.0 t/ha).
• Self-fertility: High (approx. 60%).